Media Tip Sheet: Heartworm Awareness Month
April is Heartworm Awareness Month. This month serves as a reminder of what the deadly Heartworm disease is and how pet owners can prevent and cure it.
Aviva Vincent, assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College, focuses on bi-directional physiological impact of human-animal interaction. She has published over 15 peer-reviewed publications, of which she is the first author of nine. Her message about Heartworm Awareness Month is below.
“In the United States, more than 69 million dogs and 45.3 million cats are homed (70% of homes) throughout the US. Fourteen percent of these pets are newly homed since the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority (83%) of people refer to their pets as family members. In 2022, the US Pet Industry exceeded $136.8 billion dollars in expenditure. Of that total, $35.9 billon was allocated to Veterinary Care and Product Sales. Pet owners budget roughly $1,480 annually for their pet, including vet care. Heartworm is a serious and preventable health issue affecting dogs (65.1 million) and cats (46.5 million). Domesticated animals deserve preventative healthcare, especially as they are considered family members. This month, advocate and care for pets to ensure they are protected from heartworm. If you cannot afford veterinary care, connect with your local shelter system as they often provide care, have relationships for reduced cost care, and can connect with resources throughout the community.” Resource: American Pet Products Survey (2021) Retrieved from: https://www.americanpetproducts.org/pubs_survey.asp
If you’d like to schedule an interview with Professor Vincent, please reach out to Vanessa Marquette, media relations specialist, at vrmarque@syr.edu.
