For Immediate Release

Contact: b j Altschul, APR

240.773.5967
bja@mchumane.org
Main Shelter Information: 240.773.5960

Rockville, MD (Nov. 16, 2010) -- For helping countless Montgomery County residents whose pets have behavior issues that might otherwise have led to their being given up, the Montgomery County Humane Society has presented Dr. Kathryn Meyer its 2010 Humane Award of the Year. Dr. Meyer heads the veterinary Behavior clinic in Gaithersburg.

Initially becoming involved with MCHS in November 2007, Meyer first provided hands-on socialization and post-adoption counseling for puppy mill rescues. Later that year, MCHS launched a Q&A style online educational service called "Ask the Behaviorist." Volunteering her time, Meyer has offered expert online behavior advice to more than 100 pet owners. She responds to and treats pets with phobias, aggression, separation anxiety, compulsive disorders, marking issues and other concerns. While the severity of the pets' problems varies, Meyer consistently helps people keep the animals they love. Through her service, fewer animals are given up to the shelter because of behavioral issues.

"It doesn’t take more than a few seconds of scanning the daily news to find example after example of people doing reprehensible things to other people, animals, and the world we live in," Meyer said. "The spirit and resolve to value and protect our animal friends crosses all political lines. Everyone who makes an effort -- large or small -- to improve the treatment of our animals helps to move us forward as a civilized nation."

MCHS also recognized Adventist HealthCare in a new category, Business of the Year. Over the past few years, Adventist has donated medical grade equipment and new hospital supplies for veterinary use; held several fund-raising projects with its employees; and just this year donated almost 2,400 pounds of pet food to the shelter.

Other awards included:

-- Veterinarian of the Year – Dr. Jennifer Krueger, Lake Forest Animal Hospital
-- Foster of the Year – Diane Stalder, cat and rabbit foster
-- Volunteer of the Year – Pat Brosnan, dog walker
-- Employee of the Year – Dany Flores, lead kennel technician

Awards were presented during the MCHS annual gala, the Love Ball, in Bethesda.

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About the Montgomery County Humane Society:

The Montgomery County Humane Society in Rockville, MD, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit animal welfare organization that has served Montgomery County since 1958. MCHS receives funds to operate the Montgomery County Animal Shelter under a grant from the Montgomery County Government and from private donations. As the only full-service animal shelter in the county, MCHS handled more than 9,200 animals in 2009, and, as an open admission shelter, never turns an animal away. Visit mchumane.org to learn more, or call 240.773.5960 option 4. Hours to visit with the animals are weekdays, noon-7pm, and weekends, noon-5pm; closed Wednesdays.

About the Veterinary Behavior Clinic:

The Veterinary Behavior Clinic, staffed by Dr. E. Kathryn Meyer, is located in Gaithersburg, offering help for cats and dogs suffering from behavior problems through environmental manipulation, behavior modification, and, when necessary, medication. Dr. Meyer is a 1986 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and has completed over 200 hours of continuing education courses related to behavioral medicine. In her private practice, Dr. Meyer employs non-painful techniques that utilize current scientific knowledge in learning theory, animal behavior, and psychopharmacology to treat animal behavior problems. She serves as president of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior and is a frequent advocate for the benefits of positive training.

About Adventist HealthCare:

Adventist HealthCare is a non-profit network of healthcare providers that includes hospitals, home health agencies, nursing centers, and other healthcare services. Based in Rockville, Maryland, Adventist HealthCare employs more than 7,500 people and cares for more than 450,000 men, women and children in the community each year among its various entities and services. The primary service areas for Adventist HealthCare are the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and northwestern New Jersey.