New Reality Series Documents Work of Veterinarians and Their Client Farms in Caring for Livestock
Five livestock veterinarians and about 20 of their client farms in four states volunteered to be filmed for a new reality series, to give consumers a personal and up-close view of responsible livestock farming in the U.S. The series, "Veterinarians on Call," captures the pride and responsibility of veterinarians in their day-to-day work on U.S. farms and ranches, working with their client livestock farmers and other professionals raising pork, beef and dairy animals. Presented by Pfizer Animal Health, Veterinarians On Call premiered in September on channel YouTube.com/VeterinariansOnCall or YouTube.com/VeterinariansOnCall.
"We as veterinarians and farmers have great stories to tell of the care we provide to animals on the farm," said veterinarian Dr. Paul Ruen of Fairmont, Minn., immediate past president of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV), one of five veterinarians who volunteered to host a film crew on his job. "I am proud to explain that I wear several hats as a pig veterinarian including diagnostician, animal welfare advocate, and public health officer. My hope is that the consumers of America's meat products will feel a bit more connected to the families and farms that work professionally and with care in raising food for their tables."
Another featured "Veterinarian On Call" is Dr. Peter Ostrum, recognized by millions of movie fans as "Charlie" from the classic 1971 film Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Today, Dr. Ostrum has transitioned from "candy man" to milk man and is practicing as a dairy cow veterinarian in Lowville, N.Y.
"By participating in this project, I hoped to draw the public's attention to the hard working men and women who own and operate our country's family farms," says Dr. Ostrum. "We want consumers to know that food safety and animal welfare issues are top priorities for both veterinarians and dairy farmers alike."
Dr. Angie Supple, self-proclaimed "city girl turned pig vet" with degrees from Notre Dame and Purdue Universities, serves a variety of clients from small operations to big commercial facilities.
"My clients and other hog producers take a lot of pride in what they do. It's important to them to raise pigs with the animals' welfare in mind," she says. "At the end of the day, it's important for the consumer to know that the animals were raised humanely and safely."
The first season of Veterinarians On Call also features two other veterinarians who volunteered to allow a film crew to document their work:
· Dr. Ross Kiehne of St. Peter, Minn., alumnus of the University of Minnesota who has been working for the Swine Vet Center as a pig veterinarian for 12 years throughout Minnesota and Iowa as well as other states and countries
· Dr. Don Goodman, of Beard-Navasota Veterinary Hospital in Texas, a 30-year veterinarian with a degree from Texas A&M
The Veterinarians On Call reality series is part of Pfizer Animal Health's Commitment to Veterinarians platform, which offers support to the veterinary and animal health industry through training and education, research and development, investing in the future of the profession, and philanthropy.
"A key part of our mission at Pfizer Animal Health is to help our customers raise healthy animals," said Clint Lewis, President, U.S. operations, who personally helped develop the series during the past two years. "We want to help showcase to the public the valuable, critical work of veterinarians and farmers dedicated to responsible and safe care of livestock animals."
For more about Pfizer's Commitment to Veterinarians platform, visit:
Web: vets.pfizerah.com
Twitter: @Commitment2Vets
Facebook: Facebook.com/pfizeranimalhealth
Viewers can watch the series at YouTube.com/VeterinariansOnCall
Funding for this series is provided by Pfizer Animal Health, a world leader in discovering and developing innovative animal vaccines and prescription medicines. Pfizer Animal Health works to ensure a safe, high quality food supply from healthy livestock, fish and poultry; and helps companion animals and horses live longer, healthier lives.
The series is produced by Essex Television, a full-service media production and communications company based in Old Lyme, CT. Its award-winning HD broadcast division produces the popular TV series Chasing Classic Cars on Discovery's Velocity channel (formerly Discovery HD Theater).
Pfizer Inc: Working together for a healthier world
At Pfizer, we apply science to our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacturing of medicines for people and animals. Our diversified global health care portfolio includes human and animal biologic and small molecule medicines and vaccines, as well as nutritional products and many of the world's best-known consumer products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared disease of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as the world's leading biopharmaceutical company, we also collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, Pfizer has worked to make a difference to all who rely on us. To learn more about our commitments to animal health, please visit us at www.pfizerAH.com .
10.13.2011