Good Works Honoree Spurs CHANGE to Fight Equine Abuse

The American Association of Equine Practitioners congratulates Dr. Grant Miller, an aggressive defender of abused, abandoned and neglected horses in Sonoma County, Calif., as the Good Works honoree for the month of March.

The AAEP’s Good Works Campaign honors AAEP-member practitioners who perform volunteer service to benefit horses and the equine community. Horse owners and veterinary professionals are encouraged to nominate veterinarians to be considered for the next monthly recognition by April 30.

Dr. Miller, a practitioner with Sonoma Marin Veterinary Service, partnered with local animal control in 2007 to found Coins to Help Abandoned and NeGlected Equine (CHANGE). Today, the non-profit organization provides housing, transportation, veterinary care, adoption and rehabilitation services for abused, neglected and relinquished horses found within the county. The program trains animal control officers to handle equine abuse cases and provides public outreach to educate members of the community about responsible horse ownership.

With forensic training from Dr. Melinda Merck of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dr. Miller has trained hundreds of California’s animal control officers to investigate crime scenes. He has been called on by district attorneys throughout the state to offer expert testimony during dozens of equine abuse and neglect.  In addition, he conducts monthly owner education events aimed to inform the public about realistic expectations when owning a horse.

Throughout 2011, the AAEP’s Good Works Campaign will spotlight AAEP-member practitioners whose volunteer efforts are improving the health and welfare of horses. Monthly honorees will be considered for the 2011 Good Works Award, to be presented during the 57th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas. Nomination forms are currently available at www.aaep.org/goodworks.htm.

The Good Works Campaign is sponsored in part by AAEP Educational Partner, Pfizer Animal Health. Pfizer Animal Health strives to improve horse health by helping to build strong relationships between veterinarians and horse owners and providing a range of products backed by the highest standards of scientific research.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its over 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.