Hartz® Names Community Leader "Hartz® Veterinarian of the Year 2007"

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY (January 05, 2007) - Dr. Edward Migneco, a devoted volunteer with several animal welfare groups, including People Are Wonderful Support, has been named "Veterinarian of the Year" for 2007 by The Hartz Mountain Corporation.

Hartz® created its "Veterinarian of the Year" program in 2001 to honor veterinarians who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to patients, their families and their communities.

One of the most prominent memories Dr. Migneco has of his years as a veterinarian involves a stray dog named Powder that lived in an abandoned house. It took months of daily feedings and contact before a local rescue volunteer could capture him and bring him into Dr. Migneco for treatment.

While Powder was treated for these problems by Dr. Migneco, he remained in the clinic for several weeks. Powder is now living with a great family but still visits the clinic for yearly exams. And, even though his looks changed greatly from the days when he came in as a stray, he still is excited to see his friends at the clinic.

Dr. Migneco was nominated for the award by Dr. Micah Young, who is an Associate Veterinarian at his veterinary hospital. Dr. Young nominated Dr. Migneco for this award because of his extraordinary dedication to community service.

Hartz® received thousands of nominations from individuals seeking recognition for their veterinarian’s outstanding contributions. Applicants are asked to describe their reasons for nominating their veterinarian. The nominees are then asked to respond to a series of questions about their clinical experiences, volunteer work, and their definition of the human-animal bond. Dr. Migneco will receive a grand prize of $5,000.

This year, renowned pet author Arden Moore helped judge the winner of the Hartz® Veterinarian of the Year. Arden Moore promotes the welfare of dogs and cats as editor of Catnip, special correspondent for Animal Radio and has authored 18 books, including her latest, The Dog Behavior Answer Book. According to Ms. Moore, “Reading about Dr. Migneco’s experiences working with various animal rescue groups was heartwarming. He is an excellent example of how important it is for us to serve our community and promote humane education.” The runners-up were Dr. William Grant of the Community Veterinary Hospital in Garden Grove, California and Dr. Karla Brestle of the Humane Alliance of Ashville, North Carolina. They will each receive a runner-up prize of $2,500.

Dr. Grant, a graduate of Kansas State College of Veterinary Medicine, volunteers in a number of community outreach programs, including the Boys and Girls Club. He has also served as an officer for several veterinary organizations, including the California Veterinary Medical Association.

Dr. Brestle, a graduate of North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine, is the Medical Director of the National Spay and Neuter Response Team for The Humane Alliance Spay and Neuter Clinic in Ashville, NC. Her group services 39 animal welfare organizations and has sterilized over 158,000 animals since 1994.

About The Hartz Mountain Corporation

The Hartz Mountain Corporation is the leading manufacturer and marketer of pet care products in the United States and Canada. For 80 years, Hartz® has provided pet owners with the highest quality products – innovative solutions developed with proven science and love for companion animals. The company offers more than 1,500 products for dogs, cats, birds, small animals, reptiles and fish, each dedicated to the health and well-being of household pets. The Hartz Mountain Corporation is owned by Sumitomo Corporation of America (SCOA), together with its parent, Sumitomo Corporation, Japan (SC), an integrated global trading company. For more information please visit www.hartz.com.