Texas is listed among the top 10 states for Heart-worm infection cases.  The American Heart-worm Association reports...

"The latest AHS survey is based on testing data from the 2013 calendar year. More than 4,500 veterinary practices and shelters in the nation participated, contributing data from an estimated 3.5 million patients. Results of the survey are being released to help pet owners better understand the threat of heart-worm disease, both nationwide and in their area.

A state-by-state breakout of the findings shows that Texas came in fourth place behind Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, with Arkansas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Oklahoma filling out the remaining top ten states. Three years ago, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas topped the list."

We can encourage more people to join in the fight against heart-worm infections if we make it mandatory for pets just like the rabies vaccine. There is more than an abundance of reason, cause and statistics to support the need to do so. All out campaigns have been waged by many animal organizations to educate people to use products to treat their pets but its not enough! clearly from the statistics. So we are asking that an/any American Heart-worm Association  approved preventative care be added to the vaccinations required by law for all cats and dogs. 

The picture is Tony, an Australian shepherd mix. He was fostered and adopted through Montgomery county shelter in Montgomery Texas. His past involved a tangle with wild hogs which left him scars and broken teeth. He was the sweetest thing and well mannered and was only 5 years old! Although he survived a fight with  wild hogs and several months in our shelter, he could not survive the invasion of the heart-worms that were inside his heart. He died December 26th 2016 at 11am. Tony passed quietly in my arms while losing blood in his urine. His death was absolutely unnecessary and painful.

Tony represents what happens to pets when pet owners disregard veterinarian recommendations and neglect pets.  A pet that suffers with a serious infection of heart-worms because the owner did not have them on preventative should be considered neglect.  Texas needs to take a stand for pets health which is closely related to our stand on Human health and make it law and enforce heart-worm prevention to fight this epidemic. 

Please sign this petition and send a message to our representative that we want AHS approved preventative medicine for heart-worms Mandatory Law along with the Rabies vaccines for pet owners and shelters. Please Help.