VIRGINIA EQUINE VETERINARIAN LAUNCHES HURRICANE RESCUE EFFORTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH STATE ASSOCIATION

Eklin Medical Customer to Bring Portable RapidStudy™ DR Technology and Mobile Clinic to Aid of Horses in Areas Affected by Hurricane Katrina

Marshall, Virginia and Sunnyvale, Calif. – September 16, 2005 – When Virginia-based, equine veterinarian Lynne Miller Johnson, DVM, heard the preliminary results of the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association’s (VVMA) fact finding mission to Mississippi and Louisiana last week to evaluate the needs of animals within the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, she jumped into action. Johnson, in close collaboration with the VVMA, will be taking a 40 foot trailer loaded with supplies and advanced diagnostic medical equipment to Mississippi and Louisiana to help hundreds of horses affected by this catastrophic storm. She will be departing on Friday, September 23, 2005.

“We have all seen the horrific aftermath and human tragedy which Katrina has inflicted,” said Johnson, founder of Commonwealth Equine Medical and Dental Services in Marshall, Virginia. “What hasn’t been so widely publicized is the extent of healthcare needs of horses affected by the storm. The risk of disease and death to hundreds of animals throughout the stricken regions is of great concern. It is imperative to provide relief supplies and support as quickly as possible in order to minimize this significant risk.”

Common ailments affecting horses in the area are colic, skin disorders and assorted wounds. Johnson’s goal is to deliver relief supplies in support of first responders such as the Veterinary Medical Assistance Team, Humane Society of the United States, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP). The Commonwealth Equine trailer will be available as a mobile clinic as needed and will offer advanced diagnostic equipment including digital radiography (DR) capabilities using a portable RapidStudy™ DR system from Eklin Medical Systems. Other local Virginia veterinarians, horse groups and the general public are collecting non-perishable medical and non-medical supplies for Johnson to take with her to the stricken areas.

Commonwealth Equine is a small private practice with a staff of two including Dr. Johnson who is a graduate of the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. The practice provides mobile healthcare for horses throughout Virginia, especially in areas underserved by equine veterinarians. The mobile clinic works in conjunction with area veterinarians to provide advanced field diagnostics, ophthalmology and dentistry services when there is no access to referral hospitals. In addition to the Eklin DR system, the practice offers a lab, hematology, oral videoscopy, video endoscopy, hand-held slit lamp ophthalmoscope, and Aloka 900 ultrasound. Since the practice is by appointment only, all calls have been rescheduled until Johnson returns from her hurricane mission.

“The veterinary community is very caring and when something of this magnitude strikes, we feel it is our mission to help in whatever way we can,” said Johnson. “The local community and VVMA have responded magnanimously in their contributions to this effort. In addition, we are also seeing aid coming from veterinary medical and related companies as well.”

To this end, a number of organizations and corporations have announced giving programs which will aid veterinary care efforts in Mississippi and Louisiana. However, additional monetary and supply donations are needed for the initial and ongoing rescue mission.

“It is critical that the veterinary care community collectively unites to help in this important outreach,” said Gary R. Cantu, president and CEO of Eklin Medical Systems. “At Eklin, we have challenged our employees with a matching funds program for donations to aid in this effort. We want to encourage others in our industry to do the same.”

As part of Eklin’s donation drive, the company will match employee contributions to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Disaster Relief Funds.

How You Can Help

• Monetary donations can be made online to the AAEP and AVMA Disaster Relief Funds by visiting www.aaep.org and www.avma.org. All major credit cards are accepted. Instructions for mailing checks are also available at the respective web sites. Donations can also be made to the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association/Katrina Relief Fund (non-tax deductible) by visiting www.vvma.org.
  
  
• Medical, feed and other equine related care supplies can be sent to:
  
  Lynne Miller Johnson, DVM
  Commonwealth Equine Medical and Dental Services
  10150 Conde Road
  Marshall, VA 20115
  540-219-8801
  equinedvm4u@aol.com
  
  
• To order equine non-perishable medical and non-medical supplies for Dr. Johnson’s rescue mission, Tri-County Feeds in Marshall, Virginia will accept orders by phone with credit card payment at 540-364-1891. Donated items will be picked up on Thursday, September 22, 2005 at Tri-County for transport beginning Friday, September 23, 2005.
  
  
• Equine medical and healthcare supplies can be ordered through several medical distributors such as Henry Schein, MWI, Columbus Serum, Burns and Milburn (where Dr. Johnson’s DEA and DVM license numbers are on file). All supplies should be shipped to Dr. Johnson in Marshall.
  
  
• Any supplies arriving after Dr. Johnson’s departure on September 23, 2005 will be distributed to hurricane victims at a later date.

Media Contact:
Laurie Hallwyler
Eklin Medical Systems
650-248-9081
lhallwyler@eklin.com