The application deadline to receive donated vaccines through the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC) is Feb. 1. Through this program, qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities are provided with all American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)-recommended core vaccines to protect against eastern equine encephalomyelitis, western equine encephalomyelitis, rabies, tetanus, and West Nile virus, as well as equine influenza and equine herpesvirus.

To qualify for donated vaccines, facilities must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, follow the AAEP Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities and work with an AAEP-member veterinarian to submit an application. Applicants can apply for donated vaccines once per year-to receive spring or fall vaccine shipments-and must reapply each year. All vaccine shipments will be sent directly to the AAEP-member veterinarian who supported the facility's application.

To date, more than 6,000 horses in rescue have received life-saving vaccines through the UHVRC, which is co-sponsored by the AAEP and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Since the program's inception in December 2008, a portion of all Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health equine vaccine sales has gone to support the UHVRC. To learn more about the UHVRC, visit www.uhvrc.org, facebook.com/unwantedhorse, and twitter.com/unwantedhorse.