CATalyst Council Lands in KC Animal Health Corridor

August 22, 2008 - The CATalyst Council has formally announced its headquarters will be based in Kansas City and named Germinder & Associates agency of record.  The CATalyst Council is a not-for-profit organization formed to address alarming statistics about feline health care and welfare in the United States.  

 “We selected Kansas City as our home base due to the number of animal health companies and organizations that are located in Kansas City.  Many of these organizations have already joined in support of the Council and we hope to engage many more.  We look forward to Germinder & Associates assisting us with our communications, administration and sponsor support to achieve those goals,” said Dr. Jane Brunt, CATalyst Executive Director.

The current board of directors of the CATalyst Council includes: Dr. Brunt as Executive Director; Dan Kramer, senior marketing manager, Pfizer Animal Health as chair, Robert Rohde, president of Dumb Friends League as vice chair; and Cal Morgan, president, Society of Animal Welfare Administrators as treasurer. Other board members include: Dr. John Albers, American Animal Hospital Association; Dr. Christine Jenkins, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc.; Dr. Jack Stephens, Pets Best Insurance; Dr. Alexis Nahama, VCA Animal Hospitals; Dr. Patricia N. Olson, Morris Animal Foundation; and Steve Dale, nationally syndicated pet columnist and radio show host.  Because of the current crisis situation with feline health care, the AVMA Executive Board voted in June to participate on the CATalyst Council Board.  The American Veterinary Medical Association is in the process of naming the AVMA representative to the CATalyst Council board.  

“Bringing the CATalyst Council to the Animal Health Corridor demonstrates the power of the connections the Corridor has achieved in just a very short time. With so many companies and associations engaged in the initiative, Kansas City is a natural fit and we welcome them to the Corridor,” said Lynn Parman, Vice President, Life Sciences & Technology Business Development for the Kansas City Area Development Council.

The CATalyst Council is the culmination of the achievements attained at the CATalyst Summit.  At the CATalyst Summit in February 2008, held by the American Association of Feline Practitioners with underwriting from Pfizer Animal Health, attendees responded to the issues raised in feline health and well-being, and created an action plan to continue to collaborate across all channels, develop feline life-stage guidelines (for veterinarians and pet owners), create cat-friendly veterinary practices, brand the cat and produce a consumer awareness campaign.

About Catalyst Council

CATalyst is a national initiative comprised of animal health and welfare organizations and corporations to champion the cat in light of troubling statistics released by the American Veterinary Medical Association that show an increase in the cat population coupled with a decline in veterinary visits for cats.  The association address is P.O. Box 22773, Kansas City, Mo 64113. More information about the CATalyst Council is available at www.catalystsummit.org.