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Press Press Releases 2005 Pethealth Launches PetPoint™, the First Comprehensive Web hosted Management Software Program for Animal Welfare Organisations Oakville, ON. – March 07, 2005. Pethealth Inc. (“Pethealth” or “The Company”) (TSXV: PTZ) is pleased to announce that it has launched PetPoint™, the first web-hosted management software program for animal shelters, humane societies and rescue groups in North America. Pethealth Services (USA) Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pethealth, began marketing the software in January to several animal welfare facilities in the United States after spending about seven months developing the utility. To date, 14 shelters have licensed the software and are using it to conduct the day-to-day operations of the shelter, or are completing pre-cutover configuration. the software’s various applications for internal purposes. The Wisconsin Humane Society (“WHS”), one of the leading animal welfare organisations in the United States, which cares for more than 18,000 animals annually, agreed to be the beta test shelter for the software. After rigorously testing the application, WHS began using PetPoint™ in its daily operations earlier this month. The Company believes that its PetPoint™ program will have broad market appeal, given that a relatively low percentage of shelters and rescue groups currently use any form of management software to conduct their day-to-day operations. PetPoint™ is unique as the Company hosts the application and the shelter’s data on servers it controls, allowing for a more cost-effective solution for the shelter as an Internet connection and a desk top computer is all that is required to gain full access to the benefits of the program. "PetPoint is revolutionizing the Wisconsin Humane Society's data management. We are able to provide seamless integration of our web site with updated animal photographs and information. Microchipping information and ShelterCare's complimentary pet health insurance are processed immediately with no added time or effort. PetPoint has greatly reduced the amount of time it takes to complete an adoption and increased the accuracy of our animal records," said Victoria Wellens, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Humane Society. Additionally in 2004, it was announced that PetWhere, a software application originally developed by the Bosack-Kruger Foundation, would become open source and support for the program would be discontinued as of April 2005. It is estimated that some 500 animal welfare organisations were using PetWhere. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (“ASPCA”) has agreed to assist Pethealth Services in messaging the availability of PetPoint™ to those shelters previously using PetWhere. "PetPoint is a great web-based animal tracking software. It’s easy to use and does not require the expense of networks and servers, which many small to medium size shelters cannot afford nor have the expertise to set up and keep running. The beauty of PetPoint is that all you need is a PC with access to the Internet, and you are off and running with the ability to track animals when they come into your care and follow them throughout their stay with you," said Julie Morris, Senior Vice-President, National Shelter Outreach at the ASPCA. The PetPoint™ software program is provided free to animal welfare organisations. Monthly service fees are also free to shelters using the ShelterCare® pet insurance and the 24PetWatch microchip programs. ShelterCare® is a pet insurance program created by PetCare Insurance Brokers Ltd, another wholly owned subsidiary of Pethealth, with the assistance of Petfinder.com. The 24PetWatch microchip program is offered through Pethealth Services Inc., a leading provider of RFID technology to shelters and clinics in North America. Integrated within the PetPoint™ program are modules that allow for adopted pets to be enrolled online into the ShelterCare® program at www.sheltercare.com and into the 24PetWatch pet registry database at www.24petwatch.com. To date, over 500,000 dogs and cats have been enrolled into the ShelterCare® program and 243,500 have now been registered with 24PetWatch. The ShelterCare® program commenced in January 2002 and the 24PetWatch microchip and pet registry program began in February 2003. -“PetPoint’s design allows shelters to easily and quickly offer the ShelterCare insurance and the 24PetWatch microchip programs electronically at the point of adoption. This saves shelter staff time and expense and eliminates mailing and other delays often associated with the use of paper forms. We believe that PetPoint will not only strengthen Pethealth’s relationship with shelters using its insurance and microchip programs, but will also allow it to more effectively grow its ShelterCare and 24PetWatch programs,” said Mark Warren, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pethealth. About Pethealth In the United States, the PetCare Pet Insurance Programs are underwritten by Lincoln General Insurance Company and administered by PetCare Insurance Brokers Ltd. and PetCare Insurance Agency, Ltd. Coverage is available in all states other than AK and MA. PetCare is a trademark of PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. and is used with permission. In Canada, the Company’s pet insurance is underwritten by ING Novex Insurance Company of Canada and Kingsway General Insurance Company, administered by PetCare Insurance Brokers Ltd., and distributed in Quebec by P. Morin Courtier en assurances Inc. Coverage is available in all provinces, excluding the Territories. In Canada, PetCare is a registered trademark of Pethealth Inc. In addition, Pethealth, through its wholly owned subsidiaries Pethealth Services Inc. and Pethealth Services (USA) Inc., is a leading provider of companion animal microchip technology and related pet recovery and database managed services. Pethealth operates this under the trade name 24PetWatch. Pethealth is based in Oakville, Ontario. To find out more about Pethealth Inc. (TSXV: PTZ), visit the website at www.pethealthinc.com. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements contained in this news release, if not historical, are forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in forward-looking statements. Not for dissemination in the United States of America or to United States news wire services. For further information contact: |
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