The Companion Animal Parasite Council will travel cross-country, driving home the importance of year-round parasite prevention to protect pets and people

BEL AIR, Md., July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- What is zoonotic disease? Is year-round parasite protection for dogs and cats a good idea? After a 13-city educational tour this summer, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting pets and people from parasites and the diseases they carry hopes that more people can answer these questions.

Parasitologists and veterinarians with the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC, http://www.petsandparasites.org) will travel more than 5,000 miles across the country, to educate pet owners and families about zoonotic diseases -- also known as parasitic diseases that are transmitted from pets to people -- and how to prevent them.

Parasites live where you do

'Parasites can be found in all 50 states, every day of the year, regardless of the weather', said Michael Paul, DVM, executive director of the CAPC.

'The CAPC recommends that pet owners use easy-to-administer preventive medicines year-round to control internal and external parasites -- such as roundworms, heartworms, fleas and ticks for the life of their dog or cat, no matter where they live,' said Paul. 'If you prevent parasitic infections in companion animals, you greatly reduce the chances of zoonotic transmission to people.'

The CAPC is taking a 33-foot long RV wrapped in vivid images of children with dogs and cats across the country to drive home the point that pet owners should administer year-round parasite preventives, because parasites pose potential risk in every geographic region of the country. The vehicle will make stops in 13 cities, with events open to the public in seven of those cities, including:

-- Oklahoma City at Bass Pro Shops on Thursday, July 24, from noon to 6 p.m. when people and their pets are welcome at frisbee dog performances by dog experts and 'Ask-a-Pet-Expert' event.

-- Kansas City, Mo., at the historic Union Station on Friday, July 25, where expert veterinarians will be available to answer questions and 'The Dogs' Spot Dog Stars' will perform agility demonstrations and family-fun tricks.