Gutter-Vac joins the RSPCA in the fight against Heartworm in family pets

April 15, 2009

Download Media Release (PDF, 350KB)

Australian franchise company Gutter-Vac, professional gutter cleaning specialists, has offered RSPCA shelters across the country their services to help reduce mosquito breeding grounds and the spread of heartworm.

The dog heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, is an increasing major veterinary health problem for dogs. Heartworms are parasites that live in the heart and main blood vessels of the lungs of cats and dogs. They are spread between infected animals by mosquitoes. The infection is now found throughout all of Australia. Dogs can be severely affected, with major vessels becoming blocked with chronic infections; death usually results in such
cases from heart failure.

The trees surrounding many RSPCA animal shelters can provide great coverage but can also contribute to blocked gutters, which are breeding grounds for heartworm carrying mosquitoes.

Managing Director of Gutter-Vac Mr Warren Ballantyne says "Blocked gutters cause a build up of rotting sludge which is an ideal food source for heartworm carrying mosquitoes and a perfect place for them to lay their eggs."

“We hope that by ensuring the RSPCA has regular professional Gutter cleans we can help to reduce this epidemic affecting our family pets”, he said.

In this community initiative each Gutter-Vac franchisee will be responsible for cleaning an RSPCA shelter in their territory each year for free. The Gutter-Vac wet and dry vacuum technology can remove that sludge from the gutters quickly & easily.

Gutter-Vac has 36 franchises offering gutter cleaning to 36 different RSPCA shelters across Australia.

Prevention is the best solution for the heartworm disease as treatment of the disease can be dangerous and expensive and it may not be able to reverse the damage already caused by the heartworm.

Mosquito control in residential areas where dogs and cats live can break the transmission cycle of heartworm

CONTACT:

Warren Ballantyne Managing Director of Gutter-Vac
Ph: 0402 595 197 E: warren@guttervac.com.au

MEDIA CONTACT:

Peta Ellis Red Carpet Projects Ph: 0738558852 E: peta@redcarpetprojects.com.au