Star of "Ugly Betty" and HomeAgain(R) Announce New Service that Gives Lost Pets a Second Chance at Life NEW YORK, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Each year more than 10 million pets become lost and nearly 90 percent of pets without identification never make it home. To raise awareness for the millions of lost pets, HomeAgain(R), a leader in the pet microchip, recovery and safety service industry, is partnering with dog lover and "Ugly Betty" star Vanessa Williams to launch the national Bring Pets Home Campaign. Together, HomeAgain and Williams are setting a goal of microchipping and enrolling two million pets by the end of this year. "To an animal lover, nothing is worse than losing a pet. It's shocking that less than five percent of the 145 million pets in the United States benefit from the lifesaving technology of microchipping," says Williams. "I am so thankful that I microchipped and enrolled my dog Enzo with the HomeAgain Proactive Recovery Service. Without it, I may have never been reunited with my dog when he went missing." Sadly, one in three pet owners will see a pet go missing in their lifetime. Cat and dog owners should be aware that the simple act of microchipping and enrolling their pets can help save pets' lives if lost. Bring Pets Home Campaign The Bring Pets Home Campaign is an educational effort that showcases the important role microchipping plays in saving pets' lives, with a goal of engaging millions of pet owners to get their pets microchipped and enrolled in the proactive recovery service. The process is easy: -- First, get your pet microchipped at your local vet's office. To microchip your pet, a veterinarian implants a tiny chip about the size of a grain of rice just under your pet's skin between the shoulder blades. Comparable to a standard vaccination, the procedure is fast, safe and painless. -- Once your pet is chipped, it's important to enroll in a national database like the HomeAgain Proactive Pet Recovery Service. Unfortunately, half of the pets that are microchipped are not enrolled in a database. The enrollment process, which can be done over the phone, online or at your vet's office, ensures that your pet is connected to your most recent contact information. -- Whether you're a pet owner or animal lover, you can register to become a HomeAgain PetRescuer. When you become a HomeAgain PetRescuer, you will be alerted through e-mail when a pet goes missing in your area and encouraged to keep watch and assist in search efforts. "At HomeAgain, we're committed to reuniting as many lost pets as possible," says Steve Shell, vice president and general manager of HomeAgain. "That's why we provide the most comprehensive offering for pet owners to give lost pets the best chance of being reunited with their owners." Vanessa Williams Fights Lost Pet Statistics On October 27, 2007, Vanessa Williams will officially kick-off the Bring Pets Home Campaign at the brand new, state-of-the-art Animal Haven shelter in New York City. "The unfortunate reality for lost pets that are not microchipped is that most end up in shelters - placing a great burden on shelters and causing overcrowding," explains Williams. "Consequently, pets that become lost can face a grave future." As part of the Bring Pets Home Campaign, HomeAgain is helping overburdened shelters by contributing funds to "Bring Pets Home" Foundation to help shelters save pets' lives. HomeAgain is planning to make a donation up to $250,000 to "Bring Pets Home" when pet owners microchip and enroll pets in the HomeAgain Proactive Pet Recovery Service between now and the end of the year. Log onto homeagain.com to learn how you can learn more about HomeAgain and the "Bring Pets Home" Foundation. The Proactive Pet Recovery Difference The HomeAgain Proactive Pet Recovery Service is more than just microchipping, it's a unique approach for pet owners who want to give their pets the best protection. In addition to its world-class recovery service, pet owners will benefit from a portfolio of services designed to keep your pet safe and well, and give you peace of mind. From a network of vets available for after-hour emergency medical consultations, to lost pet medical insurance coverage, the HomeAgain service offers exceptional value to its subscribers. Should a pet go missing, with just one call to the 24/7 pet recovery service, our pet counselors will notify our network of shelters, veterinary clinics and PetRescuers, sharing key information, such as the pet's description, a photo and the microchip number. "A common mistake that pet owners make is that they think their pets won't get lost," said veterinarian to the stars Dr. Jeff Werber of Century Veterinary Group. "However, one in three will become lost. The best thing you can do is be prepared with a HomeAgain microchip and enroll your pet in the proactive service. To date, HomeAgain is responsible for reuniting almost 400,000 pets with their owners." Additionally, microchipping and enrolling in HomeAgain makes a great holiday gift for your pet or a pet owner you care about. So, instead of giving another chew toy, give the gift that can truly help save pets' lives. About HomeAgain Since 1995, HomeAgain has been a leader in companion animal identification and lost pet recovery. Debuting in 2006, the new HomeAgain Proactive Pet Recovery Service is a proactive lost pet service that actually mobilizes volunteers at the first alert of a missing pet. With HomeAgain, a lost pet is successfully recovered approximately every six minutes. To date, more than 4.5 million pets in the United States have been enrolled in the HomeAgain(R) program, resulting in almost 400,000 successful recoveries. For more information, visit http://www.homeagain.com/. HomeAgain is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Schering-Plough Animal Health Corporation About Schering-Plough Corporation Schering-Plough is a global science-based health care company with leading prescription, consumer and animal health products. Through internal research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough discovers, develops, manufactures and markets advanced drug therapies to meet important medical needs. Schering-Plough's vision is to earn the trust of the physicians, patients and customers served by its more than 33,500 people around the world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is http://www.schering-plough.com/. Schering-Plough Disclosure Notice: The information in this press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements relating to the potential market for HomeAgain. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations or forecasts of future events. Schering-Plough does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from Schering-Plough's forward-looking statements, including market forces, economic factors, product availability, current and future branded, generic or over-the-counter competition, the regulatory process, and any developments following regulatory approval, among other uncertainties. For further details about these and other factors that may impact the forward-looking statements, see Schering- Plough's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including item Part II, 1A. "Risk Factors" in the Company's third quarter 2007 10-Q. DATASOURCE: Schering-Plough CONTACT: Julie Lux of Schering-Plough, +1-908-298-4774, Web site: http://www.schering-plough.com/ http://www.homeagain.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/777050.html

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