Found Animals and its strategic partner the Alliance for Contraception inCats and Dogs (ACC&D) announced the launch of The Michelson Prize inReproductive Biology at the SPAY/USA Conference in Chicago on Thursday,October 16th, 2008 at 7pm.

The Michelson Prize in Reproductive Biology is an internationalcompetition which represents a unique experiment in innovation aimed atsolving the problem of pet overpopulation.

The goal of the Michelson Prize in Reproductive Biology is to encourageresearchers from a wide variety of scientific fields to take on the challengeof non-surgical pet sterilization. Found Animals is hopeful that this largemonetary incentive will motivate scientists, including those who may neverhave been aware of the issues of pet overpopulation, to bring cutting edgescientific approaches to bear in this historically underserved area.

Found Animals recognizes that the research required to develop and testnovel approaches to pet sterilization will take time and money and that manyinterested parties may not have access to the resources required to initiateand maintain research in pursuit of the Prize. For that reason, Found Animalsis also offering the companion Michelson Grants in Reproductive Biology whichwill provide funding for promising research in pursuit of non-surgicalsterilization technology.

"We're killing millions of pets annually in the U.S. for the simple lackof a home and sterilization programs are the only viable solution," said Dr.Michelson. "Animal welfare experts have long recognized sterilization as themost important component in the fight against pet overpopulation."

Surgical spay/neuter procedures are the current standard for sterilizingcompanion animals. While this approach is relatively safe and effective, itis not an ideal. Spay/neuter procedures require general anesthesia and anadequately equipped surgical facility, both of which create obstaclesincluding high costs, transportation of animals and the inherent risks ofsurgery. A single dose, non-surgical sterilant would be an ideal solution.

According to Found Animals Executive Director Aimee Gilbreath, "Surgicalspay/neuter procedures are just too expensive and inconvenient for many petowners -- we need a better solution. We hope that the Michelson Prize andGrants in Reproductive Biology will encourage the best and brightest minds inscience to take on the challenge of developing an innovative non-surgicalsterilization product that will ultimately prevent death and suffering formillions of cats and dogs worldwide."

According to the ACC&D, researchers have been on the verge of discoveringpet contraceptives and non-surgical sterilants for years, but a lack offunding has kept these ideas stalled in the early stages of research. Newscientific breakthroughs in other healthcare fields may offer promise whenapplied to this goal. The Michelson Prize has the potential to stimulateresearch, "allowing for ground-breaking approaches in pet sterilization toemerge," says Joyce Briggs, President of ACC&D.

In addition to addressing pet population in the U.S., The Michelson Prizeseeks to make sterilization accessible and affordable worldwide and aiddeveloping countries where this problem is even greater. According to Briggs,"many pet caretakers don't have access to basic veterinary care, let alonespay/neuter services. As a result, draconian measures, including poisoning,electrocuting, and shooting, are still used to control dog and cat populationsabroad. A non-surgical sterilant could help end these unspeakable practices."

Found Animals is a 501(c) 3 private operating foundation, formed byprolific inventor, entrepreneur and billionaire, Dr. Gary Michelson.Dr. Michelson is also noted as one of The Forbes 400 Richest Americans(http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/1006/104.html). The foundation addressesthe causes and consequences of pet overpopulation through innovativestrategies and community partnerships and works to develop sustainable,scalable animal welfare business models.

The Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs (ACC&D)(http://www.acc-d.org) is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 whose mission is to expeditethe successful introduction of methods to non-surgically sterilize dogs andcats and to support the distribution and promotion of these products tohumanely control cat and dog populations worldwide. ACC&D's Board of Advisorsinclude leading scientists, veterinarians and animal health industry expertsas well as senior executives from world leading animal welfare organizations.

"We're very excited that Dr. Michelson and Found Animals share ourmission, and are prepared to bring this level of support to leverage abreakthrough," says Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, Chair of the ACC&D Board andExecutive Vice President of the ASPCA (The American Society for the Preventionof Cruelty to Animals). "The investment that Found Animals plans to bring tothis field of study is unprecedented. We're hopeful this incentive will helpdevelop a new product that will serve as an alternative to traditionalsurgery."

"We are thrilled to have ACC&D as a strategic partner in the MichelsonPrize and Grants in Reproductive Biology, says Aimee Gilbreath, ExecutiveDirector of Found Animals. "They bring an incredible wealth of knowledge andexperience in the field of non-surgical sterilization and their counsel hasbeen invaluable in the development and launch of the Prize and Grants."

For All Inquiries & Interview Requests Contact: Michael Gilman, Director of Communications Found Animals Foundation, Inc. (office) 310-566-7389 (e-mail) Michael@FoundAnimals.org http://www.foundanimals.orgSOURCE Found Animals Foundation, Inc.