Morris Animal Foundation

{{Short description|U.S. non-profit organization}}

Morris Animal Foundation is an animal health charity based in Colorado, United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.companionsweb.com/morris-animal-foundation.pml|title=Morris Animal Foundation|work=companionsweb.com}} The Foundation advances veterinary medicine and funds veterinary research for companion animals, horses and wildlife.{{cite web|url=http://www.orvis.com/s/the-orvis-commitment-canine-cancer/8565|title=The Orvis Commitment - Canine Cancer|work=orvis.com}}

It was started, in 1948,{{cite web|url=http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4127#.VSvf3pOtO4o|title=Charity Navigator Rating - Morris Animal Foundation|work=Charity Navigator}} by Mark L. Morris Sr., a veterinarian, who had been consulted about a dog with kidney failure. Morris helped the dog by devising a special diet. After he commercialized the diet, he used the profits to start the foundation.

Morris Animal Foundation advances animal health by funding scientific studies{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/04/the_golden_retriever_lifetime_study_and_the_future_of_human_medicine.html|title=The Golden Retriever Lifetime Study and the future of human medicine.|work=Slate Magazine|date=3 April 2015 |last1=Golbeck |first1=Jennifer }} at accredited research institutions, colleges of veterinary medicine and zoos. Since its inception, the Foundation has invested more than $118 million toward more than 2,600 studies to improve the health and quality of life for dogs, cats, horses and wildlife around the world. These studies have led to better prevention, diagnostic tools, treatment protocols and even cures for animal diseases and other health challenges.

They also provide critical funding to aspiring researchers in animal health fields, including support for two- and four-year training programs for post-doctoral students and a Scholars Program which allows veterinary students to do research early in their careers.{{cite web|url=http://vetmed.oregonstate.edu/morris-animal-foundation-scholars|title=Morris Animal Foundation Scholars Program - College of Veterinary Medicine - Oregon State University|work=oregonstate.edu|date=12 October 2009 }}{{cite web|url=http://cvm.msu.edu/research/summer-research-program-1/morris-animal-foundation-summer-research-fellowships|title=Morris Animal Foundation Summer Research Fellowships|work=College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University|access-date=2015-04-13|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150413204250/http://cvm.msu.edu/research/summer-research-program-1/morris-animal-foundation-summer-research-fellowships|archive-date=2015-04-13|url-status=dead}} The foundation has awarded over 400 grants to various veterinary students, at over 40 different schools in eight countries.