Last fall, the Washington State Animal Health Foundation launched a new resource intended to help you better serve your clients who struggle with affording important veterinary treatment – The Vets Helping Pets Fund.
The Vets Helping Pets Fund allows WSVMA members and their associates to advocate for clients in need and receive financial support to be able to provide needed care and treatment for their beloved animal companions. Many families struggle to afford care and our goal is to create a robust partnership with veterinarians to not only address this issue but help bridge that gap in care. We have created a simple application form and a set of guidelines to help with case selection. All we ask in return is for you to help us connect with these families so their stories and the power of their bond can be shared with our community.
Here’s a Happy Tail about one of the pets who received care through Vets Helping Pets.
Beacon, a nearly 5-year-old French Lop mix, has been a part of her mom, Jo’s life since she was just a baby. Inseparable, this delightful little Lop has helped provide the support Jo needs as her emotional service support partner.
Shared Jo, “Beacon has always been my life-saving ‘Beacon’ in life. In good times and when stress gets too much, all I need to do is hold her and I know I will be okay.”
But what to do when your beloved pet and emotional lifeline become quite ill and you are unable to cover the care they need? This was the case with Beacon. The team at North Seattle Veterinary Clinic diagnosed little Beacon with uterine cancer and she would need immediate surgery to remove the masses and ward off the spread of this life-altering disease.
Dr. Melissa Nathanson felt Beacon had a great chance for a longer life with this surgical intervention, but knew Jo was not able to cover the expense. This is where the Washington State Animal Health Foundation and its Vets Helping Pets fund came into play. Dr. Nathanson reached out on Beacon’s behalf for a grant and was approved. These funds came in just in time to get Beacon the care she needed.
Now home, Beacon and Jo are back to sharing their lives and providing all the love and support they need for one another.
What makes this program possible is the generous support of our donors and the veterinary community. Through their generosity, Vets Helping Pets can be there to help provide financial resources when it is needed most. You, too, can be part of this solution by making a donation to the Vets Helping Pets Fund today at wsahf.org.
For more information on this new program, please visit wsahf.org. There you can learn more about this exciting opportunity for Washington veterinarians and families, and access all supporting materials, including the complete guidelines, grant applications, and case studies.
The Washington State Animal Health Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit corporation and the charitable arm of the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association. All donations are tax-deductible. Donations to support the program can be made conveniently online here.
Posted April 22, 2022