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 Roxy who was helped by Vets Helping Pets.
Roxy, a 6-year-old Chihuahua, came into the life of her new owner, Dana, after Dana was severely injured and subsequently had to face several major surgeries to survive. While recovering, she reached out to a rescue where she found Roxy. Roxy was just the companion Dana needed to help her heal and truly have something to love and care for.
Dana knew she had to budget for routine veterinary care, but it came as a shock to her to find out how severe Roxy’s dental condition was when she took her in to North Seattle Veterinary Clinic for an exam. In fact, her new companion would need almost a full mouth of extractions at a cost beyond Dana’s reach.
Wanting to do all they could to help keep this emotional-support pair together, Dr. Windom reached out to the Washington State Animal Health Foundation’s Vets Helping Pets program to apply for a grant on behalf of Roxy and Dana. With those funds now available, Dr. Windom and her team were able to get Roxy the dental care she needed.
Dana and Roxy can now forge ahead on their road to physical and emotional recovery together.
There are times when pet owners are faced with financial circumstances beyond their control and they do not have the means to pay for their pet’s essential or lifesaving treatment. Vets Helping Pets can be a resource to WSVMA member practices and their clients so companion animals get the care they so desperately need.
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 July 22, 2022