PAW FUND (Pets & Wellness Fund) exists for a simple reason. Even though the Bay Area has progressive animal shelters, animal rescue and welfare groups on every corner, and a compassionate and caring populace, as well as spay and neuter programs and low cost vaccine clinics, veterinarians are still seeing an increase in preventable diseases, and shelters are overflowing with unwanted and abandoned animals.
The problem is that there is hardly any support for people with low or fixed incomes or homeless people, seniors, the disabled and Veterans, or just regular folks who have hit a temporary financial roadblock and who have animals who need veterinary care.
It seems obvious: low cost and free, easily accessible spay or neuter, vaccinations, and emergency medical care should be available on a “public health” model. So over the last 6 months, we established two programs funded generously by two donors. During December we spayed or neutered thirty-four dogs, 75% of whom also received vaccines, microchipping or other services like hernia repair, dental and gum care, treatment for ear infections and dew claw removal.
We accomplished all that for under $150 per dog! And over the last quarter of 2010 we helped 47 animals with needs that ranged from bloodwork and other diagnostics, leg surgery, severe urinary blockages, Xrays and tooth extractions to ear infections, skin conditions and a sock that was blocking a dog’s intestine, and even euthanasia where there was no hope left. The average cost was just around $200 per animal because of the close partnerships developed with veterinarian, who worked to keep costs down while giving premium l;evel care.
Working together with veterinarians, animal shelters and the community, The Paw Fund helps when and where it can, within a small budget. And every time we help a community member keep tan animal healthy, or prevent unwanted litters, or protect from fatal diseases like parvo virus or leukemia, we keep more animals out of municipal animal shelters and prevent them from being abandoned or euthanised because those are the cheapest options. One of the vets said it best: “When we do this work, we are treating humans as well as their animals.”
But of course this work needs YOUR support. You can make a tax deductible donation to our sponsoring nonprofit BRIGHTHAVEN.org and designate any donation in the ‘comments’ box as being for PAW FUND. That ensures that the SPAY/NEUTER PROGRAM & THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY FUND receives your gift! Click on the PawFund link above to download a PDF which gives a more detailed description of our work!
