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Veterinary Emergency Treatment Fund (VET Fund)

Coronavirus is Killing Pets, Just Not the Way You Think

One of the major concerns at the onset of COVID 19 was whether pets could catch or spread the deadly disease. Animal lovers across the globe watched their pets closely for signs of illness, and the CDC and other global health organizations spent countless hours researching the subject. We have found that our four-legged friends are relatively safe from the effects of the virus, yet their lives have not been spared by this global pandemic.

Widespread unemployment, an economy hanging on by a thread, businesses forced to close for weeks to months on end. All of it adds up to one devastating consequence in the veterinary field, economic euthanasia. Economic euthanasia is when sick or injured animals with treatable conditions are euthanized because their owners cannot afford the cost of their care. We are talking about puppies with broken legs, kittens who ate their yarn rather than playing with it, and long-time family members that just need a little help to get back on their feet. Countless thousands have likely been lost already during this pandemic, but that is a statistic that is not tracked and never makes it to headline news.

One organization in Richmond, Virginia is working tirelessly to stop the spread of this widely unrecognized problem. VET Fund is a nonprofit organization which provides funding for emergency veterinary care to families in need in Central Virginia. This small, local organization has pulled up its bootstraps and gotten to work saving the animals in its community from an untimely fate. VET Fund’s founder, Dr. Chelsea Mason, is a veterinarian and practice owner who sees the devastating effects of COVID 19 on her patients every day. “Owners are having to choose between treating their pets and putting food on the table” she says. “It’s heartbreaking to watch families struggle with this dilemma, and I’m thankful that we have been able to give them somewhere to turn.” VET Fund, which was founded in 2016, has helped 56 families save their beloved pets this year. That is more than in its previous three years combined, all at a time when fundraisers, galas, and other events have had to be put on hold.

To help this incredible organization continue their life-saving work, visit www.vet-fund.org and donate today! 

To purchase tickets for the VET Fund Wine & Beer Raffle, click here!
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