News

Hurricane Victims Receive Assistance for Sick, Injured Pets
[10.17.2005]

Hurricane Victims Receive Assistance for Sick, Injured Pets
October 17, 2005

DENVER Many victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita struggling to rebuild their lives in the wake of the storms would be devastated by unexpected veterinary bills due to a pet's injury or illness. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Helping Pets Fund is helping relieve this burden by awarding grants for veterinary care of sick or injured pets victimized by the storms.

Óour hearts go out to all the victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and particularly the four-legged victims,Ô says Anna Worth, VMD, chair of the AAHA Foundation Board of Trustees. ÓThe AAHA Helping Pets Fund is contributing to the relief effort by helping those affected obtain quality veterinary care for their sick or injured pets so they have one less thing to worry about.Ô

To date, grants have made care possible in wide-ranging circumstances. In one case, an evacuee from Mississippi received assistance for treatment of her beloved Shi Tzu who suffered a broken leg swimming through floodwaters while escaping the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. In another, a New Orleans family fled the storm to live temporarily with friends in Texas where their two dogs accidentally consumed rat poison. An AAHA Helping Pets Fund grant covered the cost of emergency treatment.

Other cases where AAHA Helping Pets Fund grants enabled care include treatment for a poodle suffering from acute symptoms of cardiac disease and for a golden retriever suffering from bladder stones. Both pets were owned by victims of Hurricane Katrina who suffered significant financial losses.

ÓSoon after Hurricane Katrina, we teamed with the Humane Society of the U.S. to create the HSUS/AAHA Katrina Pet Wellness Program, which has made wellness care possible for hundreds of pets over the past month,Ô said Dr. Worth. ÓWe are now seeing a growing number of cases where hurricane-impacted pets need treatment to address an injury or illness, and we are reaching out to veterinary professionals and pet owners alike for support so we can continue to meet this urgent need.Ô

Veterinary professionals are being urged to discount fees when treating pets owned by people displaced by the hurricanes. Pet owners and other concerned individuals can help by donating to the AAHA Helping Pets Fund at www.aahahelpingpets.org or calling 1-866-4HELPETS (1-866-443-5738) to offer a gift.

As the benevolent arm of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Foundation, the AAHA Helping Pets Fund helps those in need access quality veterinary care for their sick or injured pets. The program raises funds and awards grants supporting veterinary care for pets that have been abandoned or whose owners are experiencing financial hardship. The Fund helps pay for necessary medical care (non-elective procedures) for sick or injured companion animals in eligible cases. The AAHA Helping Pets Fund is the only program of its kind in the U.S. and Canada.

The AAHA Foundation was established in 1978 to improve the lives of pets. Over the years, this goal has been pursued through programs in animal health studies, disaster relief, education and scholarships. Now, the Foundation is embracing a benevolent mission through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, which offers grants through AAHA-accredited veterinary practices.

The American Animal Hospital Association is an international organization of more than 34,000 veterinary care providers who treat companion animals. Established in 1933, the association is well
known among veterinarians for its high standards for hospitals and pet health care.