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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Melissa Gibson
Humane Fort Wayne
Cell: 260-750-6688
Shelter: 260-744-0454
E-mail: mgibson@humanefw.org
Humane Fort Wayne Receives $150,000 Grant from PetSmart Charities® to Improve Accessible Veterinary Care
Tuesday, January 16, 2024 (Fort Wayne, IN) - Fifty million pets in the U.S. experience a lack of access to even basic veterinary care. Rising costs and other barriers mean these pets struggle to access services such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations, and critical medical and preventative care. With as many as 70% of households now including pets, this issue affects families in nearly every community.
PetSmart Charities has committed $100 million over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care. The “Accelerator” low-cost veterinary care grant program is a key part of this effort. These grants support the expansion of low-cost veterinary care by funding growth and operations for up to four years for nonprofit clinics looking to expand their services, serve their communities better, and inspire other veterinary providers by sharing their experiences.
The grant made to Humane Fort Wayne in the amount of $150,000 will support the expansion of their Pet Promises Program to a free-standing community animal wellness center. The anticipated impact on local pets and families includes low-cost wellness and veterinary care, free vaccine clinic events, a pet food pantry, compassion fostering, and so much more. This center will give every pet owner, regardless of their circumstances, the opportunity to provide well and fully for their pet.
“We have a history of responding to the needs of our community’s pets and their owners,” said Jessica Henry-Johnson, Humane Fort Wayne’s Executive Director. “We’ve seen the growing concerns about access to affordable basic veterinary care, and we look forward to expanding our services to ensure that everyone, especially those facing economic hardships, can find timely, quality care for their family pets at affordable pricing. And while we are unable to offer all the services provided by our community’s full-service veterinarians, we look forward to bridging the gap for the thousands of pets who are not regularly being seen by a veterinarian. This initiative, coupled with our other wrap-around Pet Promises social service programs, will, we hope, create a better, healthier community for pets and the people who love them.”
According to Melissa Osborn, Pet Promises Service Administrator, “The goal of this program is to help keep pets with families and to help reduce the number of animals in shelters.” She analyzes shelter data to determine where animals come from and why. This step is imperative to understanding how to help. “I have often found that people give up their pets due to financial reasons. People struggling with the costs to care for pets is a nationwide problem, but a problem further exacerbated in the neighborhood we serve.” The neighborhood where this program expansion will take place is considered a desert for all basic necessities – especially veterinary care. Osborn optimistically looks forward to an expansion to her program that “will allow us to offer services our community desperately needs and deserves.”
Overwhelmingly, people consider their pets important members of the family. Pets make a significant impact on the health and wellness of the people they love. This grant will enable more families to get the preventative and standard care that ensures their pets thrive at home and stay out of shelters.
“Our veterinary system is in crisis,” said Kate Atema, director of community grants and initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “Rising costs are putting standard veterinary care out of reach for as much as 50% of pet-owning families. We need innovative solutions that make veterinary care affordable for families in every community who want the best for their four-legged companions but struggle to meet the cost of vet care. We’re inspired by the incredible work Humane Fort Wayne is doing to create solutions that will build strong families and a healthy community.”
Among other things, the Pet Promises Program currently offers free vaccine clinics and weekly free pet food distribution. We look forward to creating an even greater impact in our community by providing more veterinary and wellness services with this expansion.
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