24/7 Emergency
Silent Partner Fund
Pets need angels, too.
As a state-of-the-art emergency and specialty veterinary hospital, pets come to CARE for evaluation of serious or life-threatening illness. Pet owners count on our doctors to carefully explain all the treatment options and work with them on the best possible outcome for their family member. We know not everyone can afford the costs associated with restoring health to their pet and this can be devastating for their family.
Helping owners in need
We founded the CARE Silent Partner Fund because many of our clients and our staff have asked how they could help. Donations to our fund lets us provide services to pets whose owners could not otherwise afford treatment.
- Unlike human medicine, there is no federal safety net for pets.
- Roughly 16% of pet owners said they’d lost a pet because they could not afford veterinary care.
- More than 30% of pet owners said they avoided taking their pet to the vet to prevent an expensive bill.
- Nearly 29% of pet owners said they’ve been unable to provide emergency care for their pets due to cost.
Source: MarketWatch, 2024 Pet Insurance Survey, June 12, 2024
“The first time I saw the Silent Partner Fund (SPF) being put to use, was to help a dog who had sustained injuries while defending her owner in a domestic violence attack. I remember the owner saying, “If I have to put her down, I don’t want to live either.” I truly felt like SPF saved two lives that night.”
Top reasons people contribute to Silent Partner Fund
- Express gratitude to doctor/CARE
- Honor a pet/person
- Memorialize a pet/person
- Celebrate a birthday
What is the impact of my donation?
What is an example of what a
$500
donation can do?
Ultrasound
A $500 donation will pay for an ultrasound, which could show if a toy was swallowed.
What is an example of what a
$250
donation can do?
X-rays
A $250 donation will pay for an X-ray, which could show if a bone is broken.
What is an example of what a
$100
donation can do?
Kidney Lab Test
A $100 donation will pay for a kidney lab test, which can identify a kidney problem.
What is an example of what a
$50
donation can do?
Blood Count Lab Test
A $50 donation will pay for a blood count lab test which provides insights into better health.
What is an example of what a
$25
donation can do?
IV Fluids
A $25 donation will pay for IV fluids to help a pet feel better.
Please join us
All pet lovers are invited to be an angel for struggling pets and pet owners. CARE has partnered with the Veterinary Care Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. This partnership allows our fund to have no overhead costs and every dollar of every gift goes to treating pets in need. You can make a gift in three easy ways:
Secure Online Donation
By a check made payable to Veterinary Care Foundation
Be sure to indicate the donation is for the CARE Silent Partner Fund.
Mail to:
Veterinary Care Foundation
16504 NW Highway 225
Reddick, FL 32686
Your contribution is tax-deductible within the IRS charitable guidelines.
For more information about the CARE Silent Partner Fund, please contact Lisa Jones at 704-457-2300.
“The Silent Partner Fund enabled one of our patients with a bad corneal infection to undergo a corneal transplant procedure. This allowed us to save his eye and restore his vision in this eye.”
Stories
CARE Charlotte is sharing stories of thriving patients. One of them, Keenai, is a 9-year-old male husky who received a second chance through a grant from the CARE Silent Partner Fund.
Jennifer Schmidt rescued Keenai after breaking free from an abusive relationship. But in Schmidt’s opinion, Keenai actually rescued her. “I didn’t want to live anymore,” she says. “But Keenai gave me reasons to get up out of bed every single day—to take him out, to take him for a walk. He was there to give me a purpose.”
So, when Keenai started having trouble, Jennifer did everything she could to help.
For about two years, Keenai had chronic digestive issues that did not respond to treatment. Consequently, Jennifer was led to believe that she would probably need to have Keenai euthanized.
When Keenai’s digestive issues suddenly became more extreme, Jennifer took him to the emergency department at CARE. Expecting to be told that she would have to put her beloved companion down, she was elated when the CARE doctors diagnosed Keenai with a perianal hernia which could be surgically corrected to help his digestive issues. However, as a single mother trying to manage on her own, Jennifer was simply unable to cover the cost of surgery.
With encouragement from CARE staff, Jennifer set up a GoFundMe campaign and asked her friends and family for help. People donated, but that was not enough. Then a CARE staff member suggested that Jennifer apply to the CARE Silent Partner fund for help. Keenai qualified for enough assistance to make the surgery possible.
In December of 2022, CARE’s surgically repaired Keenai’s hernia and fixed his digestive problem.
“I’m really glad to have him home,” Jennifer says, “I thought I was going to lose him.”
“CARE and the Silent Partner Fund gave my life back,” she continues tearfully. “It sounds dramatic, but it’s true. After all we’ve been through, Keenai is everything to me.”