It’s an all-too-common scenario in the rescue world: animals surrendered because owners can no longer afford to care for their pets.
When chocolate-lab Cash broke his back leg, his family — unable to afford Cash’s surgery or rehabilitation — was faced with the heartbreaking decision to surrender their pet to Carver-Scott Humane Society (CSHS), a foster-based nonprofit in the Twin Cities.
“We, like other animal welfare organizations, are always reacting to abandoned pets that have been surrendered,” says Mandi Wyman, Executive Director of CSHS. Which is why they’ve decided to launch a new program, “Fur Keeps,” which aims to keep pets in their homes — before owners make a decision to surrender.
The groundbreaking Fur Keeps program provides the following to struggling pet owners:
- Pet food, medical care, spay/neuter services, and microchipping.
- Grants to help pay for emergency surgeries via Wilson’s Memorial Emergency Vet Grant, which provides funds to veterinary clinics to treat animals when families are facing the decision to euthanize or surrender their pet because emergency care is out of financial reach.
- Counseling for pet owners considering surrender, giving them multiple options for pet retention, including behavioral assistance, referrals, rehoming opportunities, and more.
“It’s usually best for the families and the pets to stay together,” says Mandi. In the future, Fur Keeps will help families like Cash’s do just that.
Wanna help CSHS in their mission to prevent pet surrender? (Res ru do!) The time is now: Between now and November 17, donations to the Fur Keeps program will be matched up to $25,000. You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
And on November 17 — Give to the Max day in Minnesota — you can stop by CSHS in Chaska (map) any time from 9 am till 9 pm to donate in person, enjoy refreshments, and meet their team. If you donate $50 or more you’ll receive a mini photo session with you and your pet.
“Fur Keeps focuses on helping people and pets earlier in the cycle—before a family going through tough times has to surrender their loved pet. Often times, this is when a family needs their pet the most,” Mandi says.
[Related: MN’s First and Only Nonprofit Vet Hospital, Helping MN People and Pets Stay Together During Difficult Times]