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Donate to help sick and injured animals
When Duffy found a lump on Billy Bob’s side that was steadily growing, he brought this up with myself and other shelter workers. Billy had been slowing down and wasn’t as playful as he used to be, but most of us simply took this as Billy’s senior years finally catching up with him. As the lump continued to grow and Billy continued to decline, it was clear we needed to get him to a vet. It was also clear that Billy’s pain was taking a toll on Duffy who was frantic, grief-stricken, and convinced that with no money to take Billy to the vet, his may lose his closest friend.
After searching desperately for any resource that might be able to help Billy and Duffy, a friend working at another shelter told me about the Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie Fund. I filled out the application on behalf of Duffy and was delighted to receive a reply so rare in this sector: yes, the McVitie program would help.
My colleagues and I took a taxi with Billy, Duffy, and Duffy’s close friend Amber to the veterinary hospital to have Billy examined. There vets determined the lump to be cancerous and recommended it be surgically removed in order to save Billy’s life, a procedure that would cost more than $1,500.
With funding from the McVitie Fund, Billy’s surgery was able to go ahead. Duffy was in tears, thanking everyone for helping him. It was as if Duffy had won the lottery. He’d never been given anything in his life. My shock matched his. In this field we don’t get a lot of wins. Loss is expected; people are forgotten; we don’t get funding. The Vancouver Humane Society gave us all hope.
789 sick and injured animals like Billy have been helped through the McVitie Fund this year. That’s the highest number of animals ever assisted through the fund in one year. It costs approximately $280,000 to operate the fund each year, that’s why I am asking for your support today to help this wonderful program continue running for the rest of 2024 and into 2025.
This holiday season, would you consider making a donation in Duffy’s memory and Billy’s honour to help other animals in need? Every gift from caring donors like you helps families like Duffy and Billy’s stay together a little longer. Your donation is a gift of hope and of recognition that all animals matter.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Dawn, McVitie Fund Program Intern