Tag: Companion animals

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News/Blog

Pets get the care they need through veterinary support programs

Marco the cat sits on a cat tree in front of a window
Table Of Contents
  1. Chipper's GI stasis treatment
  2. Marco's FeLV test
  3. Abigail's wound repair surgery
  4. Donate to help pets in need

Every week, animal guardians who are experiencing a period of low income reach out for urgent veterinary support for all manner of essential care—from the UTI treatment that will save a cat’s life to the knee surgery that will help a dog walk again without pain. VHS’s McVitie Fund is here to help them get the care they need without making the almost impossible decision to surrender their loved companions to a shelter.

The need for veterinary support is constantly growing, and meeting this need is only possible thanks to kind donations from animal lovers like you.

Read on for updates on some of the animals you have helped this year.

Chipper’s GI stasis treatment

Chipper the bunny on a bed. Chipper received veterinary support for gastrointestinal stasis.

Chipper needed urgent help when he stopped eating, drinking, and pooping: all signs of gastrointestinal stasis, a condition that can be fatal to rabbits if left untreated.

Chipper’s loving guardian, Danika, lives alone and is struggling financially. Despite this, Danika managed to scrape together $370 for Chipper’s vet bills. She reached out for help with the last $300 to get him well again.

Thanks to support from the community, Chipper was able to get this life-saving care! He has since fully recovered and returned to his happy life of playing with his toys and grooming his best bunny friend, Billie Bean.

Help animals like Chipper

Marco’s FeLV test

Marco the cat being held by his guardian in front of a window.

Marco’s guardian, Tim, reached out for help getting tested for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). Sadly, Marco’s brother Max had been unexpectedly diagnosed with the virus and passed away.

FeLV is spread between cats who are in close contact with each other, even in the early stages before symptoms present. Because of this, Tim and the veterinarian were very concerned that Marco had contracted the virus before Max was diagnosed. Tim had spent all his savings on Max’s treatment, and reached out for help covering Marco’s blood test and exam to keep him comfortable and healthy.

Miraculously, Marco tested negative for the virus! He is now on a special diet and is getting plenty of play time to keep him healthy. Marco’s guardian, Tim, says he is doing well and adjusting to life without his brother.

“Marco’s future is bright and energetic. He usually starts waking me up at 4:30am every morning like a rooster. It is that energy and that connection that I cherish because every moment with him is a blessing.”

Help animals like Marco

Abigail’s wound repair surgery

Abigail the dog sits on her guardian at the vet clinic after receiving treatment for serious wounds.

Sweet Abigail is a celebrity in her mom’s building. The staff and neighbours know her well and love this gentle giant. While out for a walk with her mom, Abigail was badly attacked by another dog. She was left with severe wounds around her head, neck, and shoulders and needed urgent surgery to remove the infected tissue. 

Abigail’s mom Tanis lives in low-income housing and was terrified because she couldn’t afford to take her to the vet. Thankfully, the staff in her building helped Tanis search for veterinary support programs and came across Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie Fund.

Thanks to an outpouring of support from VHS donors, Abigail was able to get the surgery she needed right away. She has recovered well and is back to her old self, getting out for walks and playing with her many friends!

Help animals like Abigail

This vital support for pets and their low-income guardians is only possible thanks to animal lovers like you. Your donation today to VHS’s McVitie Fund will enable animals in most urgent need to receive essential medical treatment while staying with their loving families.

Learn how your donation provides vital veterinary support to animals or see the animals in urgent need today.

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Urgent Care

Urgent surgery for Abigail

Abigail needs emergency surgery after a dog attack

While out for a walk with her mom, Abigail was badly attacked by another dog. The attack has left Abigail with severe wounds around her head, neck, and shoulders. 

Abigail’s mom Tanis lives in low-income housing and was terrified because she couldn’t afford to take her to the vet. Thankfully the staff in her building helped Tanis search for veterinary support programs and came across Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie Fund.

Our program coordinator Brooklyn quickly organized an emergency veterinary appointment for Abigail. The vet confirmed she will need surgery, with an expected cost of approximately $1,000, to remove the infected tissue to allow her to fully heal. 

Tanis told VHS, “We love Abigail very much. I am so grateful to you for stepping in and helping with the vet bill.“

Tanis describes Abigail as a loving, kind, caring dog who is loved by so many people where she resides. She likes going for walks, eating treats, cuddling with her mom and chewing on stuffed toys. 

Can you help Abigail get better by donating?

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News/Blog

Maxwell and Dodie’s story

When Maxwell and his guardian Dodie needed veterinary support, VHS’s generous donors were here to help. Watch the video to hear their story.

Help families like Dodie and Maxwell

Maxwell’s story

When Maxwell began developing dry eyes which resulted in an eye infection, his guardian Dodie rushed him to the vet. There she received much-needed medication and his eyes began to improve. 

But Maxwell wasn’t out of the woods yet. His eye infection returned and Dodie feared that her beloved companion and support dog would lose his vision.

Maxwell’s guardian Dodie is on disability income and was struggling to cover the cost of his mounting veterinary bills. That’s why she reached out to VHS’s McVitie Fund for help.

With the help of VHS donors, Dodie returned Maxwell to the vet for tests and a new round of medication that she would need to administer daily. 

Just when it seemed that all was well, a follow-up visit revealed that Maxwell had signs of cardiac disease and the vet strongly recommended an echocardiogram (ECG) to assess the function of his heart.

Support through VHS’s McVitie Fund enabled Dodie to get the ECG for Maxwell. It found that he has stage B1 myxomatous mitral valve disease, which at this time is not significant enough to require treatment but will eventually require management through medication.

Dodie shared her gratitude with VHS donors, who made it possible to get Maxwell the urgent medical care he needed.

Dodie told VHS, “Maxwell has been with me since he was 6 weeks old. I have a vestibular nerve disorder as well as several other disabilities. I cannot tolerate motion and I have no sense of balance. Maxwell will lie on me during an attack, which counteracts the sense that I am spinning wildly. He will bring me fresh water, medications, certain foods, my phone, and a blanket. He does so much for me, it’s difficult to list it all.”

Maxwell’s veterinary care cost more than $1,500, and support from generous McVitie Fund donors meant his bills were covered in full.

Every gift to VHS’s McVitie fund supports families like Dodie and Maxwell’s to get the urgent veterinary care they need. Can you donate to help animals like Maxwell today?

Categories
Urgent Care

Urgent bladder surgery for Brewsky

Brewsky needs a life-saving bladder surgery

Update: We received an invoice for the surgery from the veterinarian, and the cost is a littler higher than anticipated, at $2553. Thank you for your donations to reach this goal!

When Brewsky became lethargic and wasn’t able to urinate, his guardian Don became concerned about his best friend. They are very close and Don quickly realized this behaviour was not normal.  Living as a very low-income person, Don knew he would not be able to pay for the full costs of Brewsky’s care and reached out to the Vancouver Humane Society for support.  Once we confirmed funding, he brought Brewsky straight to the vet. 

The vet determined that Brewsky is dealing with un-dissolvable bladder stones that will need to be removed to allow him to properly urinate again.  They are completing the costly cystotomy surgery, and hopefully Brewsky will be able to go back home soon.

Don told VHS, “I’m really grateful for your help. I’ve been walking around here like a lost pup! I never dreamed that a cat would be my best friend. He’s a people’s cat, he’s so social it’s incredible. He’s like a dog! I spend a lot of time with him.”

Brewsky 9 years old and truly is Don’s best friend. Can you help Brewsky get better by donating?

Categories
Urgent Care

Urgent care for Huxley

Huxley needs an urgent diagnosis

Poor Huxley needs help getting an urgent diagnosis.
Huxley’s loving guardian, Wanda, has experienced a lot of loss recently. After the loss of a close family member, she lost her home and briefly had to stay in a women’s shelter while looking for safe housing. Since then, she has been staying with friends and family while saving up for a deposit on a new apartment for her and Huxley.

When Huxley began showing signs of an allergic reaction, Wanda immediately took him to the vet. There she was told he had an eye infection. A veterinarian determined that Huxley’s symptoms may be the result of Cushing’s Disease, which can cause fragile skin and infections.

Cushing’s Disease is a potentially life-threatening condition; with a diagnosis it can be managed through medication.

Wanda has prioritized Huxley’s care even though it meant using the apartment money she had been saving. She now has no funds left to help him and has reached out for help covering his bloodwork and diagnostic tests.

Can you donate toward Huxley’s urgent care today?

Categories
Urgent Care

Urgent care for Finnick

Finnick needs to be hospitalized

Finnick had a rough start to his life, having been abandoned in a river along with his sister Hazel when they were young. Luckily, Finnick and Hazel were rescued by their loving guardian Nicholas and have been living happily together ever since. Finnick is an affectionate boy who loves to be held and cuddled.

Recently, Finnick began to show signs of diabetes—undiagnosed diabetes often leads cats to lose weight, despite eating and drinking more than usual. Nicholas immediately rushed him to the vet and did all he could at every step of the way to make sure Finnick was cared for.

Nicholas lives on a low income with disability assistance, and had to take on some debt to get Finnick the care he needed. After being tested, Finnick received a diagnosis and medication.

Unfortunately, sweet Finnick is not out of the woods yet. A reaction to his new medication dosage caused him to have a seizure in the middle of the night and he will need to be hospitalized.

Nicholas knows that Finnick can live a happy, healthy life as soon as his condition is properly managed; but he is out of options and needs help covering the costs of Finnick’s care. Can you donate today to help Finnick get the care he needs?

Categories
Urgent Care

Urgent care needed for Tiger

Tiger needs life-saving veterinary care

Update: Tiger’s care has been fully funded thanks to many generous donors.
Tiger’s guardian, Alan, became concerned with Tiger when she stopped eating and going to the bathroom. A visit to the emergency veterinarian identified that Tiger is having severe liver problems. Alan and the veterinarian believe that she is suffering from secondary poisoning after eating a mouse that got into the house after consuming rodenticides from a nearby property. Tiger is now hospitalized at the vet and the veterinary bills are expected to be around $3,000.

Alan is a senior who is coping with disability and needs some help getting Tiger well again.

Alan told VHS, “When she was growing up as a kitten, she would follow me and cling to my leg. She means so much and she is the only family I’ve got. I recently lost two friends and Tiger is a big support.”

Tiger is only 7 years old and has a lot of love still to give in her life. Can you help Tiger get better by donating?

Categories
News/Blog

Peanut receives care after flooding leaves him and family trapped at home

Earlier this week, Cultus Lake was hit by flooding and landslides, completely blocking road access into or out of the area. Some households had been given evacuation orders and some people were unable to leave their homes at all.

Two of those left stranded were Sylvie and her dog, Peanut.

“I’ve never seen such destruction in Cultus Lake,” Sylvie said. “There are huge holes in the road and they are filling with water. We’ve had landslides like this here before, but I’ve never seen anything like this before in my life. The parking lot at the community hall is now a big crater!”

But being homebound would become much more troubling for Sylvie. Peanut soon injured his dewclaw, leaving it bent all the way back. Sylvie said that he seemed like he was in such pain that his eyes and ears were turning red. While she would have normally rushed him to the veterinarian, she now had no way of getting there.

“The lake now has floating wood and debris in it all around the shoreline. At first we couldn’t leave the house at all for resources because it wasn’t safe or possible to leave.”

Sylvie was finally able to get Peanut to the vet yesterday where, with help from Vancouver Humane Society’s Flood Evacuee Veterinary Support fund, he had the claw safely removed and received pain medication.

Many stories like Sylvie and Peanut’s are now emerging; we know that more pet guardians will need assistance in the coming days and weeks. Of the thousands of flood evacuees, more than half of households have pets.

In a time when people are doing their best to ensure their loved ones are safe and healthy, we are working to eliminate the financial barriers that come with unexpected veterinary costs for their animal family members.

Vancouver Humane Society’s Flood Evacuee Veterinary Support is here to help any pet guardians impacted by the flood with costs related to veterinary care, including medications and vet-recommended food that may have been left behind in the evacuation, as well as treatment for illnesses or injuries. Those needing support are asked to reach out through our online form, by email at mcvitie@vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca, or by phone at 604-336-1390.

We are truly grateful for the support of our community in this time of crisis. If you are able to donate toward veterinary support for flood evacuees, we welcome gifts through the form below. All donations toward our veterinary support fund are currently being matched 100% up to $25,000 by an anonymous donor.

B.C. Flood Evacuee Veterinary Assistance

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Opinion Editorial

Government support needed to help resolve veterinary care crisis in B.C.

Closeup of cute boston terrier dog at clinic with owner. African woman carrying her pet at vet hospital. Girl holding puppy and visiting clinic for regular checkup. Pet care concept.

Article originally published on The Georgia Straight.

Veterinary care in British Columbia has reached a point of crisis, and veterinary staff, pets, and guardians are all feeling the strain.

Pet guardians report months-long wait times seeking care for their animals, who are suffering due to staff shortages.

Meanwhile, veterinarians are more than twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts when compared with other Canadians. Some aging veterinarians in B.C. worry that they will feel guilty leaving their work to their colleagues when they retire.

So how did we get here, and, more importantly, how do we fix it?

To start with, there are simply not enough veterinarians to handle the sheer volume of pets who need help. In Canada, there is about one cat or dog for every two people. In British Columbia, there is just one veterinarian graduating into the workforce each year for every 102 doctors—an especially bleak statistic considering there is also a doctor shortage in the province.

Anyone who wishes to become a veterinarian in this province must vie for one of only 20 spaces with financial aid, which would allow them to study at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon for a reduced tuition fee of $11,000 per year. Those who cannot find a coveted spot must cover the entire tuition themselves—a whopping $67,000 annually.

The time, difficulty, and expenses incurred in becoming a veterinarian and maintaining a veterinary practice can drive up the cost of care for pet guardians.

Since veterinary care is not subsidized by the government, this can spark a vicious cycle that leads to stressed pet guardians, less than ideal communication between guardians and veterinary staff, and animals not getting the care they need until their health is in a severe state of crisis.

All those factors can contribute to veterinarians and veterinary technicians taking on even further mental and emotional burdens.

A recent research article from the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) and Dalhousie University assistant professor Haorui Wu proposes steps that would help break this cycle. The research delves into recommendations from pet guardians who experienced barriers to veterinary care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It ultimately finds that changes like financial support for low-income pet guardians and training for veterinary staff on a trauma-informed approach could reduce the stress of both guardians and veterinarians while improving the lives of animals.

The link between the health of animals and the well-being of the humans around them is common sense to many people who share their home with a pet. When a guardian is unable to afford needed care for a beloved pet, the guardian often experiences stress, guilt, and shame. When a veterinarian euthanizes a pet that was unable to receive preventive care for financial reasons, the loss of that animal can take a severe emotional toll on all who are involved.

The interconnectedness between human and animal well-being has been explored in recent years under the moniker “One Health, One Welfare”. VHS’s research highlights this approach as a best practice.

One local example of this practice in action is Community Veterinary Outreach (CVO). “Our group utilizes the One Health approach,” says Doris Leung, veterinarian and regional director of CVO in Vancouver. “We recognize that by improving an animal’s health and well-being, you can improve the pet guardian’s health and well-being as well. Our volunteers support marginalized pets and their owners in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES).”

With CVO events, pet guardians have access to caring, trauma-informed veterinary services in concert with human health services. For instance, they can learn about the importance of tooth brushing to promote good oral hygiene for their pets and to prevent pain and suffering with periodontal disease. At the same time, they can get support for their own oral health from volunteer dental hygienists at the clinic.

When pet guardians have positive experiences in seeking care for their animal—whether that means finding care with a holistic model similar to CVO, being supported through payment plans, or speaking with a veterinarian who has received training in trauma-informed care—they are more likely to prioritize veterinary care in the future.

These services help to ensure that animals will receive preventive care and decrease the need for euthanizations performed due to a lack of funds. A trauma-informed approach improves the communication between veterinarians and their clients, transforming normally stressful interactions into productive partnerships. If implemented now, these changes can even begin to decrease burnout in the veterinary sector.

Note: If you’re thinking about suicide, or are worried about a friend or loved one, you can call the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention at any time.

Categories
News/Blog

Fireworks create more stress than joy

A brief moment of joy for some

Unintended consquences for others

Most kids have a story about the first time they got their hands on fireworks, including VHS’ recently retired Peter Fricker, who accessed some pretty dangerous fireworks when he was growing up!

While fireworks may be tempting for a moment of joy, they have some intense and devastating consequences. You may remember the 2016 case of Maggie, a 10-year-old pup who was off-leash at the unfenced Trout Lake dog park during the afternoon when someone set off fireworks. Suddenly, Maggie was running, not sure where to go for safety. Tragically, she was killed by a skytrain.

Her story is not unique. Walking down the street one Vancouver Halloween, I witnessed a coyote running full speed, terrified of the sounds. Wildlife centres receive many calls on days with fireworks about animals that are anxious and disoriented and they report that wildlife often show signs of distress for days afterward.

There is an answer: Banff was the first Canadian city to recognize these impacts and produce a sound-free fireworks display, and Canmore has followed suit.

In Maple Ridge, B.C., it is illegal to set off fireworks without a permit.

The City of Vancouver, B.C., also has a consumer fireworks ban in place and so does the City of North Vancouver.

There are three ways to prevent the suffering of animals from fireworks:

1. Write to your municipal council.

Write to your local municipal council and ask them to put a ban in place for the sale and use of fireworks by private citizens. The District of North Vancouver is currently considering such a ban. Residents can contact City Council in support of a consumer fireworks ban.

2. Sign the federal petition.

Sign the federal e-petition, which calls on the Canadian goverment to explore legislative changes around the use of fireworks. The petition is open until February 25, 2022, at 10:45 a.m. PST.

3. Share this infographic!

Without public education, people will continue to seek illegal means to access fireworks even in areas with bans in place. The infographic demonstrates how one small change can help create a community that cares for everyone who belongs in it, be they feathered, furry or human.

vhs_fireworksDownload
vhs_fireworksDownload