Tag: McVitie Fund – care needed

Orangy needs your help

When Marla heard her beloved cat, Orangy, crying for her in his tiny little whisper, she rushed over to find him in discomfort, straining to urinate.  
 
Marla took Orangy straight to the vet, where veterinary staff confirmed that five-year-old Orangy was suffering from a serious urinary blockage. He was unblocked once, but by the next morning, Orangy was blocked again. Without proper treatment and several days of hospitalization, his condition could quickly become life threatening.  
  
Orangy was born in a forest, where he survived the cold and illness, even losing his voice, before finding his way to Marla.  
 
Though his meow is faint, Orangy’s presence is huge. Marla describes him as the most loving and affectionate companion, a cat who flops onto his back to stretch, follows you from room to room to make sure you are okay, and never misses a chance to cuddle or paw at whatever sparks his curiousity.  

To continue life without Orangy would break Marla’s heart.  
  
“I love my cat and he’s been there for me through a lot. Orangy is such a special guy and he deserves to come home,” Marla told the VHS’s McVitie Fund team. 
  
Marla’s limited funds are exhausted from Orangy’s unexpected initial treatments. She has no funds left to cover the next critical step in his care. 

Orangy’s prognosis is very good with treatment. He has a real chance to recover and return home to the person who loves him, but time is critical.  

Your kindness can ease Orangy’s pain and ensure this special cat has many more years to come with Marla. Can you make a donation today? 

Your compassion helps families like Bear’s when they are facing moments of crisis.

Last month, Jenny came home to find her eight-year-old Great Pyrenees, Bear, in distress. A large lipoma on the back of his leg had ruptured, leaving him in pain. With their regular vet closed for the day, Jenny rushed Bear to an emergency hospital, where the team confirmed he needed surgery as soon as possible. They also discovered severe dental disease that would require treatment while he was under anesthesia. The costs quickly added up. 

For Jenny, a widowed mother of two living on a survivor’s pension, this emergency came at the worst possible time. Recent expenses for car repairs and medical needs for her autistic son had already drained her savings. And now Bear, the dog who had helped her family through unimaginable grief, needed urgent care she could not afford. 

Bear came into their family as a puppy and quickly became their source of calm and comfort. After the loss of Jenny’s husband, he helped her children through their grief, especially her son, offering stability and emotional support in ways only a deeply intuitive animal can.

Jenny shared, “Bear is family. He is a strong, stubborn, gentle doofus whose loyalty is unmatched. We are lucky he chose us. He gives us peace of mind and stability, especially when life feels chaotic.” 

When families with nowhere else to turn, the McVitie Fund is there to ensure they do not have to face these emergencies alone.

This year, the McVitie Fund spent a record-breaking $640,000 on emergency veterinary care, helping 1,300 pets in crisis stay safely with the families who love them. Even with incredible community support, the need has continued to outpace available funding, and the fund is currently closed to new applicants.  

Your holiday gift today will help us reopen the McVitie Fund in the new year, so more animals can receive urgent care before it is too late.  

Thank you so much for your compassion for animals and for considering a gift this holiday season. Your kindness brings relief, comfort, and hope when they are needed most. 

Finn’s terrifying tale turned happy ending

Curious puppy Finn, wound up in a life-threatening situation with some socks recently. Luckily, thanks to supporters like you, the McVitie Fund was there to help.

When Finn’s guardian, Ginny, left her room to take clothes to the laundry, Finn took the opportunity to investigate a few socks that had fallen out of Ginny’s laundry hamper.

When the pair left the house for Finn’s usually treasured walk, Finn stopped, sat down, and threw up two socks.

After they came back inside, Finn still appeared lethargic and could not drink water. Ginny rushed him to an emergency veterinary hospital where initial x-rays showed Finn’s intestines were obstructed with socks. To survive, Finn would need $2,500 to cover diagnostics, surgery to remove the obstruction, and a three day stay at the veterinary hospital.

Ginny was distraught. Since rescuing Finn she has delighted in caring for him and spending her days by his side. The pair have become inseperable, and Finn’s loss would be devastating.

Difficult circumstances mean Ginny is currently living in temporary housing and had no funds available for Finn’s surgery. A trusted worker at Ginny’s temporary housing helped connect her with the McVitie Fund and she quickly filled out an application for Finn.

Because of supporters like you, the McVitie Fund was able to provide funding to get Finn the life-saving care he needed.

Ginny was astonished and overwhelmed with gratitude when she heard this news. She wrote to us, “thank you so very much!!! I’m so grateful and relieved!!! I love my puppy very much, this is wonderful news.”

Finn’s surgery went well, and after his hospital stay, Ginny got to take her dear friend home to recover and get a good night’s sleep by her side.

“Due to your support, he is thriving, happy and healthy again. I keep all the socks in a closed basket and out of reach, as this was a terribly traumatic experience for him and I, but you got us through it,” Ginny wrote.

“I truly appreciate the generous funding support you provided and will give back to the Humane Society when I’m able to. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your compassion and financial help in our time of need.”

Finn and Ginny are just one of hundreds of families helped thanks to thoughtful gifts from supporters like you this year. The McVitie Fund relies on your generosity to continue supporting low-income pet guardians across B.C. seeking emergency help for their beloved animal friends. Could you support families like Ginny’s with a donation today?