Frequently Asked Questions

How do I request funds?

Funds are provided when a team member at Van Stavern Small Animal Hospital feels the need exists and the patient is deserving.  Team members request the funds on your pet’s behalf and serve as a champion for your pet.  Each individual team member has his or her own personal criteria for making the request.

Is this a charity that essentially gives handouts to people who cannot afford their pets?

The angel fund is not a handout. Clients must contribute towards the costs of treatment while the fund makes up the difference in what they cannot afford.  Additionally, owners must exhaust all other means of payment prior to qualifying for angel funds. 

Many people can afford regular treatments and services, but emergencies and extraordinary circumstances can result in costs for treatment that even the most prepared owner might not be ready to cover.  The angel fund is intended to assist with these extraordinary situations.

Can the angel fund help me with diagnostic test costs such as bloodwork and X-Rays?

The angel fund is intended to help provide treatment to pets who desperately need it and have a good prognosis for recovery.  Unfortunately, we don’t know if a pet desperately needs treatment or what their prognosis will be until their case has been worked up and they have been diagnosed.

The veterinarian said that the treatment may not fix the problem my pet is having.  Can the angel fund pay for it?

Unfortunately, the angel fund is for cases where there is a good prognosis for recovery.  While we’d love to save every pet, our funds are very limited and we must use them where they are most likely to make the biggest difference.  These are literal life and death situations where the difference between outcomes is strictly financial.

My pet has been diagnosed with a lifelong ailment.  I can’t afford this for the rest of my pet’s life.  Can I request angel funds?

Unfortunately not.  There are many charities and funds out there that already serve this purpose. The angel fund provides funds for a single critical treatment when there is a prognosis for full recovery.

I received a gift from the angel fund but don't want my pet to appear on Facebook.  Is that allowed?

Facebook posts and other forms of marketing are made in order to spread the word and get more donations to help more pets. Your pet's story helps us show people just how valuable those donations are and how people can make a big difference in a pet's life. We make every attempt to ensure that a client’s and patient's privacy is protected and only the pet’s name will be used (client names are not used at all). If requested, we will use a pseudonym for the pet in the story. However, we consider willingness to help with such marketing efforts to be a requirement. Your pet's story can make a difference for the next pet in need!

Where can I use the funds?

The funds can only be used at Van Stavern Small Animal Hospital.  Funds cannot be transferred to other hospitals or emergency clinics.

Is there any maximum to the amount the angel fund will provide?

The angel fund has extremely limited funds and maximum amounts are determined on a case by case basis.

My pet isn’t up to date on his/her preventative care.  Can my pet still receive funds?

Pets who receive funds should be up to date on their shots and be receiving regular care for all basic needs.

I’m not a client at Van Stavern Small Animal Hospital, but my pet is having an emergency.  Can I request funds?

Only existing clients can receive funds as we have to confirm basic care is being provided. Unfortunately, we can only do that by looking back through medical records. As outside records can take days to acquire, significant time to analyze, and are often incomplete, in order to streamline the process we require that the pet be an existing, regular patient at Van Stavern Small Animal Hospital.

My pet was nominated for funds and was denied.  Does that mean the team working with me doesn’t care for my pet? 

Not at all! Team members who are working with your pet care a lot but are only able to initiate the process. Beyond that, there is a direct conflict of interests if they are involved.  As such, no team member who is currently working with your pet can vote for or against the issuance of funds. While there are many criteria for awarding a gift, many of the criteria are outside the control of the team including the availability of funds and the prognosis of full recovery. Unfortunately, it is often a lack of donations that prevents us from providing assistance. Please consider donating today!