Vrcc Animal Care Foundation

Causes: Animal Protection & Welfare, Animal-Related, Animals, Counseling, Health, Mental Health, Patient & Family Support

Mission: The VRCC Animal Care Foundation (ACF) was developed in 2000 to provide a community service to persons in the Rocky Mountain region. The Veterinary Referral Center of Colorado (VRCC) is one of the largest free-standing specialty veterinary medicine clinics in the country. The VRCC Animal Care Foundation is the non-profit service affiliated with that center. For the previous two years the Animal Care Foundation has been developing a very special program. In 2001 we were pleased to have introduced our Youth and Pet Survivors (YAPS) Program which partners child and animal cancer survivors. The program operates locally through pediatric oncology facilities and specialty veterinary practices. Our Gratis Medicine Program committee has developed guidelines for eligibility for reduced-cost specialty veterinary care. Participating doctors in the Rocky Mountain region have agreed to take a reduced fee for their services and the savings are passed on to the animal?s owner. Owners are asked to pay 35% of the reduced cost and the Animal Care Foundation pays the rest. Monthly, we evaluate completed applications and match them with specialists who have expressed an interest in providing their services. Finally, our Pet Loss Support Group continues to offer biweekly meetings for pet owners who face tough decisions about their pets or who have recently lost a beloved pet. We offer similar seminars to veterinary hospital staff members wanting to improve their ability to counsel their own clients as well.