My Nonprofit Reviews

I am an avid cat lover, and originally had two beautiful animals. Throughout the year of 2008-2009 I found myself temporarily adopting cats from friends who could no longer care for them, and in one instance, acquired kittens from an abandoned litter. My attempts to adopt the animals out to homes on my own, while at the same time provide them with adequate medical care, proved financially impossible and time consuming. During my repeated attempts to find cost effective medical care, a family member suggested I search online for local organizations in Upland who specialize in helping animals. I came across H.O.P.E.'s organizational website at www.helpingoutpetseveryday.com and was engaged by Margaret Coffman, who was immediately sympathetic to my plight. Her response was swift and effectively overwhelming. Within a week I was directed to the V.A.C.S.(Veterinary Ambulatory Community Service) program funded by H.O.P.E. since 2005 at the Upland Animal Shelter. To my utter surprise and amazement, the animals were spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and micro-chipped FREE OF CHARGE since I was a resident of Upland. But wait, there's more. Margaret offered to help with my unsuccessful adoption attempts by taking the cats into the organization, guaranteeing me that they would find them loving homes for life. True to her word, all of the cats have found their lifelong homes. Then, in June of this year, one of my cats had escaped from the house and was attacked by another animal. When he returned he had severe bite marks on the backs of his legs and an abscess on his throat the size of a golf ball. I took him to a couple veterinarians and I was quoted up to $800 dollars to treat him, with both vets telling me that if not treated he could die within a month. Over the next two weeks my cat had difficulty breathing, eating, and the abscess popped and reformed a number of times making a mess and breaking my heart. The attempts to clean and treat the wound myself were futile, and with no access to antibiotics I feared for his life. I had no way to pay for the cost of saving my animal's life and I was completely devastated. I remembered my interaction with H.O.P.E the year before and I sent an email to Margaret, not knowing whether or not my situation would fall under the category of services that the organization could provide for. Once again H.O.P.E. saved the day. To my amazement, within hours I received a response stating that I had an appointment with Dr. Helsted at Upland Animal Hospital the next morning. H.O.P.E. and it's network of volunteers and veterinarians who donate their services saved his life, and I am eternally grateful. In my experience, H.O.P.E. approaches relationships from beginning to end, as a life long process for the benefit of both the pets and pet owners. This is what makes H.O.P.E. the long term successful community force that it has always been. Thank you H.O.P.E., and special thanks to all the dedicated veterinarians, individual volunteers, and family volunteers. Their daily contributions help the animals we love.

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