When Maria Barajas and her family met 8-week-old Bella, they fell in love with the tiny, adorable puppy. But within a week of being adopted and settling into her new home, Bella became very sick.
The family rushed her to a veterinary hospital, where they diagnosed little Bella with parvo, a dangerous and potentially deadly virus that mainly afflicts canines. Successful treatment often involves veterinary hospitalization. Barajas knew the puppy needed a lot of care, and she also knew she needed help to make that possible. Due to Covid, Maria was out of work and already straining to support her family on her own.
The veterinary hospital referred her to the Palo Alto Humane Society, and with their financial support, Bella got the extensive care she needed: She was hospitalized for three days, receiving I.V. fluids and medications. Today she is home and thriving, with her grateful and loving family.
Bella is just one of many pets who have been helped by the Palo Alto Humane Society’s Daisy Fund, which helps provide emergency veterinary care for pets whose owners cannot afford it.
The fund is named after a shelter dog who was adopted but needed medical attention. Daisy’s companion, Sue Klapholz, was able to provide for her beloved dog but realized that many other pet owners cannot shoulder the financial burden of unexpected veterinary care. And she made a donation to PAHS in her dog’s honor to start the Daisy Fund.
In normal years, PAHS would host their annual Daisy’s Day gala this month to raise funds for the program. But while the coronavirus has canceled gatherings, it has made the assistance that much more necessary. So this year the nonprofit is taking the campaign online.
Anyone can make a tax-deductible donation any time at www.paloaltohumane.org. All donations support the humane society’s fund to help pet owners meet the costs of unexpected veterinary care. Major surgeries for pets can cost upwards of $5,000, and even relatively minor services can be steep, including: exams (which can cost at least $100), ultrasounds or X-rays ($250-$500), wound care ($500) and end-of-life care ($250).
The PAHS veterinary assistance program helps qualifying low-income residents of the mid-Peninsula and South Bay.
PAHS hopes to raise $100,000 this year, said Executive Director Carole Hyde.
“The need is bigger than ever this year because of Covid, because people have lost their jobs and need veterinary assistance for their sick animals,” she said. “Every donation is life-saving.”
For more information, go to www.paloaltohumane.org or call (650) 424-1901.