eb3d62d05fa3be16dafdca4333927c08.jpg

LAMBERTVILLE: Nonprofit helps pay for life-saving veterinary care

   LAMBERTVILLE — The love of a little dog named Spice inspired the creation of a new charitable organization that offers financial assistance to pet parents unable to afford the critical care or life-saving veterinary services their dogs and cats desperately need.
   Spice’s Fund, a nonprofit corporation registered with the state of New Jersey, is working to raise money to help financially distressed individuals and families with ill or injured pets who seek medical treatment or surgical care at Lambertville Animal Hospital.
   ”Serious illness or injury can strike our pets at any time, and life-saving veterinary treatment is often costly. People who can’t pay for that care are forced either to euthanize a cherished pet or surrender the animal to a shelter,” said Lambertville resident Darlene Yuhas, founder and president of Spice’s Fund. “No one who loves a dog or a cat should endure that kind of heartbreak. And no beloved pet should die, suffer needlessly or end up homeless because there’s no money for veterinary care,” Ms. Yuhas said.
   Spice’s Fund supports eligible pet parents whose dogs and cats currently are patients at Lambertville Animal Hospital. Those seeking treatment there for the first time must reside either in Lambertville or in its sister community of New Hope, Pa. Some assistance might be provided to residents in other areas, depending on circumstances and availability of funds.
   Eligibility is determined in private consultation with the veterinarians at the Lambertville Animal Hospital, and those requesting assistance must complete a one-page form available at the hospital.
   ”It is unfortunate that today’s economy often compels some owners of seriously ill pets in our community to decline essential care. We are thankful that Spice’s Fund is available to help people who otherwise would have limited options or no options for treatment,” said Dr. Jessica S. Greendorfer, Ph.D., DVM. She and her husband Dr. Andrew Greendorfer, DVM, are the owners of Lambertville Animal Hospital on York Street.
   ”Because Lambertville Animal Hospital is so committed to the mission of Spice’s Fund, we often donate or discount medical and surgical care to pets receiving assistance. We have such wonderful dogs and cats in this community, and we are proud to be able to provide care when they most need our help,” Dr. Jessica Greendorfer said.
   The fund is named for Ms. Yuhas’ dog, Spice, a pretty Papillon-Pomeranian mix, who died in May 2012 at the age of 12. A native Arizonan, Spice quickly took to her new home in Lambertville and was well-known and beloved throughout town.
   ”Spice was a happy little girl, but she had some health challenges during her life,” Ms. Yuhas said. “I know firsthand how it feels to cope with the serious illness of a beloved pet and what it means to face veterinary bills totaling thousands of dollars.”
   In the days following Spice’s death, Yuhas wrote an obituary and requested memorial contributions be made to Lambertville Animal Hospital to help other people’s pets. She shared the obituary with friends and neighbors who knew Spice best. With the dollars donated, the veterinarians were able to help several pets, including Lambertville resident Karen Uckermark’s cat Schatz.
   When Schatz, a beautiful, green-eyed cat adopted at 8 weeks old from Bucks County SPCA, was diagnosed with a life-threatening urinary-tract blockage requiring immediate surgery, Ms. Uckermark was devastated. Unable to afford the veterinary procedure, she faced the frightening possibility of euthanizing 3-year-old Schatz or surrendering him to a local animal-welfare organization.
   But Spice’s Fund gave her the financial assistance needed to save Schatz’s life and keep him in his loving home.
   ”He’s my shadow. He follows me everywhere. He’s a very loving cat,” Ms. Uckermark said. “If I hadn’t received help from Spice’s Fund, Schatz wouldn’t be with me now. And he is doing very well,” Ms. Uckermark said.
   ”Schatz’s success story epitomizes the mission of Spice’s Fund,” Ms. Yuhas said. “Our area is blessed with several excellent animal-welfare organizations that help unwanted or abandoned pets, rescue animals in danger of being euthanized and strive to find them permanent homes. Spice’s Fund fills a different need. We exist to help pets who are already in their forever homes, to give them longer, healthier lives and to keep them with the people who love them,” she said.
   ”We have begun work on our application for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status,” Ms. Yuhas noted.
   Those who wish to learn more about Spice’s Fund can visit: spicesfund.org. Donations can be made online through PayPal or by mailing a check made payable to Spice’s Fund to P.O. Box 477, Lambertville, 08530.