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Lost Pet Services, Inc. (LPS) is delighted to announce the receipt of a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. This grant will support the PAWs Project (Partners for Animal Welfare), a joint initiative by Lost Pet Services and Whiskers and Wags Foundation, aimed at addressing the growing need for financial assistance with veterinary care for pets in crisis. Funding is provided by the Robert Parker and Martha Leiter and Nancy Streetman Funds.
The PAWs Project aims to alleviate the financial burden faced by pet owners who struggle to afford necessary medical care, especially for urgent cases of extraordinary medical needs. The discontinuation of 24/7 emergency veterinary services and nonprofit discounts in the Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties has further exacerbated this challenge.
The PAWs Project aims to address various aspects of the growing need for financial assistance with veterinary care for pets in crisis. The project encompasses a multifaceted approach:
1. Increase Medical Funding Assistance: The collaboration involves pooling resources and expertise to enhance the accessibility of emergency veterinary care. This includes alleviating financial barriers for families in need, ensuring that pets receive the necessary medical attention.
2. Family Preservation: The PAWs Project strives to keep families together by providing financial aid. This helps prevent the heartbreaking choice of surrendering or euthanizing a beloved pet due to financial limitations, promoting the well-being of both pets and their owners.
3. Strengthening Community Bonds: Through collaborative efforts, Lost Pet Services and Whiskers and Wags work together to build a stronger, more supportive community. By fostering an environment where families and their pets can thrive, the project aims to create lasting positive impacts.
4. Streamline the PAWs Project Application Process: The partners are committed to simplifying and expediting the application process. This ensures that pet owners facing financial challenges can access assistance quickly and efficiently, reducing the administrative burden.
5. Sustainable Impact: The PAWs Project aims to make a sustainable impact on the lives of pets and families in need creating a positive ripple effect within the community.
6. Raise Awareness for Medical Funding Assistance Needs: Lost Pet Services and Whiskers and Wags will engage in joint outreach efforts and public education campaigns. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about the financial burdens faced by pet owners and underscore the importance of timely veterinary care.
7. Mitigating Veterinary Stress: Recognizing the strain on emergency veterinary professionals, the PAWs Project seeks to reduce stress by facilitating smoother access to funds for critical cases. This collaborative effort acknowledges and addresses the challenges faced by those in the veterinary profession.
About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of $488 million in more than 1,580 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $40 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $435.8 million to area nonprofit organizations to our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000.