The Coombs Veterinary Hospital
H.E.A.R.T.
Fund
Help Every Animal Receive Treatment
The Coombs Veterinary Hospital
H.E.A.R.T.
Fund
Help Every Animal Receive Treatment
As family veterinarians, we become part of a lot of important family events. Everything from a child’s first puppy to the passing of her grand-mother’s long cherished cat. We also experience the change in personal circumstances that can affect the ability of owners to provide care for family pets. Whether it be the sudden loss of a spouse or caregiver, recent divorce, or a turn in the economy, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can lead to the inability to afford veterinary costs for a furry loved one.
These situations are far too common, and most of us can think of a time when financial hardships prevented us from being able to treat an animal in the way we had wished. Such an occasion happened to CVH’s owner, Dr. Rhett Mortenson, during his fourth year at Veterinary College.
At this time, Dr. M had a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel named “Sammie.” He was a beautiful ruby color and had a personality that only Rhett seemed to get. He was Rhett’s best friend in the entire world, and they went everywhere together. Sammie became very fond of the veterinary teaching hospital, and helped Dr. M learn many of the basic procedures performed in veterinary medicine. King Charles spaniels have a high incidence of heart murmurs, and Sammie was no exception. He became the first heart murmur that Dr. M ever heard (thanks Sammie!)
Unfortunately, Sammie was accidentally let out of the house and went missing. It was the teaching hospital that Sammie had become so fond of who eventually found him. He was brought in by a concerned citizen after being hit by a car. On arrival at the hospital Rhett was informed that Sammie had broken his lower back. He was completely devastated! The surgeon advised that he still had deep and superficial pain, which meant his spinal cord was not severed, but he would need immediate emergency surgery to repair his back.
At this time Dr M was a struggling vet student trying to make ends meet with two young children and a wife suffering from Post Partum Depression. He could not afford a $7000 surgery in one lump sum, but assured the hospital staff that he would pay the bill in full if given time. Even though the surgeon knew Rhett well, the hospital policy was not to accept payment plans under any circumstances. Without surgery, the only option for Sammie was to make an end-of-life decision.
Torn by emotions, Dr. M cried harder than ever before in his life. Sammie was his best friend, and he could not imagine having to say goodbye. A mix of anger and resentment settled over the young vet student. He felt that the system in place at his own veterinary teaching hospital was lacking in compassion; cold and detached from the bond he felt with poor Sammie. It was a moment that changed Rhett’s life forever. Despite the terrible circumstances, even in his last moments Sammie managed to teach one of the most valuable lessons one can ever learn – the importance of empathy.
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Moments such as these unfold daily in front of every veterinarian. They are gut wrenching and lead to compassion fatigue. This type of burn out is a serious form of post traumatic stress disorder, and is one of the leading factors contributing to the high suicide rate in veterinary professionals. We all wish that we could save every animal and do so without any cost to their families. Unfortunately, this is not possible, as veterinary health care requires skilled staff, training, equipment, and medications, that do not come for free. As such, we are all faced with an internal dilemma whenever we watch an owner decline treatment due to financial constraints in situations like Sammie’s. The Coombs Veterinary Hospital H.E.A.R.T. Fund is designed to help loving pet owners who have fallen on hard times. It is meant for established CVH clients and their pets who are seen on a regular basis for wellness visits, but have encountered an acute injury or illness that can be fixed with short-term treatment (such as foreign body ingestion, fracture repairs, or a severe episode of pancreatitis requiring hospitalization). The need for financial assistance must be proven, and all cases are documented and shared to ensure complete transparency. A yearly financial account of donations and invoices can also be made available to those that donate upon request. |
The Fund is filled by generous donors, and for every dollar that is donated, CVH provides the equivalent value in services.
If we work together, we can Help Every Animal Receive Treatment.
Donations can be made through the following:
- Visa/Mastercard payment through the clinic
- Cheque payable to coombs veterinary hospital
- E-transfer to cvhpets@live.ca
Please ensure when donating that you reference the Coombs Veterinary Hospital H.E.A.R.T. Fund
Thank you,
Dr. Rhett Mortenson
and the
Coombs Veterinary Hospital staff
