The Valley Animal Hospital Veterinary Assistance Fund

One of the core missions of the Conway Area Humane Society (CAHS) is to ensure that animals are adopted into loving homes where they can thrive and receive the care they need for years to come. With the addition of the Valley Animal Hospital to our services, we now have the opportunity to play a long-term role in supporting these animals and their families by providing affordable veterinary care.

Veterinary costs have risen significantly in recent years, creating a barrier to ongoing care for many families. In some cases, this financial strain results in animals being surrendered to shelters. Once surrendered, these animals often require extensive treatment before they can be adopted into new homes, placing additional financial and operational burdens on shelters.

While CAHS has a thorough adoption process that ensures long-term success for the animals we place, we recognize that not all rescues and shelters have the resources to conduct equally rigorous screenings. Consequently, animals adopted from other organizations sometimes end up in situations where their care needs are not met.

The Valley Animal Hospital is addressing these challenges by offering flexible payment options, including credit plans and payment plans, for clients who are unable to pay for treatment upfront. In addition, the Veterinary Assistance Fund was established to provide financial assistance to clients facing significant financial hardship. This initiative aims to prevent animals from being surrendered simply because their owners cannot afford necessary medical care.

After consulting with other nonprofit veterinary providers, we have adopted a best-practice model for administering the Veterinary Assistance Fund. Typically, the fund will cover up to 25% of a client’s treatment costs. In rare and extraordinary circumstances, the fund may provide full payment for care. Assistance is contingent upon the client demonstrating financial need and exhausting other funding options. Additionally, each case will be carefully evaluated to ensure that the recommended treatment has a high likelihood of a positive outcome.

CAHS is committed to supporting this initiative by donating a portion of every animal adoption fee and hospital client visit to the Veterinary Assistance Fund. We also hope that individual donors and foundation grantors will be inspired to contribute to this effort, helping to reduce the number of animals surrendered due to financial barriers.

Together, we can ensure that more pets remain with their families and continue to receive the care they need to live healthy, happy lives.