Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission

Avoiding Emergencies: Know Which Spring Flowers are Toxic to Pets

2010-04-14T21:21:00.003-04:00

Spring toxin 1: Tulips and hyacinths
http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/663977

Spring toxin 2: Daffodils
http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/663978

Spring toxin 3: Lilies
http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/663981

Spring toxin 4: Crocuses
http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/663980

Spring toxin 5: Lily of the valley
http://veterinaryteam.dvm360.com/firstline/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/663982

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Poison Control Hot-Lines (for animals):

(1) ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (Click name to go to web site)
(888) 426-4435The best-known, and most-widely used Animal Poison Control Center in the country. In 2009 alone, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) in Urbana, IL, handled more than 140,000 cases of pets exposed to toxic substances.

"Available for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

"The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is staffed by 30 veterinarians, including 13 who are board-certified in general and veterinary toxicology. In addition, our experts use Antox, our unique veterinary medical database system of more than one million animal exposure case histories. With the combined knowledge of our experts and our medical database, we are able to provide the most timely and accurate information on the potential effects of poisons and how to manage exposures to them.

"Our consultation fee covers as many additional calls pertaining to your pet's current case as are needed to provide the best care and answer any questions that you or your local vet may have. During your initial call, you or your vet will be provided with a special follow-up telephone number to use should you need any further assistance with your pet's case."

(2) Pet Poison Helpline™ (800-213-6680) (Click name to go to web site)
"provides:
•24/7 access to experts in pet poisonings.
•Experience. We have managed over 750,000 cases involving pet poisonings.
•Specialists. We're the only poison control with board-certified veterinary internal medicine (DACVIM) and emergency critical care (DACVECC) specialists - which is imperative if your pet is critically ill!
•Cost-effective. We're the most cost-effective pet poison control out there, which is helpful in this current economy.
•Follow up consultations. Our staff will follow up with veterinarians or pet owners to ensure appropriate recommendations can be made throughout the treatment of the pet.
•Treatment advice for all varieties of pets. Not only do we manage canine and feline poisonings, we also assist in the treatment of avian, small mammals, large animal and exotic species (on a per incident fee basis)."

We are Taking Ideas and Suggestions for our First National Spokespet Contest for VEFM

2010-04-13T12:39:00.002-04:00

It is high time that The Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission had a Spokespet!!! The general purpose of a spokesperson (for us, a "spokespet") is to "frame a company or organization's strengths and products to the public and investors while managing media coverage...." For the complete article, which beautifully explains this concept, click on this link:
http://www.ehow.com/about_5382539_job-media-relations-company-spokesperson.html

Here are several contests that will give us ideas for how we can run ours. I hope many of our supporters will participate in this brainstorming-session. Please leave your ideas and suggestions in the "Comments" section, below.

(1) Spokesperson search for "Young and Free."
---[A] Purpose of the spokesperson: http://www.youngfreealberta.com/media-center/credit-union-competition-looking-for-youth-spokesperson.html ;
---[B] Description of the contest: http://www.youngfreealberta.com/2010-search-archive/;
---[C] Rules/Regulations: http://www.youngfreealberta.com/storage/YF-Alberta-Rules-Regs-2010-Spokester-Search.pdf
(2) Junior Beef Spokesperson Contest for Colorado CattleWomen, Inc.
---[A] Purpose and description of contest:
http://brianallmerradionetwork.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/04-05-10-colorado-cattlewomen-host-beef-spokesperson-contest-in-briggsdale-april-17th-enter-today/
---[B] Application for contest: http://brianallmerradionetwork.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/april-5.pdf
(3) Contest for the New Media Celebrity Spokesperson (for video introductions and trailers for the Cable Muse Network)
---[A] Press release describing contest: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/02/prweb3662504.htm
---[B] Official description of contest: http://cablemuse.com/id86.html
---[C] Sample, with previous year's top two entries: http://cablemuse.com/id100.html
---[D] Consent form: http://cablemuse.com/id87.html

What's New for VEFM - The National Agenda

2010-04-02T10:55:00.000-04:00

Admittedly, much of the discussions in the past 2 months have been about the Pet Fair fundraiser on Cape Cod. However, there is a specific plan for what VEFM needs, as far as non-local supporters go. The closer we get to having a fully-functional unit in southeastern Mass., the closer we get to starting sister-organizations in other locations. As I have mentioned before, we are establishing VEFM first in SE Mass., so that we can use it as a template for other communities. The long-range goal is to have community-based VEFM groups all across the United States, possibly even the world.

Therefore, I am asking all of our supporters to do some soul-searching and schedule-searching and see if you can help make a commitment to this goal. If you are enthusiastic about our project and want to "get your hands dirty," the next few months are going to be spent establishing a few core groups in parts of the country where the next VEFM unit will go. If you would like to be part of this important stage of VEFM's development, join our Facebook group, called VEFM Volunteer Action Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=177991216736

What each of you can do, individually, is to assess the situation in your own area. Are pet owners struggling to care for their pets? Do you have emergency hospitals nearby? What happens if an owner goes to one of them and does not have the ability to pay for care immediately?

If you are a veterinarian and would like to be part of the VEFM Veterinary Advisory Group, we are currently setting that up (by revising an existing group). The link is
http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#!/group.php?gid=248702581859

Thanks for all your support. I am really excited about how VEFM is progressing.

-Lucy Schroth DVM

We Held a Very Successful FIRST ANNUAL PET FAIR fundraiser

2010-04-01T21:03:00.000-04:00

On Sunday, March 28, The Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission held its First Annual Pet Fair fundraiser, at The Dog Paddle training center, in Bourne, MA. There was a Pet Parade, for pets with or without costumes, and prizes for such categories as "Waggiest Tail" and "Pet-Owner Look-Alike." There was also a photo contest, judged by professional photographer Nikki Shumway, of NJ Photo. Dogs and owners participated in a Rally game, Egg-Spoon races, and Musical Chairs. Nikki Shumway also took lots of pictures, and has made some generous donations to benefit VEFM. A silent auction, bake sale, and gift/crafts for sale also helped raise money.

Links to Nikki's photos of the Pet Fair. They are really great:
http://www.facebook.com/NJPhoto#!/album.php?aid=161482&id=367692141739

http://www.facebook.com/NJPhoto#!/album.php?aid=161149&id=367692141739&ref=mf

http://www.facebook.com/NJPhoto#!/album.php?aid=161142&id=367692141739

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=161153&id=367692141739&ref=mf

Exciting Front Page Coverage in the Cape Cod Times

2010-01-28T20:04:00.002-05:00

Our Open House on January 24, 2010, was a great success. The most exciting thing of all is that VEFM got a front page article in the Cape Cod Times. With such important publicity, we are hoping for an influx of donors and helpers, so we can finally start helping our first animals (and people). Here is a link to the on-line version of the article: http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100125/NEWS/1250303

The Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission is Holding An Open House on Cape Cod

2010-01-20T19:09:00.007-05:00

To Confirm VEFM's Tax-Exempt Status, until it appears on the IRS list of charities

2009-11-12T18:58:00.002-05:00

The IRS is very slow at updating their web site about new tax-exempt charities, so, if anyone is disturbed by the fact they cannot find us listed on the IRS list of charities, they can confirm our 501(C)3 status by calling the IRS (toll-free) at 1-877-829-5500. The corporate name is: The Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission LTD (EIN: 26-3396722)

For more information, visit this page on the IRS web site:
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=96136,00.html

We Now Have Non-Profit (501C3) Status!

2009-10-24T21:01:00.002-04:00

We are very happy to report that our IRS letter of approval of 501C3 status has finally arrived. All donations are now tax-deductible, retroactive to our date of incorporation, October 20, 2008. Now we will be able to apply for grants, receive corporate donations, and really begin fundraising in earnest.

The Issue of Fundraising Events--An Important Notification

2009-10-15T20:11:00.000-04:00

After much thought, we have decided to postpone public fundraising events until VEFM's 501(C)3 non-profit status is official. We had expected to have approval long before our two planned October events. We want to do great things with VEFM, and plan to help a lot of people and animals. However, with so much recent publicity about frauds and scams, we want to make very sure that our organization is above reproach. It is an issue of trust. We want to do the right thing and we do not want to give even a hint of questionable fundraising practices. Therefore, although we would be happy to take donations through our web site, where individuals can take their time to research our credentials, we think that it is inappropriate to do fundraising in a public forum, until we are an official 501(C)3 organization.

Important Cat Food Recall

2009-10-03T09:27:00.001-04:00

Several lots of Premium Edge cat food (made by Diamond Pet Foods) have been recalled because of thiamine deficiency.

http://www.premiumedgepetfood.com/promotions/66/

Thiamine deficiency in cats can cause staggering (ataxia), weakness, and downward flexing (ventroflexion) of the head and neck. It is important to note that this is a very treatable, reversible condition, so contact your veterinarian right away if any unusual nervous system disorder or weakness occurs in your cat.

A Limited Time Fundraiser for Supplies Needed for October Events

2009-09-19T22:25:00.004-04:00

We just set up an important fundraiser, to raise money for supplies & promotional items we need before the first big fundraising event for the Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission on Oct. 10-11. The next one is just one week later. Please donate at much as you can. If we don't meet the $400 goal for pledges by the 10/11/2009 deadline, we collect nothing. Here is the link-- http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-09-14.1961330646

Please tell your friends.

A Very Sad Story

2009-09-07T13:50:00.004-04:00

An awful story has inspired us to start a new monthly feature of VEFM--called "Watch Out!"--"Preventable Emergencies". A few days ago, a young woman came into the vet clinic, sobbing. It was only 70 degrees, so she left her dog in the car & ran into the hospital to visit a friend. She had cracked the windows & did not think she was inside long. When she came back, her beautiful black Lab was dead from heat stroke.

This was a person who had always been a very responsible. She would never have intentionally taken that kind of risk, because she loved her dog. One can only assume that she did not realize how long her visit lasted. Apparently, she was inside at least an hour--more than enough time for the temperature in the car to have been lethal. Now, she will have to live with this awful knowledge that she killed her dog in a terrible way. To me, the lesson to be learned, is DON'T TAKE A CHANCE. It's so easy to get distracted and forget how long you have been talking.

Non-Profit Organization Attorney? (Massachusetts)

2009-08-22T15:45:00.002-04:00

We need to find an attorney who is a member of the Bar in Massachusetts, and who is also willing to do a small amount of initial pro buono work, to help VEFM to get established. If anyone knows an animal-loving lawyer who might want to help us, please ask that person to contact us at administrator@vefm.org, or to post back here.

Why Are So Many Pet Owners Caught by Surpise When They Seek Emergency Vet Care?

2009-08-17T22:01:00.002-04:00

One of the key things missing in the average pet owner's understanding of emergencies is that it is COMMON for emergencies to occur when their own vet is closed, and that the vast majority of veterinarians transfer ALL emergency calls to large emergency hospitals, where $1,000+ bills are the norm and where on-the-spot, pre-treatment deposits of $1500 are frequently required. Euthanasia may be the only real option. It's a tragic surprise.

Another Heartbreaking Story

2009-08-15T22:03:00.002-04:00

My husband was talking to a local police officer today at one of the local coffee shops. The officer told him that another officer had just been forced to take his dog to an emergency hospital, where he learned that the dog needed immediate emergency surgery. He was told that he needed to come up with a deposit of $1200 or the surgery could not be done. The only other option was euthanasia. The officer said that he could not get the money until Thursday, but they would not do the surgery without the deposit, so he was forced to put his dog to sleep. This kind of story makes me crazy with impatience to get VEFM ready enough to be a source of help for people like this! Please talk to everyone you know. Tell them to donate or to find donors or sponsors. We are chomping at the bit to be able to help!

501(C)3 Status Update

2009-08-15T21:49:00.001-04:00

We received notification that the IRS needs clarification of several things before they can approve our application for 501(C)3 exemption as a non-profit organization:

They must have misunderstood, from our application, exactly who it was that would be providing the veterinary services for the owners in need of financial aid. It appears that they assumed that Dr. Lucy Schroth (Co-founder and President) was going to be the veterinarian providing the emergency veterinary care. Therefore, they asked us to "state whether services of other veterinarians will be considered in the conduct of your proposed exempt program activities, i.e. providing veterinary care and services that will be compensated by the 'emergency funding.' "

After all the time we spent preparing the application, and after the lengthy waiting period, it is very frustrating to realize that they did not even take the time to understand what the organization is trying to do! They jumped to the conclusion that, just because Dr. Schroth is a veterinarian, that, not only would she be the one providing the emergency care, but that she would be the one being paid the money from the fund.

First of all, Dr. Schroth has no intention of being the veterinarian to provide the emergency care in these situations, but she does not even own her own practice, so she would not even be the one who would be compensated financially.

Anyway, the IRS needs a response by August 26, so that they can give us a ruling "in a timely manner." We are quite sure that we will eventually get our 501(C)3 exemption, but the delays are certainly frustrating!

Stand-by for further updates! Thanks for your support!

~~~

Accounting Calculation Challenge......to make VEFM self-sustainable

2009-08-09T20:01:00.002-04:00

How much do we need in the bank and how much needs to be coming in each month in pledges and subscriptions in order to make VEFM financially self-sustainable?

That question may leave you scratching your head, but there is a real challenge in it, for all you financial whizzes. The only way VEFM is going to be of any lasting benefit to pet owners in need is to have a large enough stash of money in the bank (or in liquid investments) and to have a large enough monthly income stream (from pledges and subscribers) to become self-sustainable, without having to go straight to individual donations for everything we do.

Here's what I mean---

(1) A certain amount of money in the bank will generate enough monthly interest income to be able to use the interest without tapping into the principal. Let's call the money in the bank, "B". Let's call the interest, "E".

(2) Monthly subscriptions and pledges can be budgeted to assume a monthly income stream of, say, "S". Let's call the number of individuals who pledge, "P", and the monthly pledge amount per person, "D".

(3) We will have to decide how many animals we expect to help each month--call this number, "A".

(4) We will also have to decide how much we expect to pay out for the average animal helped--call this number, "H". That leaves a total amount needed per month (called "M") as A X H.

-----------------

Let's arbitrarily decide that our early goal is to help ten animals each month, with an average amount paid out to be $1,000. A = 10. H = 1000. Therefore, M = A X H = $10,000.

=========

HERE'S THE CHALLENGE---

(1) How much do we have to raise in out-and-out donations, to put in the bank?.....In other words, what is "B"?

(2) What is a reasonable number of people we can expect to donate a monthly amount?.....In other words, what number is a reasonable goal for "P"?

(3) What is a reasonable monthly pledge for the average person to make?.....In other words, what number is a reasonable goal for "D"?

~~~

An Open Letter to Veterinarians, By a Veterinarian

2009-08-03T18:03:00.005-04:00

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"The Growing Problem of Clients Who Cannot Afford Emergency Care"

After about 10 years working in emergency hospitals, it became painfully clear that, the more advanced our ability to provide adequate care became, the less the average person was able to afford it. In our recent economic downturn, it has become a real crisis. With the widespread use of specialized emergency and critical care hospitals for overnight, weekend, and holiday coverage for general practitioners, clients and their sick and injured pets are frequently caught in a desperate situation. They find themselves in the midst of a medical emergency, in a hospital where there is no ongoing relationship with the doctor providing the care, and faced with charges that are likely to be much higher than they are accustomed to, not to mention the requirement of immediate paymentFew would disagree that state-of-the art veterinary care should be available and easily accessible. It also goes without saying that facilities that provide this level of care must charge more for their services than practices with lower overhead. However, often we are dealing with owners who have chosen a particular emergency facility simply because their own vet is using it to cover emergency calls. Suddenly, they are faced with charges that could easily be three or four times when their normal vet would charge. There are some ethical questions, here. Should an emergency hospital that offers round-the-clock care, sophisticated critical care monitoring, and advanced surgical and medical treatment, be willing to offer care that is less than state-of-the-art, simply because an owner cannot afford it? Is it right to turn someone away and risk the animal's death, because they do not have enough to pay for treatment? As veterinarians, where do our allegiances lie?--to the owner and their emotional and financial needs; or to the animal and its comfort and general welfare? What about our own financial needs? It helps no one if veterinarians give so much of their services away that they go out of business. Nor does it help if we give away so much of our time and energy that we burn ourselves out and either lose our compassion or leave the profession.I would really like to get a dialog started about this important issue. My husband and I are trying to build up an organization that will help find funding for people who cannot afford emergency care. It is called The Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission. Other similar organizations have fallen short because they have depended only on the generosity of individuals. I think that this issue is far too important not to get the backing of veterinarians and local communities around the country. Perhaps an internet dialog will get the word out and start people thinking about how to make change happen.

Lucy L. (Pinkston) Schroth DVM - President & Co-Founder of The Veterinary Emergency Funding Missionhttp://www.vefm.org/ (blog - http://vefm.blogspot.com/ )(vefmmail@gmail.com)

"Help me to help financially strapped owners pay for emergency vet care."

"Together, the veterinary community can make a BIG difference."

Don't Forget to Submit Photos for the 2010 VEFM Calendar

2009-08-02T17:10:00.002-04:00

Don't forget......... We need your pictures for the 2010 Calendar. The deadline will have to be August 31, in order to have them ready in time for to have them available at our booth at the Yarmouth Seaside Festival on October 10-11. Send them as jpeg's or pdf's to vefmmail@gmail.com. Here is a portion of just one of the excellent submissions. Click here for more information.

A Great Idea!...A Great Idea!.....Please Join the Discussion.

2009-06-22T11:05:00.002-04:00

I think we have solved several of the biggest challenges for VEFM with one great idea.....

- VOUCHERS FOR EMERGENCY CARE -

For years, shelters and SPCA's have used spay/neuter vouchers to encourage low-income pet owners to get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered. Recently, Bayer Animal Health has started a $20 voucher program to encourage owners to go to their vets for preventative care (www.gettothevet.com). It would seem to me that, in this era of gift cards and gift certificates, that we can easily establish a voucher program for emergency vet care that can go NATIONWIDE immediately, not just starting in the local area where VEFM is based.
PLEASE give ideas and feedback about this plan. Below are some sites where there is information on similar programs, where we can educate ourselves about the possibilities. We would like to have the new program fully operational well before the October date for the Seaside Festival booth.

http://www.customgiftcard.com/index.html http://www.justgive.org/give-now/gift-cards/index.jsp?gclid=CNLmu4WInpsCFVpM5Qod1DTVpA http://www.signaturecard.net/?referer=google&gclid=CJrXwZyInpsCFcxM5QodOGIdpQ

Vet-related vouchers:
-Well-pet vouchers: http://www.gettothevet.com/
-Spay-neuter vouchers: http://tlconline.org/pgm/0010app.html
http://www.schuylerhumane.org/vouchers.html
http://www.nfvsonline.org/nys_spayneuter.html
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=9698 http://www.animalrescue.net/vet_corner#9

Bayer might be willing to sponsor emergencies, too.... http://www.veterinarians.com/library/alerts/109/Bayer-$20-Vet-Voucher.html

Defense department????: "Automated Voucher Examining and Disbursing System" http://www.dodig.mil/audit/reports/fy03/03003sum.htm

Emergency food programs:
http://www.wfp.org/content/protracted-relief-and-recovery-operation-syria-107780-emergency-food-assistance-victims-drought

Any ideas you have will be welcome.

Ideas for Making Gifts to Sell at the Seaside Festival

2009-06-19T21:38:00.003-04:00

As we posted recently, VEFM will have a booth at the Yarmouth Seaside Festival, which runs from October 10-11, 2009, in Yarmouth, MA, on Cape Cod. We are collecting ideas from items to sell as fundraisers. This is one idea--a kit called the Gurumi Family, available from Knit Picks, for $19.99. It includes the pattern and yarn.

http://www.knitpicks.com/kits/Gurumi_Family_Kit__D40097.html?intmedid=Main2:Gurumi2

Gather Your Pictures--It's Calendar Time Again

2009-06-14T21:30:00.015-04:00

We are again looking for pictures of your pets for our 2010 calendar. Here's how to submit them:
1) Convert them to JPEG format, if needed.
2) Send them as an e-mail attachment to: vefmmail@gmail.com
3) If we get a surplus of pictures, we will post them on this blog, for voting.

We will also have room for a few stories of your experiences with a pet emergency. Post these stories as comments directly to this log post or, if you would prefer, to the above e-mail address.

THIS WAS THE COVER FOR THE 2009 CALENDAR

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Exciting Event Planned

2009-05-07T19:02:00.000-04:00

The Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission will have a booth at the Seaside Festival in Yarmouth, October 10-11, 2009. There is a huge craft fair associated with it, a big parade, a canoe/kayak race, a road race, fireworks, and many other activities.

http://www.yarmouthseasidefestival.com/AboutUs.html

Cats Who Twitter: #MeowMonday

2009-04-20T14:11:00.000-04:00

Cats Who Twitter: #MeowMonday This is a great idea.

Only 7 Days Left . . . .

2009-04-18T18:53:00.000-04:00

We have only 7 days left to raise $210 on Fundable.com. If we don't reach the target pledge amount of $300, the pledges that have already been made will be void, and VEFM gets nothing. The $300 goal was for the amount needed for VEFM's 501(C)(3) application. Without 501(C)(3) status, we will not be able to obtain grants, corporate donations, or even Facebook donations. Please, please help us reach this goal. Tell all your friends. The minimum donation on Fundable is $10, but all it would take would be for every friend to give you $1 or $2 and we would be all set. Here is the web address for donations at Fundable.com:
http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-03-29.4723451771

Thank you so much for your support. Even if you cannot give anything monetarily, just your desire to see VEFM succeed is very much appreciated.

-Lucy Schroth DVM

A Story that Shows Why Help is So Urgently Needed (...and there's a happy ending)

2009-04-03T13:02:00.007-04:00

"Two years ago I brought home a black lab/ chow mix. She is the light in my eyes. I got her spayed and kept her indoors with me. I named her Lady Hope...as she gave me hope at a dark time in my life...and she was always quite lady-like.... An acquaintance of mine was going to put her in the pound as she had her left from a litter. Knowing what her fate would probably be...I brought her home... MY DH was not amused. Last July as she and I were in the garden together..... a neighbors cat wandered in the yard...she chased it..... and a van hit her.... It was 7:00 PM on a Friday ... She was bleeding from her nose...her head swelled double it's size and she could not get up.. I can only let you imagine the horror I felt. There are NO vets open in this county in the evening...and none who have an emergency number to call... The nearest emergency room vet is 1 hour away..... My husband came outside and said...I think we will have to put her down.... the man who hit her was saying she damaged his van..... my husband got his pistol..... and opened the truck door. Miraculously she jumped up inside......he took her away....At midnight he came home...and said...come outside... I was still weeping.. I am again just remembering the experience...and there was my Lady... He had driven the hour one way.... to the hospital.. When he got there they told him $1,000.00 to spend the night and most treatment would be between that & $4,000.00 & absolutely no guarantees she would make it through the night.. We are not that well to do.... He had them give her a pain shot...and an antibiotic...( $400.00) and brought her home.. He said if she dies ...she dies at home with us...we love her. I slept on the floor beside her for days...putting drops of water in her mouth...and tiny pieces of canned dog food in the side of her mouth. Then I put her harness on her and started teaching her to walk again. She is such a blessing to me.

"Long story, short... she has nerve damage in her left front leg.. but she runs! and she loves me and my husband and my grandkids... Who knows how long I will have her...I know if there was a way... if I had the money... things would be different... so bless you and thank you for doing this for the critters of the world...who are not abused...but loved...by folks who don't have the money for expensive surgeries.

"Thank you.

Love and Prayers,

~N.

"PS--- my husband had every intention of taking her into a back field and shooting her.... to put her out of the pain she was in---- but he said he could not face me afterwards.. (*grin*)...and now Lady and he are the best of friends... He says he took her out back...and they "chatted" and came to an understanding."

This is Lady, today, having a great time in the snow.

~ ~ ~

Fundraiser to Get $300 Needed for 501(C)(3) Application

2009-03-31T14:32:00.002-04:00

In order to apply for public or corporate grants, donations, or sponsorships, VEFM has to have official non-profit status as a 501(C)(3) corporation. In this economy there is little chance that we will be able to help the people we want to help without this status. Unfortunately, it costs $300 that we don't have, so it is a bit of a vicious cycle. In order to raise the $300, we have set up a fundraising page on a site called Fundable. All we need is for 30 people to donate $10 and we will have enough. Here is the link to our donation page: http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-03-29.4723451771

Please ask all your pet owning friends to pass this on.

Is the "Mission" of VEFM a Spiritual One?

2009-03-25T10:20:00.004-04:00

At this stage in the development of the Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission, I think that it is important to discuss, honestly and openly, how the concept of "Mission" fits in with our overall goals. I do not want to promote VEFM as a religious organization, because our goal is not evangelism. On the other hand, I do not want to downplay the fact that my husband and I feel called by God to help animals and their owners in this way. There is a place in VEFM for people of all faiths, and for people of no faith at all. However, I want to make it clear to all participants, supporters, and volunteers, that VEFM, as an organization, honors God and His creation -humans and animals. Our guidelines are based upon biblical stewardship of the animal kingdom, and upon God's commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. Anyone who wants to participate in a more spiritual way can do this by becoming involved in the "spiritual arm" of VEFM, which is called "Servingers." There is a blog for Servingers at http://servingers.blogspot.com/. That way, we can keep the day-to-day operations of VEFM focused on what is most important, which is helping pet owners meet the emergency needs of their animals.

We Need One More Thing

2009-03-16T12:32:00.003-04:00

We really hate to ask for it, but we need one more thing before we can do what needs to be done with VEFM. We need $300 to file for 501(C)(3) status. The Massachusetts Certificate of Solicitation allows us to do fund-raising and make requests for money, but we cannot apply for grants or accept donations on important web sites like Facebook until we have official recognition as a nonprofit organization under the laws for 501(C)(3) corporations. If any of you could manage to donate even a few dollars, we could get the $300 we need to send in our applications, which is complete except for the "User Fee" that it requires. To donate, please go to our web site and click on "Donations"--http://www.vefm.org/donations.html
We would really, really, REALLY appreciate it.
Thank you so much.

Sincerely,
Lucy Schroth DVM
President of Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission, Ltd.

The Certificate of Solicitation is Here....Now Fundraising Can Begin in Earnest!

2009-03-06T17:11:00.004-05:00

I am very happy to report that today, VEFM's Certificate of Solicitation from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts arrived in the mail. Without an official Certificate, we were very limited in the type and amount of fundraising we could do. Now we can really move forward. The last hurdle will be to achieve 501(C)(3) status as a nonprofit organization. In order to submit our application for this, we need $300. This is based upon the IRS regulation that organizations predicting that they will bring in less than $10,000 per year must submit $300 with their application. If we were predicting more than $10,000 per year, we would have to $750. Currently, we are not predicting more than $10,000 per year. If some wonderful benefactor gives us more than that, we will have ample opportunity to give the IRS whatever they want in addition! Although we are not required by the IRS to file for 501(C)(3) status until the 15th month after we were created (which was October, 2008), most organizations will not even consider sponsoring us until we are officially classified as a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) corporation. Since it will be hard to meet the needs of the people we want to help without the sponsorship of corporations, we see it as essential to achieve this status as soon as possible.

Pet Insurance--ASPCA offers Discount

2009-02-26T18:00:00.002-05:00

One way to reduce veterinary costs in case of an emergency is to have coverage through pet health insurance, before an emergency arises. One of the policies available is through the ASPCA. They are currently offering a discount to ASPCA supporters for new enrollments prior to March 31. Here is the link to that web page:
http://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/ASPCA/offer.aspx?utm_id=2676

Ready to Establish the Core Team

2009-02-13T10:34:00.007-05:00

As we finalize all the documents for VEFM with the appropriate state and federal agencies, it is necessary to establish a core team. If you are interested in helping VEFM's cause, and want to work closely with Don and me and a few key people, now is the time to speak up. We are looking for volunteers with excellent leadership and administrative skills, for the following positions. Additional qualifications for specific functions are described at the end of the list. Those that must be local to southeastern Massachusetts are indicated.

1) Coordinator of volunteers
2) Fund raising coordinator
3) Veterinary liason
4) Chief client advocate
5) Financial coordinator (local)
6) Prayer team leader
7) Research assistant
8) Administrative assistant (local)
9) Director of promotions and advertising
10) Director of pet owner educational programs
11) Coordinator for future Board of Directors (local)

At present, none of these important roles is a paid position, although we certainly hope that VEFM will grow so much that paid positions can be offered in the future.

Qualifications for Core Team Members:

1) Coordinator of volunteers: Primary role will be to schedule, motivate, and organize the volunteers, to make the best use of their time and abilities.
----Able to lead and to motivate people of varying abilities.
----Skilled at setting up and arranging schedules.
----Organized and even-tempered.

2) Fund raising coordinator: Primary role will be to develop a comprehensive fund raising plan, and to carry out fund raising events and projects, working closely with volunteers and other core team members.
----Background in fund raising, or similar experience.
----Able to plan and to carry out fund raising events.
----Knowledgeable about fund raising options for non-profit organizations.
----Able to work closely with team members in a team-oriented approach.
----Organized and even-tempered.
----Comfortable with public speaking and conversation with news teams or celebrities.

3) Veterinary liason: Primary role will be to be VEFM's main communicator with the veterinary community, either locally, or nationally, including written, phone, and in-person correspondence.
----Previous experience in a veterinary office setting, including direct experience dealing with both clients and veterinarians (i.e., not just kennel or treatment experience).
----Working knowledge of veterinary terminology.
----Pleasant, respectful, confident demeanor.

4) Chief client advocate: Primary role is to ensure that everything possible is being done to assist the pet owners that need our assistance, including coordinating other client advocates and case workers, assisting in the paperwork required for invidual cases, and being support and comfort to clients who are understandable stressed by their circumstances.
----Organized, and even-tempered.
----Excellent problem-solving and administrative skills.
----Able to maintain enough emotional space from the clients and the pets to be able to function well in high-stress situations.
----Compassionate and empathetic with varying financial and personal situations in which owners find themselves.
----Compassionate and empathetic with the animal in the the midst of the crisis.

5) Financial coordinator: Primary role is to process applications for financial aid, to record and deposit revenue taken in, to disburse funds for various purposes, and to maintain detailed financial records for various government requirements.
----Must have background in banking or financial services.
----Organized, precise, and detail-oriented.
----Excellent mathmatical and book-keeping skills.
----Familiar with basic accounting principles.

6) Prayer team leader: Primary role is to develop and facilitate a prayer team, who will pray daily for all aspects of VEFM.
----Comfortable leading either individuals or a group in prayer, whether in person, or on the internet, or on the phone.
----Sets an example of faithful Christian living, as suggested by the Statement of Faith that is available for examination on the VEFM web site or blog: http://www.vefm.org/ or http://vefm.blogspot.com/.
----Dedicated to providing a continual "prayer covering" for the mission, goals, people, animals, and functions of VEFM.
----Respectful of the spiritual views of others, without diminishing the fact that VEFM is founded on fundamental Christian beliefs.

7) Research Assistant: Primary role is to do research about numerous topics, using various resources, including the internet, books, magazines, and personal interviews.
----Organized, focused, and goal oriented--able to stay on-task.
----Able to read quickly and with good comprehension.
----Familiar with internet search engines and search methods.
----Familiar with library literature search methods.
----Comfortable with personal interview techniques.

8) Administrative Assistant: Primary role is to oversee and maintain day-to-day VEFM operations.
----Experienced at information technology and project management, especially relating to the internet and non-profit organizations.
----Articulate, with good spelling and grammar.
----Organized and even-tempered.
----Able to juggle multiple projects.
----Able to prepare written materials.

9) Director of promotions and advertising: Primary role is to plan, develop, and execute projects for promotions and advertising.
----Background in marketing, advertising, or promotions
----Creative and articulate.
----Familiar with at least one graphic arts editing programs, such as Adobe Photoshop, that will save files in jpeg, pdf, and gif formats.
----Skilled at project management.

10) Director of pet owner educational programs: Primary role is to find existing programs or to develop and establish new programs, that will educate pet owners about managing finances and preventing pet emergencies.
----Keenly interested in owner education.
----Able to put together information from diverse sources.
----Skilled at internet and library research.

11) Coordinator for future Board of Directors: Primary role is to plan for a future Board of Directors, including establishing by-laws and policies, and assisting the VEFM corporation secretary in documenting meetings and decisions.
----Experience with boards of directors.
----Familiar with legal and accounting terminology.
----Familiar with requirements for 501(C)(3) organizations.
----Committed to maintaining "arms length" decisions, in order to prevent any potential conflict of interest in transactions and agreements.

**All positions report directly to the president and vice-president of VEFM. This may not be a complete list of available volunteer positions and is subject to change without notice.

So What's the Hold-Up?....We need $50 more dollars!

2009-01-23T12:59:00.006-05:00

It has been very frustrating to have a great plan and then be held up in the implementing of it. Here is the current situation:
1) In order to help the pet owners we want to help, we need money---not just a little money---we need a lot of money.
2) Although God does sometimes work this way, the chances are the money is not going to drop in our lap out of the blue unless we go out looking for it.
3) The process of going out looking for money is called "solicitation."
4) In the state of Massachusetts, one is not allowed to solicit for a charity without having a "Certificate of Solicitation" and one cannot obtain this without filling out a certain form, put out by the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General (Division of Public Charities). That form is called Form PC, which must be completed every year.
5) We have this form in hand. Now all we need is the $50 that must be submitted along with our application. One would think that this would be easy to obtain. However, there are 2 problems: (a) So far, we have sold very few calendars, and printing costs used up the little we had in the VEFM bank account. (b) Because of winter time and the slowing economy, the veterinary business is also slow and my income has dropped so low that it is all we can do to pay for food and shelter. We have no personal money available to put toward that $50. Anyway, pass the word that any donations at all to help us obtain that $50 would be gratefully received. Please go to our web site at http://www.vefm.org and click on "donations."

The Calendars are Ready !

2008-12-29T21:10:00.003-05:00

Despite various printing challenges, the VEFM 2009 Calendar is finally ready. For any donation to VEFM of $20 or more, we will send you a calendar, with free shipping!. For orders of three or more calendars, the donation is $17 each, with free shipping.

In addition to pictures of pets, the calendar includes stories of animals who had close-calls, and information about toxic plants and household substances.

To donate (and to order calendars), go to our web site: www.vefm.org.

Entry Deadline is Approaching For the 2009 VEFM Calendar Photo Contest

2008-11-17T11:21:00.003-05:00

For our first fundraising project, we are holding a photo contest for a 2009 calendar for VEFM. The theme is "Your Stories," about an emergency trip to your vet's or to an emergency hospital. The photo you submit does not need to be specifically related to the story, but should be of the same animal.

Additional details are in the October 27 blog post:
http://vefm.blogspot.com/2008/10/pet-photo-contest-for-vefm-calendar.html
The deadline for entries for the 2009 calendar is December 1, 2008. You may enter up to 10
times.

Pet Photo Contest--For VEFM calendar--Give us your Photos and your Stories

2008-10-27T20:55:00.006-04:00

We have now filed all the paperwork to be an official corporation in the state of Massachusetts. We are just waiting for official recognition to be able to file for 501(C)3 status. As soon as we formally become a non-profit organization, we want to be all ready to jump into fundraising.

Our first fundraising project is a calendar. The theme is "Your Stories."

Please submit a photo of your pet, along with the story of an emergency that your pet has faced.

Photos will be judged on clarity, composition, and appeal.
Stories will be judged on how well they fit in with theme of VEFM's mission.
The final choices of the winning photos and stories are made at the discretion of VEFM.
Photos and manuscripts cannot be returned and become the property of VEFM.
VEFM reserves the right to modify or edit pictures and stories.

Here's how to submit your entries:

Convert photos to jpeg format (no bmp format, please), with a minimum resolution of 300 pixels/inch, and maximum size 4 inches by 4 inches. Send them via e-mail to http://vefmmail@gmail.com .

Submit your manuscripts in text format or Word format to the same e-mail address: http://vefmmail@gmail.com.

There is no deadline for entries. We will stop accepting entries when we have found 12 suitable pictures and stories. At that point, we will post that entries are closed. You may enter up to 10 times.

If You are Wondering, "How Can I Help?".....Keep Reading.....!

2008-10-21T23:05:00.002-04:00

Many of you may be thinking, "What a great idea, but how can I help?" The best way to answer that question is for us to ask you how your own personal strengths might contribute to VEFM. For example, if your talent is communication and you have a background in the veterinary field, you might want to be a case advocate. If you have skills in phone communication, there would be plenty of opportunity to take phone phone calls. If you are creative and a good organizer, perhaps fund-raising would be a good place to help. There are many talents and plenty of places to use them. Initially, all help will need to be on a volunteer basis, but we plan to have a small number of paid positions opening up within the next few months. The job descriptions will be posted on our web site: http://VEFM.org

We Have a Web Site

2008-10-12T17:57:00.002-04:00

We are busily setting up the official web site for VEFM: http://www.vefm.org . The web site is still undergoing construction, but you will soon be able to find job descriptions of the volunteer positions that are available.

We Now Have an Official EIN Number

2008-10-12T17:48:00.002-04:00

Now that VEFM has an official EIN number (Employer Identification Number), we can accept donations, because one needs an EIN number to open a company bank account. Our official name is Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission, LTD. Until the official paperwork for becoming a 501(C)3 corporation has been filed, donations are not yet tax deductible. We are anticipating that this will be the case for all donations for the 2008 tax year. However, we do anticipate that all the documents will be complete by the 2009 tax year. Donations should be sent to:

VEFM, 280B Rt. 130, Suite 2, #111, Forestdale, MA 02644

We Want to Hear Your Story

2008-09-15T19:36:00.005-04:00

Have you had a crisis with your pet that required you to seek emergency veterinary care? Have you been in the awful situation of not having the money to pay for it? Sadly, many pet owners cannot afford the treatment that their animal needs. Some of you had no one to turn to and were forced to choose inadequate care or even euthanasia. We want to hear your story. No pet should be denied emergency care because an owner has fallen on hard times. Let us hear from you, to help kick-start the birth of the Veterinary Emergency Funding Mission. Help us meet our target
start-up date of January 1, 2009.

Launching VEFM

2008-09-08T19:42:00.002-04:00

Deciding exactly when to launch VEFM officially has been a difficult decision. Because my husband and I have not yet sold the house which we put on the market before our move to Massachusetts over a year ago, we don't have readily available funds to take care of the start-up costs by ourselves. Our early plan was not to launch VEFM until we had filed and paid for all the paper-work for incorporating and obtaining non-profit status. However, with so many unexpected financial obligations of our own, we cannot do this without outside help. Therefore, we are launching it anyway, albeit somewhat prematurely. I am hoping to stir up enough interest that I can get a core group of people together who will assist with fund-raising and administrative tasks. Then we can really get this project rolling. Anyone who is interested in helping, but does not know where to start, should email me through VEFMmail@gmail.com.