Brother Wolf Animal Rescue (BWAR) announces that they have received a $7,000 grant from Banfield Charitable Trust to help local pet owners with vet care assistance.
BWAR Founder and President, Denise Bitz, says that “A key strategy in our mission to help build a No-Kill community is to keep animals healthy, happy and in their homes and out of the shelter system.”
At any given time, Brother Wolf Animal Rescue cares for more than 550 homeless dogs and cats. “And about half of those have medical issues that require veterinary attention,” says Bitz.
“One of the main reasons people surrender animals to us is because their pet has become sick or injured and they can’t afford the vet care. Often times, these animals are beloved members of their family. Unfortunately vet care can be expensive. When you are on a fixed income and need to choose whether or not your dog receives vaccines or you put food on your table, the choices can become very difficult.
“We don’t want someone to have to surrender their beloved pet to an already overburdened shelter system because they can’t afford basic care. This Banfield grant will allow us to help keep pets healthy, out of the shelter system and with their familes,” says Bitz.
The Brother Wolf Animal Rescue adoption center is open to the public 7 days a week, 365 days a year and it has become a resource for the community on many levels, but a lot of it has to do with their easy accessibility. Not only is it easy to adopt because they are open everyday and open late hours, but if you have a problem with your pet and need advice on resources for your pet, BWAR staff are available to answer your calls or welcome people walking in who need referrals.
Director of Shelter Operations, Joelle Warren, says that one of the hardest parts of her job is to know of an animal that needs medical care but the owner can’t afford even the initial exam. “This grant will help alleviate the unnecessary suffering of so many animals by giving them a chance of receiving medical care when needed.”
Just last week, this grant helped several animals in need: a dog with a serious flea allergy and was in obvious discomfort, scratching non stop; a cat who had an injured leg; a dog who sustained multiple punctures after being attacked by a neighborhood dog. All of these animals were helped and kept with their families instead of being relinquished to the shelter system because their owners couldn’t afford necessary vet care.
“This grant will allow us to help a lot of animals in our community, but we can tell by the response that we have already had that it will be used quickly due to the high demand of animals in need. Our hope is that once this grant has been used up, we will be able to find other ways to sustain this program, so that we will be able to continue to help animals in need in Buncombe County, and that no animal goes without necessary vet care,” says Bitz.
For more information on how to apply to receive help from this grant, you can email [email protected] or call 828-575-2699. Applicants will be considered on a case by case basis and approved based on need. There is a $150 limit per animal and vet care must be rendered at one of BWAR’s participating veterinarians.
For more information about our Four Point Plan, please visit www.bwar.org/about/our-four-point-plan