Animal Health Foundation

aid to seniors/education/pet therapy/wildlife/
pet loss/disaster/misc.

The therapeutic value of pets has been well documented, and anyone who has shared a precious moment with a dog knows the value of canine companionship. Dogs give love and understanding unconditionally, which makes them ideal visitors for those undergoing treatment at hospitals and other medical facilities.

Former Board of Trustees member of The Animal Health Foundation, Connie Jankowski, worked with Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) to establish one of the nation’s first and leading pet therapy programs.

Here is what the Children's Hospital of Orange County Web Site has to say about the program:

"The 1990s saw the establishment of the Caring K9s pet-facilitated therapy program sponsored by the Animal Health Foundation. CHOC became one of only 50 hospitals in the nation, and the only one in Orange County, to use pets to assist in the recovery of young patients. The therapy dogs and their owners aid children in oncology, and the medical and surgical wards of the hospital, as well as in the physical, occupational, and speech therapy departments. Since 1994, the unconditional affection of these canine volunteers has raised the spirits of sick children and provided needed escape from hospital and treatment routines."

The program's success has inspired us to expand the program to provide pet therapy services to several institutions in Southern California. Jan Vincent, CPDT is certified by the Certification Council of Pet Dog Trainers and an American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen evaluator is our Teams Coordinator. The Animal Health Foundation is a registered Affiliate of the Delta Society and our teams are trained to meet the Delta Society's high standards. The Animal Health Foundation has qualified as a Delta Society Training Site.

A.H.F. Pet Partner Teams visit medical institutions and care facilities on a regular basis. We have found that the patients, their families and the medical staff of each facility welcome us with smiles and affection. Sometimes we are the only break from the stress of long-term illness. Likewise, the pets' visits are often the only relief from focusing on problems that the patients experience during their hospitalization.

For more than thirty years, the Animal Health Foundation has provided aid to senior citizens and disabled persons who own pets. People requesting A.H.F. help must submit an application for assistance, which is reviewed by the board of directors. Awards are made only to those who meet our strict qualifications. Applicants must be on modest, fixed incomes and provide financial statements that demonstrate a need for assistance. We focus our effort on the following areas:

Pet Insurance Program:
The Animal Health Foundation will sponsor needy individuals’ service pets for health insurance. Applicants must reside in Orange or Los Angeles Counties, California, and must be sole owner of the pet. A maximum of one pet per individual is eligible for award, and awards are contingent upon available funds.
For more information on the Insurance Program, click here

Mary Edna Boydston Guardian Angel Program:
From the generous bequest of Ms. Mary Edna Boydston, senior citizens and disabled persons residing in the Manhattan Beach/South Bay, California areas may be eligible for veterinary service support. Annual awards of up to $500 are made to qualifying individuals.
For more information and for application forms, click here.

Pet Meal Delivery Programs:
The Animal Health Foundation has worked in cooperation with and provided the seed money for the Volunteers of America to provide in-home pet food delivery and other needed services to qualifying individuals.

Pet care advice, training information and other assistance is available to senior citizens in targeted areas of Southern California.

Program development is in an expansion mode and fund raising efforts are underway to enable the Volunteers of America to reach new goals.

Persons wishing to offer support to this exciting program should contact the Animal Health Foundation.

Delta Society Support:
The Animal Health Foundation has provided grants to the Delta Society of $50,000.00 over the past two years to further the Delta Society Animal Assisted Therapy/Assistance Programs.

Support:
Unfortunately, the need for help often exceeds available funds, so donations to these programs are critical for continued success. Every donation, large or small, is sincerely appreciated, and is fully tax-deductible.

To designate grants, endowments or donations to these programs please click here.

The Animal Health Foundation promotes educational efforts that serve to improve the lives of animals and the people who care about them. Throughout the years we have sponsored, supported and designed projects that increase knowledge about pets, wildlife and the human/animal bond.

Promoting responsible pet ownership is of the utmost importance to the A.H.F. We take a variety of approaches to disseminating information about responsible pet care within the community. Seminars, exhibits, literature, media, web sites, and community group meetings offer avenues for education. A.H.F. volunteers support responsible pet ownership by speaking to schools and community groups about the care and needs of animals.

Pet care information is available on this web site.
To read about pet care and other topics: click here

Veterinarians and technicians are challenged to keep current with advances in medicine, surgery and pet care. Making it possible for other creatures to share in the advancements of medical science, A.H.F. sponsors educational endeavors of pet care professionals and advancement of animal health issues. Professional seminars on current veterinary topics enlist specialists in various fields of veterinary medicine as guest speakers, presenting training in the latest topics and techniques.

Educating young people about animals is critical to developing respect and understanding about the value of pets to society. Increasing public awareness helps to build appreciation for our interdependence with the animals on this planet. Schoolteachers, scouting groups and other civic or youth groups in Southern California are invited to contact the Animal Health Foundation to develop a program to provide educational opportunities to groups.

While our pets enjoy the security of a warm home, the orangutans of Borneo suffer daily. Poachers, feeding a demand created by the pet trade, prey upon fragile infant orangutans and their mothers. Many of the prized animals are severely injured by those who pursue them. Broken bones suffered by infants who fall from trees, gun shot wounds and malnutrition are among the commonly found conditions that plague this endangered species.

The rain forests are no longer safe havens for these intelligent, noble creatures. In order for the species to survive we must provide medical and political assistance. The Animal Health Foundation has elected to support this cause. Under the direction of Richard Glassberg, DVM, we have assisted the Orangutan Foundation International by providing needed supplies and equipment to help establish an on-site veterinary hospital to care for sick and injured primates.

With your help we can make a difference in the future of the orangutans and other animals. Your tax-deductible donations help support efforts to provide veterinary care for needy primates. Equipment and supplies are desperately needed and are readily available in this country. Won't you help bring needed aid to these beautiful creatures and help repair the damage that man has inflicted?

Previously, the Animal Health Foundation has sponsored efforts to help marine mammals and other wildlife. Donations large and small are greatly appreciated. Cash, medical equipment and supplies can be sent to: The Animal Health Foundation

The Animal Health Foundation recognizes the strong power of the human/animal bond. Pets become family members and provide companionship to people in all walks of life.

It is no wonder that the loss of a family pet produces tremendous grief and anxieties. When companion animals die, pet owners often experience intense grief and may lack resources to cope with their losses. Because pets are so meaningful to our quality of life, their deaths can cause terrible pain, which must be addressed.

A.H.F. takes a caring and sympathetic approach to helping mourners adjust to these losses. Among the programs that A.H.F. sponsors are:

The Pet Loss Support Hotline:
This provides grieving pet owners with an opportunity to share the feelings with a caring professional. The University of California at Davis, College of Veterinary Medicine staffs the "Pet Loss Support Hotline" with veterinary students that have been trained in grief counseling. People who have questions or concerns about anything to do with the death of their pets are encouraged to call.

Callers will find that they are not alone in their grief or concerns about their pets. When desired, counselors can help people find professional help in their immediate geographical area through their lists of referral therapists. They also have a variety of pet loss literature they can mail to callers at no charge upon request.

The Animal Health Foundation helps support a toll free telephone number that enables people throughout California to have access to this much-needed service.

The number is... 1-800-565-1526 Services are available Monday - Friday, from 6:30-9:30 P.M. U.C. Davis Hotline Web Site

The Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement is a good resource for those looking for help.

A simple test to determine if you need help with your pet loss grief, remember...

Are You?

Feeling lost without your pet?
Wondering what to tell a child about the loss of the family pet?
Finding that family and friends fail to understand or attempt to minimize your loss?
Wondering if you should get another pet?
Still grieving for a pet you had some time ago?
Wondering about euthanasia?
Dreading the departure of an aging or sick pet?
Having difficulty resuming "normal" activities?
Withdrawing from social activities?
Sleeping more than usual?
Experiencing physical reactions to your loss?
Losing patience with those around you?

You are not alone.We understand and can help you through this difficult time. We know that the loss of a pet is serious. Take advantage of the Pet Loss Support Hotline.

Emergencies:
Feelings of desperation or suicide should be addressed immediately. Contact your county mental health agency, your family mental health practitioner, your family physician, or Dial 911 for urgent needs.

Private Practice Pet Loss Counselors:
The Animal Health Foundation is compiling a referral list of pet loss support groups and licensed practitioners with a special interest in this subject. Many services are free of charge while others involve fees (many of which are covered by personal health insurance).

Suggested Reading on "Coping with Pet Loss":

When Your Pet Dies, by Christine Adamec. Berkeley Publishing, 1996.
Angel Whiskers, Reflections on Loving and Losing a Feline Companion, by Laurel Hunt. Hyperion Books
Angel Pawprints, Reflections on Loving and Losing a Canine Companion, by Laurel Hunt Hyperion Books
It's Okay to Cry, by Maria Luz Quitana, Shari L. Veleba, Harle King. Published by K and K Communications, 875 Maple Street; Perrysburg, OH 43551. (Newsletter also available.)
Coping With Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet, by Moira Anderson. Peregrine Press, 1987.
Snowflake in My Hand, by Samantha Mooney. Delacorte, 1983.
How to Survive the Loss of a Love, by Harold Bloomfield. Bantam, 1977.
The Loss of a Pet, by Wallace Sife, Ph.D. Howell Book House, Simon Schuster Publishing, 1993.
When Bad Things Happen to Good People, by Harold Kushner. Avon, 1983.
The Courage to Grieve, by Judy Tatelbaum. Harper and Row, 1980.

Community Support Programs:
Pet Loss Support Programs are funded entirely by the generosity of contributors to the foundation. Gifts to the foundation can be general or specified for use for a specific program. The following programs benefit the pet loss support groups specifically:

Pet Memorial Program How can you recognize the passing of an important pet? Why not make a donation to the foundation in that pet's name, so that the pet’s spirit lives on in a powerful way. click here for donations

Euthanasia Memorial Program Veterinarians have generously supported the Animal Health Foundation by recognizing the passing of cherished pets. Instead of charging for euthanasia services, some veterinarians ask that clients make a donation to the Animal Health Foundation in memory of their pet. Participating veterinarians have experienced wonderful results from participating in this program and pet owners truly appreciate the gesture of kindness.

(Veterinarians wanting specific information about these memorial programs please contact Mr. Richard Holden.)

Southern California is no stranger to the devastation by earthquakes, wind, floods and fire. Often pets and wildlife suffer the worst of the consequences. The A.H.F. is "on-call" with professionals who have donated time and resources to support rescue efforts.

Providing temporary shelter to cats and dogs, providing medical care to injured animals, working with ranchers to provide care and boarding for displaced horses, the A.H.F. often works with other relief organizations to lend a hand. The foundation has also assisted in providing pet loss counseling to people who lost cherished pets to disasters.

The Animal Health Foundation sponsors a variety of programs that serve pets and wildlife. Included is the Don Mahan Award, which recognizes excellence in the practice of veterinary medicine. The award is made annually, and presented in conjunction with the installation ceremony for officers of the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association.

The Pacemaker Bank established by AHF allows pets to benefit from the advancement of medical science. Units manufactured for use in human medicine are recalibrated to accommodate canine needs and are made available for use in animals that have been identified as good candidates for the procedure.

The foundation is continually reviewing suggestions for new projects. For consideration, complete the survey form and return by fax, mail or email. survey form