Laurie Dorr of Finally Home says senior dogs, like these at her North Yarmouth shelter, can add huge medical expenses and she wishes to help clingy owners statewide with those expenses. Contributed / Laurie Dorr
The Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue and Retirement Home in North Yarmouth is broadening its reach with the launch of 2 brand-new monetary help programs to help qualified owners of elderly dogs statewide.
“I feel really fortunate that Finally Home has gotten to a point where we can help other animals and other Mainers,” said Laurie Dorr, who began the not-for-profit shelter at her home in 2019 to enable homeless senior dogs to live out the remainder of the lives in a caring environment.
A fundraising occasion to launch the brand-new Sierra Fund and The Teddy’s Friends Fund will be held will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. March 2 at Trudy Bird’s Ølbar in the area and will consist of hors d’oeuvres and drinks, along with free gifts and raffles.
Laurie Dorr and The Sierra Fund’s name. Sierra passed away in December. Contributed / Laurie Dorr.
The Sierra Fund will supply financial backing for older dogs’ treatment. It is called in honor of Dorr’s own devoted canine buddy of 16 years who passed away in December.
Pets can sustain high medical expenses that lots of people are not able to cover, Dorr said.
“Some people can’t even afford to take their animals to the vet,” she said.
The Sierra Fund money will go straight to vets for care of the animal in requirement. For now, it will use just to basic veterinarian gos to, medications, shots and take a trip to visits, however not surgical treatments, which are much more pricey, Dorr said.
Ideally, she wishes to raise $10,000 for The Sierra Fund and $10,000 for The Teddy’s Friends Fund, which will support end of life expenses such as euthanasia.
Euthanasia in a veterinarian’s workplace expenses about $150 to $200 dollars, Dorr said, and lots of dog owners don’t think about the charge included till the minute gets here. Vet-administered in-home euthanasia is better for some dogs, however that expenses closer to $450 and the rate can hold some owners back.
“We want to help as many people as we can,” Dorr said.
The Teddy fund is called in honor of a dog who invested just a few months at Dorr’s rescue prior to he passed away, simply a month prior to Sierra. He was euthanized at the shelter.
Laurie Dorr and Teddy at their North Yarmouth home. Contributed / Laurie Dorr
Lauren Kennedy, an end of life family pet professional photographer and secretary of Finally Home’s board of directors, said the requirement for monetary help for treatment for senior animals prevails.
“Costs can accrue really easily, and animals need more care as they get older,” Kennedy said.
“It’s so exciting (to have) these two funds, specifically geared toward senior animals and end of life care, which is something that hasn’t really been available to Mainers,” she said.
To be qualified to request the Finally Home monetary help, Maine dog owners need to be at or listed below 150% of the federal hardship standards, which would be a yearly earnings of $20,385 or less for a bachelor household, for instance.
Finally Home takes in dogs given up by owners who are physically not able to continue looking after them and from senior owners who can’t take their animals with them when they transfer to retirement or helped living centers. It likewise accepts senior dogs from standard animal shelters where they have actually been long-lasting homeowners.
To contribute or learn more, go to finallyhomemaine.org.
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People and Business: Feb. 15
