VEG CARES 5K

HELPING UNDERSERVED PETS IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Since 2019, VEG Cares has saved over 2000 animal lives (and counting!). 

VEG Cares is Veterinary Emergency Group's (VEG) charitable program. VEG partners with the 501(c)(3) Veterinary Care Foundation to collect donations and distribute them to guardians of under-served pets in our community.

VEG Cares provides life-saving care to pets in need at all VEG hospitals. These needs include pets with families facing financial distress, animals displaced by natural disasters, police, service & fire animals, and animals under the care of a shelter or rescue organization.

VEG Cares runs 100% on donations and every penny donated goes right into funding a lifesaving procedure for an animal in need.

Questions about VEG Cares? Please contact Natalie Kelly at nkelly@veg.vet

LADY

Lady is 1 year old female American Staffordshire Terrier who presented to VEG Boston after falling out of a car window. She had a fractured femur and her owners were unable to afford surgery for repair. VEG Cares made it possible for Lady to receive the amputation she needed. Lady's family was so grateful! Lady was able to jump up on the couch again shortly after her surgery and is is doing great thanks to a tremendous team effort at VEG Boston. 

MOO

Moo was brought into VEG San Ramon by her loving owners. He desperately needed surgery for a urinary blockage, but Moo's owners couldn't afford the cost of the surgery. After paying everything they could afford to save Moo's life, VEG Cares covered the rest of the cost. Moo is back to his spunky self and his owners are extremely grateful for the compassionate care they received. 

CORA

Cora is a 9 month old puppy, who was found in a trash bag. She was brought into VEG Tampa by a Good Samaritan. She was malnourished, covered in urine and feces, anemic, and practically just skin and bones. Dr. Lisa Soyka treated Cora, who underwent blood transfusions, received IV fluid, IV antibiotics, and deworming medication. Cora's medical expenses were covered by VEG Cares and the donations of generous community members. With the love and care of Dr. Soyka and her team, Cora returned to health and went from 22 lbs to 45 lbs. Cora entered a wonderful foster home and will soon find her forever home. 

PEACHES

Peaches is a sweet little Frenchie who came into VEG Boynton Beach having gone into labor earlier than expected and couldn't pass her first pup. The owner was extremely worried about Peaches and wasn't able to afford surgery despite applying for Care Credit and Scratchpay and making several calls to friends and family. Attending veterinarian, Dr. Calhoon shared that it was a joy to be able to focus on Peach's care and reassure her owner that we'd still focus on Peaches' medical needs regardless.The owner stayed through the whole process and was deeply grateful that VEG was available and willing to help when both Peaches and her family needed it and literally had no other options. 

FLOTUS

Flotus is a one year old FS pocket pibble mix. Flotus was adopted in April and had intermittent episodes of vomiting and lethargy since adoption. Flotus was transferred to VEG Lincoln Park for surgery after the referring veterinarian found a fully intact spoon in her abdomen. Flotus' owner is a special education teacher and had fallen on hard times.  Hospital Manger Brian Shears decided it was the right decision to move forward using VEG Cares funds. It was clear that the spoon had been there for a long time; likely prior to adoption. Flotus had a very guarded to poor prognosis. Flotus stayed at VEG for a few days and made everyone fall in love with her. She continued to get stronger and was discharged a few days later.  

DUSTY

Dusty is a 5 year old domestic short hair cat that came in to VEG White Plains in May with a presenting complaint of straining to urinate. Dusty is owned by the nuns at the Missionaries of Charity Mother Theresa Bronx Shelter. The cost to care for Dusty would have been very difficult for the nuns financially since their shelter functions solely on donations. Dr. Germain and her team did not want to euthanize this young otherwise healthy cat or send him home to suffer, so they decided to use VEG Cares. It was one of the most rewarding cases they could have used it on. The nuns were so thankful. Dusty was able to get the care he needed and was able to go home a couple days later. 

OLIVE

Olive is a Great Dane that came to VEG Ft. Worth as it was suspected she had eaten something. She has a passion for socks. It was soon discovered that she indeed had an obstruction and needed emergency surgery. The customer had just lost her father to COVID, and spent thousands on his funeral services. So the timing could not have been worse for this family. When Dr. Rogers and the team at VEG Ft. Worth informed her that they could use VEG Cares to help finance the surgery, she was extremely grateful. The surgery went well and they removed a Harry Potter sock. She made a complete recovery!

PUMPKIN

Pumpkin is a 4 month old intact male kitten, who came in to VEG Hoboken in May with difficulty breathing. His owner had adopted/found him a few months prior and he had nasal discharge since she's had him. Pumpkin had a lot of difficulty breathing when he arrived, so Dr. Roth and her team put him in an oxygen cage. Dr. Roth made the owner an estimate for treatment, but she couldn't afford it. Pumpkin was having so much trouble breathing that Dr. Roth knew if he went home he probably wouldn't survive (and if he did survive, he would be suffering). But Dr. Roth also knew that she and her team could probably save his life with just a little bit of time, oxygen, and some injectable antibiotics. Dr. Roth utilized VEG Cares and Pumpkin went home to his mom soon after.