Winston's Fund

Winston's Fund is a compassionate initiative that provides critical emergency veterinary care for animals in need. Established in 1994, this fund was created in honor of a beloved Basset Hound, with the aim of saving lives and preserving the special bond between people and their pets. Generously funded by a local donor, Winston's Fund offers dedicated financial assistance to treat both owned and unowned animals that are ill or injured.

At Blue Mountain Humane Society, our priority is to ensure that the funds are used wisely and effectively. Therefore, we have certain criteria and requirements in place to determine eligibility for assistance through Winston's Fund. Each applicant must apply for CareCredit (www.carecredit.com) before being considered for financial aid. Additionally, we do not provide funding for routine office visits, vaccines, or feline leukemia testing, and we do not cover past due veterinary balances.

To be eligible for Winston's Fund assistance, applicants must provide proof of denial by CareCredit. Furthermore, applicants need to qualify through a series of questions that assess their eligibility for financial support. It's important to note that due to limited resources, we may not be able to assist everyone who applies. Our goal is to allocate funds responsibly and prioritize cases where lives can be saved or long-term recovery is possible.

The amount of financial assistance provided varies for each case, depending on factors such as the nature of the illness or injury, the required course of action, and the availability of funds at the time of the request. However, please be aware that Winston's Fund does not cover the entire cost of care. We encourage applicants to contribute financially to the medical expenses of their pets, as this demonstrates their commitment to their pet's well-being.

While we empathize with individuals facing challenging circumstances such as unemployment, disability, foreclosure, or financial hardship, we are unable to assist those who have no financial means to contribute towards veterinary services for their pets.

It's important to clarify that Winston's Fund does not distribute funds directly to individuals. Instead, the funding is sent directly to the veterinary provider responsible for the animal's care.

Eligibility guidelines:

• Owner must be a resident of the Walla Walla Valley, residing in Columbia or Walla Walla County, or northern Umatilla County including the towns of Milton-Freewater, Weston, and Athena.

• Owner must have applied and been denied for CareCredit and provide proof of denial. A CareCredit denial will be considered valid for 3 months.

• Owner must be willing and able to participate financially in some way toward the cost of the pet's medical care.

• Eligibility for financial support through Winston's Fund is limited to companion animal species such as cats, dogs, ferrets, guinea pigs, and rabbits in need of a lifesaving procedure with a reasonable prognosis for good long-term recovery.

• Pets without an owner must have a temperament that does not prevent them from being safely placed for adoption.

• If the pet is unaltered, the owner must agree to spay/neuter being part of the treatment.

Eligibility checklist:

To determine eligibility for Winston's Fund, applicants must meet at least six of the following conditions:

• Winston Funds are available

• CareCredit coverage was denied (mandatory)

• Owner commits to a portion of the expense (mandatory)

• Animal is in urgent need of medical attention

• Medical condition is life-threatening

• Prognosis post-procedure is good

• Owner is financially unable to cover the entire expense

• Owner commits to paying at least 50% of the expense

• Owner and animal have not used Winston Fund before

• Spay or neuter is not required

• Animal does not have an owner

• Age of animal does not preclude expensive medical care

• Animal is easy to handle and transport

• All options for treatment or coverage of treatment expenses have been exhausted

Please note that meeting these conditions does not guarantee approval for financial assistance, as each case is assessed individually based on the available resources and the specific circumstances involved. The more conditions that are met, the higher the chances of receiving support from Winston's Fund.

If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria and require financial assistance for your companion animal's lifesaving procedure, we encourage you to contact Blue Mountain Humane Society. Our team will review your situation and provide further guidance on applying for Winston's Fund assistance.

Winston

Winston, a compassionate Basset Hound, had a remarkable instinct for finding injured animals in the yard and alerting his owners, emphasizing the need for help. From rescuing a baby bunny to a bird, his acts of kindness continue to inspire a fund dedicated to providing emergency veterinary care for injured animals. (Painting by Shirley Dickerson)