Love fund: saving animals one procedure at a time

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — This year, the Love Fund has spent $35,244 on specialized medical procedures and surgeries at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.

But every day, new animals come into the shelter in need of medical procedures.

With increasing veterinary costs and animals arriving at the shelter at any given moment, the fund is falling behind on what it needs to help animals in need.

Currently, the fund has $17,684. But four animals alone require upwards of $23,000 — more than what is currently available.

Dr. Phil Caldwell, medical director at Palm Springs Animal Shelter, noted that recent medical treatments have strained shelter resources.

“We've had several cases that are very, very expensive to treat,” Caldwell said. “Very complex medical and surgical cases. And so we've having to send them to specialty clinics or do them here, but they're with specialists or surgeons and that requires a lot of money to do that.”

Jack Hagerman, associate executive director of the shelter, emphasized the critical need for financial assistance to sustain animal care.

“We look to donors to really help us to to replenish the Love Fund so that we can continue to provide this life saving treatment,” Hagerman said.

Without sufficient funding, treatment options for severely ill animals become limited.

"Euthanasia is often the only way forward if they have a chronic issue that's affecting their quality of life,” Hagerman said.

Because shelter officials cannot predict when new animals needing medical intervention will arrive, they have set a broader fundraising target of $100,000 to prepare for future cases. Caldwell said the shelter hopes to reach the larger milestone to help handle future admissions.

To donate, visit the Palm Springs Animal Shelter's website.