Whether a life is lived, lost, improved, or grieved the animals we encounter compose themselves in the shared fight to give others a second chance at theirs. For our hospital, Honey’s story can be thanked as the catalyst to the creation of this fund and the driving force of its mission. Inspired by the bonds that were broken ahead of their time, our staff is motivated to create change within the veterinary field, which seeks to do nothing less than bring justice to the animals we hold a shared love for.
Who We Are
The Underdog Fund is a 501c3 non-profit fund established and run by the staff at Tacoma Animal Hospital.
As veterinarians whose driving passion is protecting the lives of animals, we believe the tender and fragile exchange between person and pet is one that should be fully lived. We believe that access to veterinary care is not just a pet welfare issue but a fundamental social justice concern that affects human wellbeing.
Our Story
To speak on why our staff established The Underdog Fund is to speak about the lives we encounter as Veterinarians. While it would be impossible to share them all, we can we can better share the ways in which they have led to act, as to do their lives justice.
Dedicated to Honey
Unable to walk, severely emaciated, and experiencing emergent symptoms, Honey was four months old when she was brought to our hospital after testing positive for the Parvo Virus. With the owner unable to afford the emergency deposit, staff members explored any options left, but these things take time, and it was time Honey didn’t have. The decision to euthanize Honey was both defeating, if not challenging; but it had become a kindness in these circumstances, like it is in many others.
The day before our paths crossed, we had treated a puppy her same age after also testing positive for parvo. Nonetheless, their owner paid everything in full and left a five-star review expressing her gratitude for saving her dog's life. We can’t speak to whether Honey would have lived had the owner been able to afford treatment. However, I do know that she wasn’t culpable for her owner’s financial misfortune, just as much as no animal is culpable for the suffering they endure.
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