RIVMA COMPANION ANIMAL FOUNDATION

THE RHODE ISLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION COMPANION ANIMAL FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME PET OWNERS SO THAT THEY CAN AFFORD ESSENTIAL VETERINARY CARE FOR THEIR SICK OR INJURED PETS. THE ORGANIZATION'S GOAL IS AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE FOR ALL PETS. THIS IS THE FIRST VETERINARY BASED ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES AND IS CURRRENTLY THE LARGEST RESOURCE FOR MEETING THE OVERWHELMING NEED FOR URGENT CARE FOR THE PETS IN RHODE ISLAND. THE ORGANIZATON IS GOVERNED BY A VETERINARY AND COMMUNITY BASED BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND HAS RECEIVED EXCELLENT SUPPORT FROM VETERINARIANS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. PET OWNERS MUST BE INCOME ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE TO BE GIVEN BY THE ORGANIZATION.LOW-INCOME GUIDELINES WERE MODELED ON THE HUD COMMUNITY MEDIAN INCOME STANDARDS, AS WELL AS OWNER PARTICIPATION IN SUCH PROGRAMS AS FOOD STAMPS, HEATING ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER SIMILAR RESOURCES. THE ORGANIZATON ESTABLISHED THIS SET OF ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA SO THAT VETERINARIANS CAN EASILY DETERMINE WHETHER A CLIENT IS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AT THE TIME THE PATIENT IS EXAMINED.THE ABSENCE OF ANY SORT OF WAITING PERIOD FOR FUNDING MAKES EMERGENCY CARE POSSIBLE, AND THERE IS NO CUMBERSOME DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED OF THE PARTICIPANTS. THE ORGANIZATION AUDITS 10% OF FUND RECIPIENTS EACH YEAR TO VERIFY ACCURATE REPORTING. BECAUSE THESE GRANTS ARE SO ACCESSIBLE, VETERINARIANS HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY TO OFFER IMMEDIATE TREATMENT PLANS TO ELIGIBLE CLIENTS, AT THE TIME THE NEED IS MORE URGENT.THE ORGANIZATION RAISES FUNDS THROUGH GRANTS, EVENTS, INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND A VETERINARY PATIENT MEMORIAL PROGRAM. FUNDS ARE THEN PRIMARILY USED FOR AN ANNUAL DISBURSEMENT THAT THE STATE'S VETERINARIANS USE TO TREAT THEIR ELIGIBLE CLIENTS PETS. THE VERY MODEST REMAINDER SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION'S ADMINISTRATIVE NEEDS, WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S DAY TO DAY BUSINESS BEING THE RESPONSIBILITY OF VOLUNTEERS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ALSO SET UP AND ENDOWMENT ACCOUNT THAT WILL HELP THE ORGANIZATION SERVE THE NEEDY PET OWNERS INTO THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE.