Lizzy's Fund, a Naperville nonprofit focused on senior dog care, has launched a program to help local veterans afford vet bills for their aging companions.
The program, called "Lizzy Supports Our Veterans," provides financial assistance for veterinary care so veterans can keep their senior dogs, age seven and older. Lizzy's Fund announced the initiative in a Nov. 8 column published in Positively Naperville.
"We have discovered that some Veterans struggle to afford care for their trusted canine companions and that they can no longer afford the veterinary care needed to keep them healthy," the organization wrote. "We believe this should never happen."
The column described dogs as a source of emotional support for veterans who may face career challenges or financial difficulties after returning from service. The program aims to keep veterans and their companions together through help with vet costs.
Separately, an NCTV17 spotlight segment that aired Oct. 18 described Lizzy's Fund "starting a new program with a local veterinary clinic to subsidize medical care for senior dogs of veterans" under a different name: "Two Hands, One Heart." Whether that program and "Lizzy Supports Our Veterans" are the same initiative under an updated name, or two separate efforts, is not clear from available information.
Bernie Slupik, executive director of Lizzy's Fund, appeared on the NCTV17 segment alongside volunteer Gail Diedrichsen.
The veterans program is a new direction for the nonprofit, which has focused since its founding in April 2012 on helping shelter and rescue groups care for senior dogs. According to the NCTV17 segment, Lizzy's Fund provides medical services including surgeries, dental work, vaccines and wellness checks, along with alternative care such as acupuncture and chiropractic treatment. The fund has financially supported more than 1,100 senior dogs, according to its website.
The organization traces its name to a dog named Lizzy who was slated for euthanasia at age nine because of severe orthopedic problems and a significant heart murmur. An alternative-care veterinarian treated her, and she lived another seven and a half years. Her family started the fund after she died at 16½.
Lizzy's Fund reports administrative costs of less than 1% of annual revenue, attributing that to benefactors who provide free office space, insurance and supplies.
Veterans interested in the program can email [email protected] with "Veteran" in the subject line to receive details.
