HOPE
Well, at last! We in Colorado got our slap in the face this morning after enjoying balmy, spring-like weather the last couple weeks. My wife Gayle was up early feeding the cats (I get to clean litter boxes!), and getting organized for work (she’s a psychotherapist whose life’s work is helping families and troubled teen-agers re-build their lives).
In the meantime, I was scraping ice off her car’s windshield (I sleep in on Mondays ‘cause I don’t work on Mondays!).
Ever so gently, I am moved to get out of my cozy bed by the thought of a hot cup of coffee which, by the way, I’ve absolutely sworn off, except for really co-o-ld days like today. I put on a pot, and then take a look out at the thermometer. Thermometer says: “It’s a GOOD day to be in your warm, cozy home with a cup of coffee and a good book (Humanity on A Tightrope), cats curled at your sides!”
Strangely it’s also one of those days when I reflect with gratitude for the comforts of a warm home, a loving and supportive family, and a profession which affords me a good lifestyle and wonderful relationships and, as importantly, one which affords me the unimaginable rewards of giving back in service for all that I have been blessed.
I reflect on a day in January ’07 when, as a rookie board member of the Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation, I was asked to chair a task force to address the unmet needs of an underserved and often forgotten segment of our community – home-bound elderly persons and persons with disabilities living on fixed incomes with minimal outside or family support whose pets cannot get the basic care they need because of those dire circumstances. The CVMF (www.CVMF.org), which simply “exists to make Colorado a better place for animals and people,” had in place a number of programs that support education, scholarship, and service programs that improve animal health and welfare in Colorado, including the Animal Emergency Management Program, a Community Pet Sterilization Program, the Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital, Veterinary Care Grants, and Veterinary Student Support.
But that was not enough for the dedicated members of the board who come from many professions: animal welfare organizations, law firms, the construction industry, and including our own Colorado certified veterinary technicians. The need was clear for those persons whose pets may be their only connection to the outside world and whose emotional and physical well-being may be dependent on their relationships with their pets.
It was the easiest task I’ve ever been given. Task force volunteers from outside the CVMF board jumped at the chance to serve; meetings were focused and efficient; a pilot program was created; the CVMF board approved the program; the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine approved CE to train veterinarians and veterinary technicians to understand the needs of elderly and persons with disabilities; and a little over a year later the first client was brought into the H.O.P.E. Program (Home Outreach Pet Exams) and provided a $300 fund for in-home veterinary care by a volunteer team of a Colorado licensed veterinarian and a Colorado certified veterinary technician. The volunteer team donates their time to travel to clients’ homes for wellness exams and basic services; the $300 fund is used for hospital-required services at the Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital.
Brittney Parent-Williams, CVMF Manager of Development, shares this story:
“Chuck Gordan, a disabled veteran living on a low fixed income, had been continuously facing the decision of providing his two dogs with basic veterinary care or providing himself with critical medical care. In November 2010, Mr. Gordan was referred by a friend to contact me about the HOPE Program. Often putting his dogs first, he explained to me that he would delay a personal procedure or doctor’s visit to buy his dogs’ treats and food. His two small dogs, Rocky and Louie, have become his only companions. Mr. Gordan doesn’t receive assistance from his family. The stress of financial constraints not only brings him additional health problems, but was also causing him to feel that his dogs weren’t being properly cared for. Rocky and Louie both needed wellness exams and vaccinations. The senior dog Rocky was also having a problem walking. The HOPE Program enabled both dogs to be seen for basic veterinary care and for Rocky’s gait to be examined. On the agenda for 2011 is for Rocky and Louie to receive dental cleanings which will improve their health and quality of life. By providing this care, the HOPE Program is strengthening the bond between Mr. Gordan and his dogs.” That’s Chuck Gordan and Rocky and Louie, up there at the top.
Late last year, the CVMF approved an increase in funding to $500 per client. This month, Dr. Frank Ascione, American Humane Endowed Chair and Executive Director of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection at the Denver University Graduate School of Social Work has set in motion funding from the DU GSSW for a DU grad student in social work to accompany the visiting veterinary team into homes!
We’ve all heard the old African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child.” What a village our profession is!
The blessings of life are here, and now, for all. All we need do is extend a helping hand to receive them. It’s a simple choice to make.
Aubrey
January 31, 2011
