Helping Animals

Aspen Daily NewsPrinted From: http://www.aspendailynews.com/article_20865

Nonprofit Helps Valley Residents of the Four-legged Variety

Damien Williamson - Aspen Daily News Staff Writer

Wed 07/25/2007 07:01AM The Roaring Fork Valley's 200-plus nonprofits are no longer just for at-risk youth, film aficionados, the musically inclined, literary enthusiasts or, for that matter, humans at all. Organizations like the recently established Simba Fund have set out to help the unfortunate four-legged, furry residents of the valley who have succumb to life-threatening illnesses or accidents. Unofficially founded in the fall of 2005 after Julee Roth donated money after the death of her cat Simba, the fund eventually received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in February 2007. Since then, it has successfully given eight animals a second chance at life. "Our mission is to defray the cost of life-saving procedures for stray animals, and for those animals whose owners have extenuating circumstances or limited resources," says Simba Fund spokesperson and volunteer Christine Helling. "Usually the animals are referred from their veterinarian after some sort of trauma. We see a lot of dogs who have been hit by cars, and all of a sudden people say 'How am I going to pay for this?" After prospective fund recipients fill out an application, the nonprofit requests a pay stub and the previous year's tax return in order to determine financial eligibility. Then the group's seven-member board determines if and how much money will be doled out. The process usually takes from 24-48 hours. Helling says that ideally the pet owner will come up with whatever portion of the expenses that they can. But in the case of strays or animals abandoned once the owner realizes the high-cost of the medical procedures, the fund attempts to cover the entire cost of surgeries and rehabilitation. As an added benefit, doctors that perform services and procedures on animals through the Simba Fund are asked to discount their services at a rate of 33 percent. Founding Director Dr. Melissa McPherron's facility hosts most of the orthopedic cases at Mountain Veterinary Surgical Associates in Basalt, but the nonprofit has also worked with Redhill Animal Health Center and Alpine Animal Hospital both in Carbondale, as well as Gentle Friends in Glenwood Springs. Like most valley nonprofits, funding is The Simba Fund's greatest dilemma. But since it is currently an entirely volunteer-run organization, all of the funds raised go directly towards helping animals in need. "The four animals we helped in June were all shelter animals, so they've depleted our funds," Helling says. "But the community has been a big help as we also rely on grants, like the one we received from the Thrift Shop, as well as private donations, our board members and fundraisers. We've also been the beneficiary of events like the K9 uphill and 'Bone Days in Dogdale.'" Helling says she chooses to volunteer not because she works at Mountain Veterinary Surgical Associates with Dr. McPherron, but because she truly sees the tangible benefits of the organization. "We're really making a difference," she says. "Being able to get animals the care they need, nurse them back to health, rehabilitate them, and often help them find a new family feels pretty good." damien@aspendailynews.com
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