Max's Fund
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We are Max's Fund...
...And our mission is to address an unmet need in the community by increasing regional access to veterinary surgical care for pet owners, county agencies, and non-profit rescues in Muskingum and surrounding counties.
Increased access is achieved through funding raised for subsidizing the expense of trauma surgeries on unowned pets or pets with owners who can’t afford treatment, and through subsidizing spays and neuters of feral cats and dogs in the county dog shelter. We strive to find local treatment so that the burdens associated with travel for care are minimized.
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With your help, we are ready to begin addressing this problem now.
ACCESS TO CARE
for OWNERS
ADDRESSING STRAY
and HOARDED PETS
​Why did we begin? Here is the problem:
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Many pet owners find themselves faced with needing surgery for their pet, whether it be a torn ACL, broken leg, or infected uterus. Owners are typically referred to MedVet, OSU and other specialty hospitals; these are far away, expensive, and often associated with a long waiting period.
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Many veterinary clinics (including all but one in Zanesville, for instance) are not accepting new clients.
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Traveling for surgery is an added burden of time and expense that some caretakers can't afford.
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Owners are forced to consider things like limb amputation or even euthanasia for broken bones
We also plan to help with the ongoing problem of too many unowned and uncared for pets. Soon, we hope to:
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Locally provide High Quality/ high volume spay and neuter (HVHQSN) days targeting unowned and confiscated county animals.
This will minimize travel and time burden and costs for county programs.
This will minimize the Length of Stay in the shelter for county dogs, thereby minimizing behavior issues that develop from being kenneled at the shelter. Cost to the county per dog will also be reduced.
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Help with targeted reduction of the cat overpopulation by working with PAWS and hosting feral cat spay/ neuter days.
Max's Story
Through a local humane officer, Max arrived unexpectedly at a shelter where Dr. Gandolf was working. He lay on the floor unable to lift his head. He was emaciated, had open wounds on his head, and a broken upper jaw.
We suspected that he may have been struck in the face with a blunt object such as a baseball bat. Many shelters would have elected to euthanize him due to his severe injuries and poor prognosis. Dr. Gandolf saw a spark of life in his eyes and chose to give him a chance.
She directed his critical care and discovered that he also had multiple open fractures of his maxilla (upper jaw). With the advice of Dr. Jon Dyce (OSU orthopedics), and with help from a local dentist, she cleaned out his upper jaw and stabilized it with wires and a poured acrylic splint. He ate via a feeding tube in his neck for two weeks, then one of his first oral feedings of turkey on Thanksgiving Day!
Max turned out to be such a wonderful dog! He was adopted as soon as he was medically cleared to go home, where he enjoys naps on the couch with his loving family.