The number of medical cases has increased dramatically since the video below was filmed. However, it's still an excellent primer on the origins and compass of Kitu's Fund.
Kitu's Fund for high-cost emergency and medical treatment
Emergency veterinary care gets very expensive very quickly. Life-saving procedures and medications often run into thousands of dollars, while the nature of emergencies makes these expenses unpredictable and difficult to plan for. As our intakes have risen in response to the pet over-population crisis, our outlay for emergency medical care has also increased exponentially. Many dogs and puppies come to us in need of urgent life-saving care.
Kitu's Fund helps both Rescue Ranch dogs and community dogs receive the medical treatment they need to have the best quality of life possible. Kitu’s Fund is supported entirely by donations. The more donations we receive, the more dogs we can help!
Kitu's Fund was seeded by a generous gift from the Arthur R. Dubs Foundation. We're deeply grateful for the Foundation's support. Their gift lives on in countless dogs who have been given the second chance they deserve through Kitu's Fund for high-cost and emergency care.
How it Works
Kitu’s Fund acts as both an emergency / high-cost medical fund for Rescue Ranch and a no-interest community loan program.
- Rescue Ranch dogs: Covers medical conditions including severe injuries, parvo, cancer, heartworm, chronic seizures, and dental conditions. These medical costs are above and beyond our regular veterinary expenses.
- Community no-interest loan program: Community members may apply for a no-interest loan to help cover emergency and/or high-cost veterinary care. Applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Loan repayment is based on the applicant’s unique financial situation.
The one and only Kitu
April 2015. A young husky/German shepherd pup was struck by an oncoming vehicle and left to die on the side of the road. Siskiyou County Animal Control picked up the injured dog and stabilized him. However the county shelter didn’t have the resources to care for him. So they called Rescue Ranch.
Our staff and volunteers took Kitu under their wing. His care included bandage changes, good nutrition, and a veterinary appointment. X-rays revealed significant trauma, including a poorly healed pelvis and fractured vertebrae from a previous injury, plus a broken leg and broken toes.
After extensive surgery and weeks of rehab, Kitu transformed into a happy, energetic boy with a big smile and a helicopter tail wag. He became a beloved family dog and an incredible nanny to hundreds of foster puppies. Kitu’s buoyant can-do attitude and positive personality was the inspiration behind Kitu’s Fund for high-cost and emergency care.
We can only imagine the full extent of Kitu’s story. Seeing the happy, healthy dog he is today, you'd never dream he was once left for dead on the side of the road.
Kitu says thank WOOF!
