ASPCA Unveils $300,000 Cohen Family Veterinary Care Assistance Fund in Miami, Fla.

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced the establishment of the Cohen Family Veterinary Care Assistance Fund, a new $300,000 program that will fund emergency medical treatment of at-risk dogs and cats in Miami-Dade County, Fla.

The funds for the program, generously donated by The Steven A. and Alexandra M. Cohen Foundation, will be distributed by the ASPCA to the Humane Society of Greater Miami (HSGM). It will be used to treat dogs and cats that have entered either HSGM or partner agency Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS) with emergency medical needs, either as strays or whose owners are no longer able to care for them. Once the animals have been treated for their injuries, they will be transferred to Humane Society of Greater Miami (HSGM) and made available for adoption.

The fund makes it possible for HSGM to accept more sick or injured animals that they would not otherwise be able to accept and treat due to a lack of funds. It also allows cats and dogs at MDAS who would not normally make it to the adoption floor an opportunity to transfer to HSGM for treatment and then later be available for adoption.

“We’re thankful to the Cohen Foundation for enabling us to establish the Cohen Family Veterinary Assistance Fund – a unique and privately gifted program similar to what we have in New York City – to help the animals of Miami-Dade County,” said ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “We are hoping the fund will serve as a model for other communities and be a shining example of the impact generous donors can have on animals.”

The program, which will provide HSGM with $100,000 per year for the next three years, is already being used to treat animals. A few of the recent cases are listed below:

• Cedar, a 4-year-old male poodle, came to HSGM with fur that was completely matted and covered in mulch and debris. He was also having problems with his right rear leg and lungs. Radiographs revealed a fractured pelvis and lung contusions. After medication, cage rest and some TLC, he was adopted and is loving life in his new home.
• Luna, a.k.a. Elaine, a 3-year-old female terrier mix, arrived at MDAS after being hit by a car. She had multiple fractures to her left rear leg and pelvis, and after surgery was performed to repair her broken bones, she was placed on cage rest. Her injury has since healed and she has since been adopted.
• Mercy, a 3-year-old female terrier mix, arrived at MDAS with a fractured, lacerated and swollen left rear leg. After recovering from surgery to repair her injury, she was transferred to HSGM to recuperate. She has since been adopted and is enjoying life at home with her new family.
• Regina, a 4-year-old rat terrier, was found in a parking lot after she had been hit by a car. She was treated at HSGM for extensive injuries to her front legs, four fractured ribs and shock. Her wounds are nearly healed and HSGM found her a loving home once she fully recovered.

“Our family often visits Florida, and Miami has become one of our favorite places. We are excited to support an emergency veterinary care program for the Miami-Dade community and South Florida,” said Steven Cohen.

“Our children recently held a bake sale and donated the proceeds to the ASPCA,” added Alexandra Cohen. “Watching them work so hard to make a contribution really inspired us to do something bigger.  Hearing the stories of the animals who’ve already been helped has been very rewarding for us.”

Miami-Dade County is one of 10 ASPCA Partner Communities, to which the ASPCA has been lending its support – financially and through training and other human resources – with the goal of helping them save more animals. The partnership focuses a collective effort on sustainable, data-driven plans and programs that engage the community in providing positive outcomes for these animals. In addition to MDAS and HSGM, the ASPCA partnership includes The Cat Network, a local spay/neuter and trap-neuter-return (TNR) group.