Angel Paw Fund

"We loved our great dane more than anything in the world. When we found out she had hip dysplasia we were devastated. We did everything we could, but in the end couldn't save her. The really sad part was that after the expensive vet bills, the treatments, the therapies, and medication we couldn't afford to have her cremated. It just added insult to injury when I went in with her to have her euthanized and had to leave her with the vet, not knowing what was going to happen to her. I have no idea if she ended up in a landfill or was part of a mass cremation and the ashes scattered somewhere. It's heartbreaking and I cry every time I think about her. All of my happy memories of her are replaced with this ache of not knowing where she is. It's awful." - CV, Florida

"My husband was diagnosed with cancer of the nose, throat, and lung in 1997. He had several major operations that were extremely painful and difficult for him. If it hadn't been for his four-legged baby girl I don't think he would have been able to endure it. They were practically glued together and he was so afraid of her grieving herself to death that he hung in there for her sake. In 2004 his cancer progressed and became terminal. His little terrier sensed it and never left his side. Five weeks after calling in our local hospice service for my husband, his little terrier had a seizure and died. I think she sensed that he was hanging on for her sake and didn't want to prolong his suffering. My husband was beside himself with grief and said he couldn't bear the thought of her being buried and wanted her cremated. We couldn't afford it, though, and he knew it. We didn't have very good insurance and I had missed a lot of work to stay home and care for him. Between the loss of income and the cost of his treatment we were bankrupt. We had already lost one vehicle and were behind in house payments.....there was just no way we could afford the cremation costs, even for a small dog. A very dear friend of ours stepped in, though, and offered to pay to have our little fur angel cremated so that the urn could be buried with my husband. My husband died the morning after her ashes came back home.....he died in peace knowing that she was home and that she would be buried with him. Thank God for our friend and the blessing she gave us with her generosity." - RJ, Georgia

The stories above are real-life scenarios and actually happened. They were related to us by the individuals involved. What do they both have in common? Both families could have been helped by the Animals at Heart Angel Paw Bereavement Fund.

The Angel Paw Bereavement Fund is a collection of funds designed to assist pet owners with the costs of having their pets cremated.

If you don't want to have your pet cremated but would still like assistance with aftercare expenses then please email us. We will be more than happy to design a custom aftercare plan to accommodate you and your pet.

Who can participate and are there enrollment fees?
Anyone can donate to the Angel Paw Bereavement Fund, but only members of the Angel Paw Program are eligible to participate in the Fund. Membership in the Angel Paw Program is $35 annually per family, which includes enrollment into the Fund for one pet. There is a one-time $15 administrative fee for each additional pet enrolled. If you are not currently a member and would like more information, please click here.

How does the Fund work?
The pet owner chooses which category of the Fund to enroll their pet in based on the pet's size. Depending on the category that you choose for your pet, you would pay a minimum monthly contribution - between $4 and $21 depending on your pet's size - for 2 years. After 2 years the minimum monthly contribution drops to $1. When a pet passes that is enrolled in the Fund, Animals at Heart pays the predetermined benefit amount directly to the vet or crematorium that the pet owner has chosen to carryout the cremation.

Why do I have to make a minimum monthly contribution?
The purpose of the Fund is to assist pet owners in paying for their pet's cremation by breaking the costs down into monthly payments and making it more affordable while also setting aside money to help people who can't afford the services at all, such as the elderly and disabled. If we did not set a minimum monthly contribution amount the Fund would fall into a deficit and not be able to assist anyone.

Why should I put money in the Fund instead of setting it aside in a personal savings account?
There are 2 very important reasons why contributing to the Angel Paw Bereavement Fund is better. First of all, as a 501c3 charity your monthly contributions are tax-deductible donations. Second of all, your contribution to the Fund can mean the difference between a 'disposal' and a cremation for a pet that has passed on but who's family can't afford cremation services. Without our help, these pets would be "disposed of" according to local ordinances, which sadly in most cases means being taken to the local landfill. The tragedy doesn't stop there, though. The method in which a pet's remains are cared for strongly affects how the pet owner copes with the loss. People who have negative experiences dealing with their pets' remains may have an extremely difficult time coping with the loss of their companions. This can lead to anything from depression to substance abuse and - in severe cases - could even lead to suicide.

How much are the minimum monthly contributions and what is the benefit?
Remember, after 2 years the minimum monthly contribution drops to $1.

Fund:		Min. Monthly Contribution	Maximum Benefit
Sunshine Bird Memorial Fund:	for small pets such as rodents and birds	$4.20 for 24 months	$100
Kiki Fat-Cat Memorial Fund:	for cats and small dogs up to 50 lbs.	$6.25 for 24 months	$150
Chewie Dog Memorial Fund:	for dogs up to 120 lbs.	$14.60 for 24 months	$350
Dutchess Dane Memorial Fund:	for dogs over 120 lbs.	$20.84 for 24 months	$500

What if I can't afford the enrollment fees or the monthly contributions?
Animals at Heart gives you the option of breaking down your enrollment fees into monthly payments that can be added to your minimum monthly contribution. There are small administrative fees attached to this option, but it still may be an easier way for those who can't afford the entire enrollment fee at one time. The cost to pay your enrollment fee monthly is $3 per month, or $36 annually - only $1 more than if you paid the enrollment fee in one lump sum. The one-time administrative fees for additional pets can also be broken down to $1 month for 12 months. If you can't afford the minimum monthly contributions then please email us. We will work with you to find a way to make it affordable. Furthermore, if the Fund has the resources to allow, Animals at Heart reserves the right to provide assistance on a case-by-case basis to Angel Paw Program members who have temporarily fallen on hard times; to the disabled or elderly on fixed incomes; and to special cases as determined and approved by Animals at Heart.

What if I want to pay more than my minimum monthly contribution?
Then please do. By contributing more than the required minimum, you will allow us to assist more pets and pet owners.

Is there a minimum amount of time that my pets have to be members of the fund before they can use it?
Yes. Pets have to be enrolled a minimum of one year before they are eligible to receive full benefits from the fund.

Where does the money go that I pay?
All monies contributed to the Fund go into a special purpose savings account that is only accessible to pay out Fund benefits. These funds are never paid directly to the pet owner or any individual, but instead are paid to the veterinarian's office or crematorium providing the aftercare services to the pet owner. Interest that is earned on the account is rolled back over into the Fund. The membership and enrollment fees go to the Animals at Heart general funds account and are used to administrate and maintain our programs, including the Angel Paw Program and Bereavement Fund.

What happens if my pet goes missing?
If your pet goes missing you should contact us immediately. We will place a hold on your account and no further minimum monthly contributions will be due. Because your minimum monthly contributions are considered by the IRS to be donations, they are non-refundable. However, they are transferrable. You have 2 choices of what to do with your pet's enrollment at this point - 1) you can transfer the amount that you have contributed to the fund to a new pet or a pet that's already registered with us; or 2) you can give the gift of a membership and the amount that you have contributed to the fund will be transferred to the recipient. The important thing is to contact us so that we can work with you to determine the best possible course of action for your pet's account.

I'm not sure which fund is the right one for my pet. What do I do?
Email us. We'll ask you a few simple questions and then will be able to suggest the fund most appropriate for your pet.

What happens if my pet's cremation cost is more than the maximum benefit?
Any balance remaining after the maximum benefit has been paid will be the pet owner's responsibility. Animals at Heart does reserve the right to pay any remaining balance for long-term members, or members with multiple enrollments provided the resources are available from the Bereavement Fund.