We’ve received so many wonderful submissions for the the Purina Veterinary Diets® Adopt-a-Pet.com $50,000 Veterinary Care Fund! We were so moved by the amazing lengths rescues and shelters go to give homeless pets a chance at getting healthy so they can be adopted – and thought you would be too! So we’re sharing some of the submissions, and all of the finalists’ and recipients’ stories here. Here’s how a $2,000 grant would (or, in the case of our recipients, WILL) change the life of a pet or pets in their care:

Vermilion County Animal Shelter Foundation
Danville, Illinois
http://www.adoptapet.com/adoption_rescue/74249.html

These grant funds are desperately needed for our furry friends. Our foundation pays for special veterinary needs for animals that come into the Vermilion County Animal Shelter. We also transport pets to a spay and neuter (for which we provide funds) program in the neighboring state as well as transport animals to either foster care or to rescue sites. The Vermilion County Animal Shelter is county ran with very limited funding, so the foundation depends heavily upon grants, donations and fundraisers. We are currently very low on funding although we have had several fundraisers thus far in 2011. The grant funds would be used to continue to offer veterinary care to animals such as the animals pictured below. (All animals below either received veterinary care or were funded in foster care with funds from our foundation).

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“Cheeseburger” was found in a dumpster at local restaurant and with several severe injuries. She was treated locally to remove a knife from her neck (she had been stabbed) Cheeseburger then went on to a rescue where she underwent subsequent surgeries. Cheeseburger was adopted by a vet tech at the clinic where she had received treatment.

Miracle is a min pin who spent 2 months in the hospital – she is now well enough to find rescue or adoption.

Maggie suffered from heartworm infestation. After undergoing a lengthy treatment, she was adopted by a loving family.

Shadow is a female black lab who was 10+ yrs old and went into foster and was adopted

This little male husky pup was hit by a car and eventually adopted after being treated for his injuries.

Hope is a pup who was hit by car and had both legs on her left side broken and underwent surgery to place pins in her legs. She is currently in foster care recuperating from her surgery.

Veterinary Care Fund |

To learn more about Purina’s support of animal welfare organizations around the U.S., and to see if you are eligible, visit www.purinashelterchampions.com