Max's Helping Paws grants more than $75,000 for pets in crisis through supplementary Chestnut's Fund

  Did you know that Dec. 14 is National Chestnut Day? Some Americans celebrate by roasting chestnuts on an open fire (with Jack Frost nipping at their noses, of course). 

Carmel, CA, December 14, 2020 - Max’s Helping Paws Foundation celebrates another special Chestnut — a beautiful brown-faced puppy left at a veterinary practice back in 2005. Chestnut became a loving family member to Dr. Jonathan Fradkin and Max’s co-founder Dyana Klein — and later the inspiration behind the nonprofit’s Chestnut’s Crisis Fund. 

Named after the late, beloved Chestnut, the fund is an additional program created specifically for pet owners financially impacted by loss of work or business closures due to COVID-19. 

Since its inception in 2020, the fund has raised more than $75,000 for Monterey County pet owners like the Moores, a military family that drove across the country with their 1-year-old Labrador puppy Brinkley last summer. Before they could properly move in, however, Brinkley grew lethargic and was throwing up repeatedly. The family’s belongings hadn’t even arrived yet and they found themselves at the animal hospital. 

Brinkley faced a life-threatening liver issue. The family had already paid more than $3,000 to help him — money that was earmarked to pay for their move to Monterey. Knowing that they had to do everything possible to save their puppy, the financially strapped family turned to Max’s. 

Through the foundation’s special Chestnut’s Crisis Fund, the Moore family was able to help Brinkley get the help he needed through veterinary partner Pet Specialists of Monterey. 

“Brinkley is the sweetest pup, full of life and energy,” said Katherine Moore, Brinkley’s mom. “He has become a beloved member of our family in the three short months we’ve had him. We worried that he might not make it and he hasn’t even reached his first birthday.” 

Brinkley’s happy ending is just one of many created by the special fund. Since mid-March when sheltering in place began throughout the state, Max’s has granted more than $170,000 to pet owners, with more than $75,000 of that given to Chestnut’s Fund recipients. This total represents a nearly 400-percent increase from this same time period just a year ago. 

Initially expected to be available for a few months, Max’s co-founder Dyana Klein has announced that Chestnut’s Fund will do their best to offer this program for as long as they can continue to fund it. 

“We need to make sure we keep this program alive for those doing their best to financially recover from the crises of this year,” said Klein, who hopes potential donors will see the great need and help contribute to the fund. 

Believing that financial circumstances should never decide a companion pet’s fate, programs such as Chestnut’s Crisis Fund reduce economic euthanasia, surrender and suffering of severely ill or injured pets. To help the foundation in its mission, the community can donate in several different ways: through their unique link at the Monterey County Gives website where donations are matched, or through Max’s direct website at www.maxshelpingpaws.org/donate. 

For more Chestnut’s Fund success stories like this one go to: www.maxshelpingpaws.org/blog. 

About Max’s Helping Paws Foundation

Max’s Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF) was co-founded in 2016 by Dyana Klein and her husband and veterinary internist, Dr. Jonathan Fradkin, in memory of their pet, Maximillian. The foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports all Monterey County veterinary practices to provide financial assistance to clients with pets in need of both critical short-term or longer-term care for chronic illness. Since it first started providing financial assistance in mid-2017, MHPF has granted more than $330,000 to give hundreds of pets a second chance. MHFP is based in Monterey County and serves only Monterey County. Max’s Helping Paws Foundation (831) 704-6473 and info@maxshelpingpaws.org.

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
Salinas, CA 
831-747-7455 
marci@thebuzzpr.net 
http://www.maxshelpingpaws.org/donate

Monterey County Nonprofit Max’s Helping Paws Gives Holiday Hope to Families Who Can’t Afford Treatment for Pets Who Become Ill

To Heather, her dog Trigger is more than a companion, he’s her “gift from God” and a certified Emotional Support Animal (E.S.A). But even more than that, he’s a member of her family along with her husband and three kids.

Del Rey Oaks, CA, December 23, 2018 — To Heather, her dog Trigger is more than a companion, he’s her “gift from God” and a certified Emotional Support Animal (E.S.A). But even more than that, he’s a member of her family along with her husband and three kids.

Heather is a U.S. Navy veteran, a former mineman used to dealing with high explosives, and suffers from PTSD. Trigger helps her deal with everyday life as a PTSD sufferer. So when Trigger fell ill, with blood and vomiting, he was diagnosed with a multitude of conditions that needed to be addressed right away, Heather’s heart sank.

Heather and her family were faced with a very difficult decision. The family was not able to afford the necessary medical treatment for Trigger. Without treatment and surgery, he would surely die.

“It’s hard to imagine that you could lose a member of your family over not being able to afford a simple test that we as humans take for granted,” said Heather. “I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have him in my life.”

Luckily, Pet Specialists of Monterey, one of 20 partners, graciously arranged to have Trigger receive assistance from Max’s Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF). Max's Helping Paws Foundation is a Monterey County-based animal welfare organization that has actively given back to the community by helping more than 100 senior, low-income, veteran, disabled, disadvantaged and in-need responsible pet owners in the past 18 months.

Since its inception in mid-2017 it has awarded $75,000 in financial assistance to those needing it. Max’s Helping Paws is a financial lifeline for those desperate to save their dogs and cats from unexpected circumstance.

“We cannot express how much we appreciate all those that chipped in and came together to help him and us,” said Heather about Trigger’s last-minute reprieve. “I am so grateful for all the help we received. There was a point where I really felt we may have to say goodbye to Trigger. When I count my blessings at night, Max’s is at the top of the list.”

Today, Trigger is continuing a smooth and steady recovery. His gastro-intestinal complications have almost completely resolved and his skin improved just in a few days of medication. Trigger is also back to climbing up on his owners bed to snuggle with his best friend, the family’s 8-month-old son Wesley and even getting back into the habit of begging for a ride in the car when he hears anyone grab the car keys.”

But other dogs and cats may not be so lucky, their owners are constantly faced with decisions that no pet owner wants to face.

“These are my babies, I don’t have kids. I think about their own happiness before my own. I'd go homeless before I'd get rid of her,” said one, Sarah. “We wouldn’t amputate his arm — he’s so young. I considered putting him up for adoption,” said another.

“To see pets suffer, or to see pet owners consider euthanasia or surrender because of financial circumstance is heartbreaking,” said Dyana Klein, executive director and co-founder of Max’s Helping Paws Foundation with her husband, a veterinary internist. “With your help, we can keep families together and keep giving deserving Monterey County pets an incredible gift."

This year, Max’s is also part of Monterey County Gives fundraising campaign.

For every dollar given to Max’s Helping Paws through MC Gives!, a prorated match is applied to the first $75,000 the organization raises during the MC Gives! campaign, which runs through Dec. 31. And every dollar counts:

>$100 can provide medications for a pet in need.

>$300 can pay for critical blood/lab work.

>$500 can pay for biopsies and diagnostics to determine if a pet has a chance.

>$1,000 can provide initial treatment of chronic illnesses, including diabetes, Cushing’s, Addison’s, asthma and some cancers.

>$2,000 can provide a life-saving amputation or surgery.

A generous donation to Max’s through MC Gives! allows Max’s to continue to help families from having to make difficult decisions and save their pets from an awful fate.

To donate, go to the MC Gives! website at www.montereycountygives.com/PAWS. To be accepted as part of Monterey County Gives!, all checks from donors must be made payable to CFMC/MCGives!, and include instructions that it is a donation for Max’s Helping Paws Foundation, either in the memo line or on a separate piece of paper.

About Max’s Helping Paws Foundation
Maximillian was co-founder Dyana Klein's 14-year old Miniature Pinscher, who passed away on May 27, 2016, from a rare kidney cancer. While grieving the loss, she and her husband found comfort in knowing they did everything medically possible to try to save Max's life, though ultimately the war was lost. What they realized was just how important it was to know that no stone was left unturned, and they imagined the guilt and heartbreak for those who might have to allow their pets to suffer, or may need to euthanize or surrender them because of financial circumstances. Wanting to do something meaningful, and honor Max's memory in a way that would help them heal while helping others, Max's Helping Paws was born. Max's Helping Paws provides a financial lifeline for responsible Monterey County pet owners with a pet in a health crisis.ll

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereycountygives.com/