Rescuing dogs with medical issues from high kill shelters, healing veterans’ visible and invisible wounds from combat, and finding rescue dogs forever homes. These are just a few ways that VCA Charities is helping amplify the work of nominated nonprofit partners through a pilot grant program called Hometown Heroes.

Animal shelters and rescue groups across our country share a common problem: the constant struggle to secure funding while keeping up with demand for their services. These organizations play a vital role in our communities, continuously sheltering and caring for pets in need while working to match them with permanent, loving homes. VCA is dedicated to supporting our community partners through VCA Charities, the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that works in local communities to help pets in need.

Through Hometown Heroes, VCA Charities allows nonprofits to extend their reach and impact as they help vulnerable pets and the people who love them.

VCA Charities: Making a Better World for Pets

Since 2005, VCA Charities has provided more than $6 million to support humane societies, animal rescues and shelters by funding emergency and specialty veterinary care, supporting adoption readiness and surrender prevention programs, enabling the care and feeding of pets belonging to underserved families, and by responding to communities in crisis. 

“Our mission is to bring the joy of pet ownership to people by helping pets find and remain in loving homes,” says Kim Van Syoc, the executive director of Banfield Foundation and VCA Charities. “Through our partnerships with local shelters, rescue groups and service dog organizations all over the country, we’re able to make a real impact in our local communities and in clients’ hometowns.”

Hometown Heroes

Grant programs like Hometown Heroes are funded in part by client donations. Clients are able to donate to VCA Charities during their visit to a VCA hospital or online at VCACharities.org. 

“Through our partnerships with local shelters, rescue groups and service dog organizations all over the country, we’re able to make a real impact in our local communities and in clients’ hometowns.”

“We’re excited to let clients know how we’re putting their donations into action,” says Diana Duncan, group vice president at VCA. “Every dollar donated makes a huge difference. VCA clients are incredibly generous and time and time again, they demonstrate their desire to not only care for their own pet, but to help care for those who can’t care for themselves.”

"Rescue one to heal another" – this is the motto of Blue Star Service Dogs, one of the very first VCA Charities Hometown Heroes grants recipients. The shelter pets rescued by Blue Star Service Dogs spend four to six months in a prison inmate dog training program before they find their forever home with a veteran in need of a service animal. Once at home, the dogs continue their training with the veterans, helping to heal the visible and invisible wounds from combat. We couldn't be more honored to award Blue Star Service Dogs a VCA Charities Hometown Heroes grant. Funding will cover the costs of a new dog adoption kit provided to each veteran, which includes bedding, food bowls, harness and leash, toys, kibble, and flea prevention.  

Formally called Pitbulls of St. Francis, PBSF Dog Rescue in Louisville, KY deepened their commitment to pets in 2017 by taking in all breeds and ages from high-kill shelters. They also broadened their support by taking on dogs with severe medical issues that put them at increased risk of euthanasia. A VCA Charities Hometown Heroes grant will help with the cost of veterinary care, including exams, heartworm testing, vaccines, microchips, and spay/neuter surgery.   

The saying "it takes two" is true for the dogs at Buckeye Bulldog Rescue in Ohio, a foster-based rescue that takes in English and French Bulldogs, giving them a second chance at finding their forever home. Many of the dogs in their care were relinquished due to expensive medical issues. A VCA Charities Hometown Heroes grant award will help newly-rescued dogs find and remain in loving homes by funding veterinary care, including exams, heartworm testing, vaccines, microchips, and spay/neuter surgery if needed. We're excited to partner with this incredible organization that not only takes in these pets, but also provides community education and information on responsible pet ownership and what it takes to own a Bulldog. 

Get Involved

Every dollar makes a difference! You can help VCA Charities improve the lives of all pets by making a donation in one of the following ways:

  • Donate to VCA Charities directly on their website
  • Donate via text, by texting “GIVE” to 213-325-1919
  • Make a gift by mail – please send checks to VCA Charities: 12401 W. Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064
  • Donate to VCA Charities while shopping on AmazonSmile by clicking here

Learn more about how VCA Charities it making an impact by visiting vcacharities.org.