Sergei Foundation | Submitted Photo
Moo was abandoned at a local veterinarian’s office. The dog so impressed the staff they examined her and determined removing the top and neck of her femur was the best way to ease her pain. An employee of the office wanted to adopt her so the Sergei Foundation contributed half of the surgery costs. The foundation recently received two grants totaling $8,000.
Sergei Foundation | Submitted Photo
Kevin, a 1-year-old cat, suffered a gunshot would in January which fractured his tibia. The cat was facing euthanization until the Sergei Foundation paid for his amputation because the leg was beyond repair. He is expected to make a full recovery.
A total of $8,000 has been donated to the Sergei Foundation from two sources, the Banfield Charitable Trust and the Greg Biffle Foundation. According to the non-profit organization’s founder, Karen Fullerton, the funds will be specifically used for veterinarian fees. The foundation also provides support for services to increase a pet’s quality of life so it does not have to be unnecessarily surrendered or euthanized.
“We are so pleased to have Banfield’s support of our mission,” said Fullerton. “We have been building our grassroots efforts in the Piedmont Trial area since 2009 solely on community donations and event fundraising. This grant will allow us to help so many more pets, keeping them with their loving families.”
The Banfield Charitable Trust has been working since 2003 to keep most vulnerable populations together with pet companions. The trust promotes the importance of the bond between humans and pets by assisting vulnerable pet owners, such as homebound seniors and those struggling financially.
The group feels pets surrendered to shelters create needless burdens on public and private shelters and leaves pets to an uncertain future. The Banfield Trust’s grants support preventative action by supporting individuals and organizations facing veterinary emergencies.
The Sergei Foundation also has been named as an award recipient of $3,000 from the Greg Biffle Foundation. Biffle, a NASCAR driver, who made a name for himself as the 1998 Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR Camping world Truck Series started the foundation to improve the well-being of animals.
“I am so pleased to be one of their 2012 award recipients,” added Fullerton. “It’s an admirable undertaking by Greg and his wife to help support the many efforts of the animal welfare world, even the small ones like us.”
Greg and Nicole Biffle established their foundation in 2005 to create awareness and serve as advocates to improve animals’ well-being through interest from the motorsports industry. Financial support for the foundation is from a variety of sources including individual contributions, selling various racing and sports memorabilia and the NASCAR PETS calendar. It is supported by the NASCAR Foundation
Fullerton started the Sergei Foundation when her Siberian Husky, Sergei, died in 2009. Understanding how important a pet can be to family dynamics, she saw a local need to fill where many humane societies and other animal welfare organizations cannot. She said the Sergei Foundation compliments the work of other animal welfare non-profit groups by keeping drop-off rates down and educating applicants on the importance of veterinary preventative care and spaying or neutering pets.
She said she takes her role one step further by providing hope to families through listening to them and letting them know someone cares.
“Sometimes people just need a friendly person to connect with, even if it’s by email,” said Fullerton.
The Sergei Foundation incorporated in 2009 and is a North Carolina, non-profit organization totally run on volunteer efforts. The organization has helped 56 dogs and cats in the Triad area. She said criteria for funding included the owner’s having a history of good pet parenting proven through veterinarian visits and vaccinations. Participants also must meet low-income guideline levels or be receiving unemployment, state aid or disability benefits.
Fullerton indicated the foundation is not able to fund chronic or ongoing conditions such as cancer, kidney failure or supplement prescription costs. Interested persons may obtain more information online at www.SergeiFoundation.org.
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