Good Samaritan Fund at WSU

 

The Good Samaritan Fund is used exclusively to treat ownerless or special needs animals that, ideally but not exclusively, also present a teaching opportunity for our students. 

To be eligible for financial support through the Good Samaritan fund:

  • Patients eligible for support will be common companion animal species. Such patients will have a need for life saving procedures and a reasonable prognosis for good long-term recovery.

  • Patients will be either ownerless or owned by clients that cannot pay for care due to circumstances beyond the client's control. Animals from animal control agencies, humane societies, and business entities will be considered owned and not eligible for funds.

  • Patients without an owner must have a temperament that does not prevent future adoption.

To inquire if your pet may be eligible for financial support through the Good Samaritan fund contact:

Dr. Harmon Rogers, Hospital Director
Please provide the following information: Your name, address and phone number. Your pet's species, breed, name and diagnosis or problem. Briefly describe your extenuating circumstances.  

Follows are some examples of recent cases where donations were made in the name of the animal and were combined with existing Good Samaritan Funds to provide for treatment.  

Spring 2000, "Hope" a dog shot in the head by her owner and left for dead was brought to WSU for repair of her injuries. She is now living happily in her new home in Montana with 2 canine and 2 human siblings.

Christmas season 1998, "Ninja," a black Labrador retriever from Montana underwent several surgical procedures to deal with a chronic infection and tumor growth in her nasal passages. Her owner dutifully stayed with her in a trailer in our parking lot in sub-zero weather using WSU's showers and power while his dog recuperated. 

Winter 1999, a service dog from Montana belonging to a wheelchair-bound client was referred to us with a tumor in its mouth. The tumor prevented the dog from doing its job retrieving objects, opening doors, etc. Our teaching hospital took the case and provided extensive radiation therapy unavailable at any other institution. Eventually the dog was healed and returned to her owner. 

Spring 1999, "Chico," an orphaned white-tailed deer fawn only days old was brought to WSU after a dog chased her off a cliff and caused her to fracture her leg. Chico stayed with us for more than a month of bottle feedings that began on an every two-hour schedule. Because the animal was essentially hand raised in order to save its life, it could not be returned to the wild and was placed in a zoo. 

Each of these cases and the approximately 12,000 other animals we treat each year are treated to:

  • first provide care for the animals

  • second, to satisfy the clients

  • and third, to educate the next generation of veterinarians in a modern veterinary teaching hospital.

Donations can be sent to: 

The College of Veterinary Medicine through the WSU Foundation provides many opportunities for giving and involvement. Several special programs allow donors to work together to affect change for students, a faculty, and staff. We are grateful for your support. 

Please specify donations made to the Good Samaritan Fund 

For more information on this or any other College giving program please contact Lynne Haley or Norma Fuentes at 509.335.5021.

If you are making a gift with a check, please make the check out to the WSU Foundation and send to:

Veterinary Development and External Relations
College of Veterinary Medicine
PO Box 647010
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-7010 

ph. 509-335-9515

Thanks to the children from Montreal for their donations to the Good Samaritan fund.

 
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Revised January 31, 2001