Giant Paws Giant Hearts Foundation

Submitted by: Shanna Miller

SVM Student

Last term, I lost my Great Dane, Hercules, to a very serious emergency at the Small Animal Hospital.  The clinicians at the hospital did everything in their power to save him; and although many factors contributed to the loss of Hercules due to his serious condition, more equipment and medications would have been beneficial.  During the grieving process, I decided to try to make a difference for others and their pets, and so I started a foundation.  This foundation is called Giant Paws Giant Hearts Foundation.

The mission statement of the foundation is: To Promote Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care at St. George's University Through Scholarship and Education.  The goals of the foundation are:

1. To provide a scholarship for 6th term students at the SVM Awards Ceremony
2. To provide case based emergency education through lectures and labs coordinated with the Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (SVECCS)
3. To acquire much needed equipment for the Small Animal Hospital 

In an effort to assist the foundation in achieving its goals, we had our first fund raising effort – The Cajun Feast - on Sunday, September 2, 2007.   Thanks to everyone who came out to support the foundation, the feast was a great success and we raised EC$1,989.00. 

We have also been selling dog toys, bracelets, and key chains and have raised an additional EC$1,081.00 so far this term.  We will continue to sell these items throughout the term at the Hill's pet food distributions.  We will also have a few bake sales this term and a night at old skool with the vet band.  Thanks for everyone's support, especially LAS, SAAVMA, SVECCS and AAHA who donated money to support the Cajun Feast.  Thanks to all for their generous support!!!

Please continue to visit the Events Calendar in Paws Print, to get details of the foundation’s upcoming events.