What is the Dog Care Subsidy (DCS) Program?

An  ACMKC program that provides funds to selected veterinarians in our area so that veterinarians can use the funds to pay for part or all of the cost of a treatment for dogs owned by people who could not otherwise pay for the treatments.

History:       

The idea of the DCS program began in December 2019 after the club’s annual agility trial. It was suggested that proceeds from the agility trial could be used to start this program to help dogs in our area receive treatments if their owners could not afford the treatments. 

How is the DCS program funded?

Proceeds from the club’s yearly agility trials help fund the program. In addition to that money, the ACMKC board of directors supports the program by budgeting additional funds for the program. Recently, personal donations have also contributed to the size of the fund.

How are veterinarians chosen?

ACMKC members nominate veterinarians that they feel will benefit from being in the program. A nomination form is filled out and sent to the DCS program committee and the committee chooses 3 veterinarians to be enrolled in the program each year.

 How much money do the veterinarians receive?

Veterinarians receive a minimum of $500 up to $1000 depending on the amount collected and budgeted for each calendar year.

Number of veterinarians that have been enrolled in the program so far:

10

Some stories of dogs who have benefited from the DCS program:

• A mammary tumor was removed from a dog after it was discovered. Removing the tumor helped prolong the life of the dog.
• A very expensive allergy shot was given to an allergic dog and the shot provided immediate relief to the dog.
• A dog came into a clinic with immune mediated hemolytic anemia. The treatment was not affordable to the owner so DCS funds were used to pay for the treatment which improved the quality of life for the dog drastically.
• A 16 month old dog was attacked by another dog which resulted in the 16 month old dog having a fractured tibia/fibula. DCS funds were used to repair the fracture.
• DCS funds were used on a dog to pay for x-rays to see if a dog had cancer.
• A dog was hit by a car and needed it’s leg amputated. Without the DCS funds, the owner would have had to put down the dog. Because of this program, funds were used to pay for the surgery to amputate the leg and the dog survived.

 

For more information about this program, please email Laurie at: Kimtuck@comcast.net