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Animal Health Foundation Animal Health Foundation
Women in woods with dog

Current and Past Projects

Founded in 1967, the Animal Health Foundation has a long history of serving the pets and families of the Los Angeles and Orange County community. Over the years we have completed or retired many projects and initiatives.

Our projects, past and present, support the core goals of the AHF:

  • Encourage the human-animal bond
  • Promote public education about animals
  • Forward the study and advancement of animal health
  • Aid domestic animals and their owners
  • Support projects aiding wildlife
Current Projects
  • SCVMA/AHF Angel Fund—The Angel Fund is a cooperative venture between the Animal Health Foundation (AHF) and the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association (SCVMA) and its members. Through member veterinarians, the fund assists pet owners in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, California, with veterinary care when paying for care is challenging or impossible.
  • Boydston Senior Program—From the generous bequest of Ms. Mary Edna Boydston, through their veterinarians, senior citizens and disabled persons residing in the Los Angeles or Orange County California areas may be eligible for veterinary service support.
  • Mobile Wellness veterinary clinic for pets of the homeless—Through a partnership with the Healthcare and Emergency Animal Rescue Team, AHF funds dog & cat vaccine clinics for pets of the homeless, which offer free exams, vaccinations, microchipping, nail trims, anal gland expressions, and internal & external parasite control & preventive medication.
  • Pet Safe Project—Many women in abusive situations will not leave their circumstances because they do not want to leave the pet behind because they are afraid for their safety. AHF works with veterinarians to help these women receive care for their pets so that they can be in a safe environment while they regroup their lives.
  • Pets of the Homeless—The AHF supports this non-profit with donations targeted at helping homeless pet owner received much-needed care for their furry companions in Orange County, CA
  • Align Care Project—In Los Angeles, CA, AHF helps fund pet wellness for pets of the homeless and low income, offering free exams, vaccinations, microchipping, nail trims, anal gland expressions, internal & external parasite control preventive medication, and other more serious veterinary services.
  • Southern California Veterinary Medical Association—In partnership with the SCVMA, we support projects each year, including sponsoring Continuing Education (CE) Programs for member Paraprofessionals, veterinarians and support for their Education Fund.
  • Disaster Relief
    • Disaster Relief Trailers—Two organizations, Orange County Animal Care Services and AKC Reunite, reached out to the AHF for assistance with the cost of Pet Disaster Relief Trailers which are fully stocked to help pets of those affected by local disasters.
    • National Disaster Search Dog Association—The AHF helped this non-profit when seeking funds to build its new facility in Santa Paula, CA. where they professionally train canines at no cost to fire departments.
    • Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center (Huntington Beach, CA)—During recent downpours in Southern California, the roof of the center caved in. The AHF helped them fund the repairs.
    • During the wildfire in Lahaina, HI, the AHF supported the Hawaii Animal Rescue Foundation and the Maui Humane Society with displaces and injured animals.
    • During wildfires in Northern California, the AHF donated to North Valley Animal Disaster Group. They were on the front lines helping residents’ pets by offering free veterinary services and boarding as needed.
    • Harvey and Irma hurricanes slammed the Texas and Southeastern US, putting residents and pets in jeopardy. Best Friends Animal Society reached out for financial assistance to provide much-needed shelter for pets of those displaced by the disasters and AHF was proud to be able to help fund these efforts.
    Past Projects
    • Examples of organizations to which AHF has made donations are The Tennessee Elephant Sanctuary, Marine Mammal Center (San Pedro, CA), Orange County Bird of Prey Center (Lake Forest, CA)
    • OURF veterinary scholarships—We collaborated with the Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) to support needy veterinary students in Aceh, Sumatra. The AHF provided scholarships within the OURF's Orangutan Caring Scholarship program to students who might otherwise be unable to attend veterinary school. Over the span of a decade, several dozen veterinary students received four-year scholarships.
    • AHF Caring Creatures Pet Partners pet therapy program—The AHF has supported Pet Partners (formerly Delta Society) with $50,000 in grants to further the Animal Assisted therapy/Assistance Programs/R.E.A.D. The AHF conducted workshops and evaluations to train teams for our Caring Creatures Pet Partners' program, which includes 75 teams who volunteer at local hospitals, assisted living facilities, hospice, etc. Unfortunately, the pandemic of 2019-2021 caused us to shut down this program.
    • Vests for Police K9s—The Massachusetts-based nonprofit Vested Interest reached out to the AHF to fund vests for local police dogs in various Orange County Cities.
    • Equine Research Project (1975)—Dr. Pierre Lieux of Riverside, CA, received a grant to support his research in reproductive studies in mares.
    • Acupuncture (1974)—Donations were earmarked for the National Association for Veterinary Acupuncture to further the Association’s work in animal acupuncture.
    • Pacemaker Bank—The AHF helped pets benefit from the advancement of medical science by establishing a Pacemaker Bank to provide recalibrated pacemakers to canine patients.
    • University of California Pet Loss Support Hotline—The AHF supported the University of California at Davis Veterinary School provided a pet loss support hotline offering grieving pet owners the opportunity to share feelings with a caring professional. Unfortunately, as of June 2009, the hotline was discontinued due to budget cuts at the university.
    • Pet Loss Grief Therapy Sessions—For many years the AHF provided counseling in a group therapy setting for those grieving from the loss of a pet.
    • Pet Meal Delivery—AHF worked in cooperation with, and provided the seed money for, the Volunteers of America to provide in-home pet food delivery and other needed services to qualifying individuals in targeted areas of Southern California.
    • Pet Insurance Program—The AHF established a program to ensure veterinary care for pets owned by individuals with service pets. The fund to support this program was dependent upon the generosity of pet lovers.

    Your donation helps to support the work of our many ongoing projects and initiatives. If you have an interest in seeing any of our past projects reinstituted or have ideas for new projects, please contact us.

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