Oregon veterinary hospital turns charity fund into a nonprofit to expand pet care access

A veterinary hospital in Bend, Oregon, has turned its local veterinary charity fund into a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit aimed at expanding healthcare access and helping more pet owners in financial need. The nonprofit, called PetsForward, builds on Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon’s (VRCCO’s) Care Fund, which has helped countless animals in Central Oregon receive care.

“This 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization will build on years of community support and philanthropic success to create a larger platform for impact, supporting both pets in need and advancing access to innovative veterinary care options,” wrote VRCCO in a news release announcing the launch of PetsForward.¹

Over the past 2 years, the VRCCO Care Fund has raised close to $200,000 through donations from individuals and the community, according to VRCCO. Those funds have helped more than 300 pets to receive rehabilitation therapy, which has helped them in their recoveries.

“When...VRCCO opened its doors in 2018, the team quickly recognized that not all pet parents could afford the quality of advanced medical services they provide,” wrote VRCCO.¹ As healthcare costs rose and cases of economic euthanasia increased throughout the country, the hospital partnered with the Veterinary Care Foundation to establish the VRCCO Care Fund, designed to bridge the gap for pets in need of critical medical care.

The fund quickly grew, and VRCCO said it realized that access to care was an issue in other areas beyond emergency care, such as advanced treatments, new medications and therapies, and other resources that help pets obtain the best possible outcomes. This realization led VRCCO to create PetsForward.

According to PetsForward, its mission is to “revolutionize veterinary medicine by removing financial barriers, expanding access to advanced diagnostics and compassionate service, and advancing innovative research, ensuring every animal, regardless of financial means, receives top-quality medical care.”²

Every year, between 7-10% of pet owners apply for financial assistance.² Yet, nearly 1 in 3 pet owners know a friend or family member whose pet died because the owner could not afford necessary treatment to save their pet, a PetSmart Charities and Gallup survey found.³ Seven percent reported declining lifesaving surgeries for their pets for the same reason. Across all income levels, financial barriers were cited as a reason pet owners declined or skipped veterinary care.³

“The veterinary industry must unite to ensure every pet has access to care, as the magnitude of the problem is such that no one entity can solve this on their own," Robyn Jaynes, DVM, director of veterinary affairs at PetSmart Charities, told dvm360.³ “Together, we can build a system that meets families where they are, because access to veterinary care shouldn’t be a privilege.”

References

1. Veterinary Referral Center of Central Oregon launches PetsForward. News release. November 5, 2025. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.newswire.com/news/veterinary-referral-center-of-central-oregon-launches-petsforward-22669971
2. Advanced Veterinary Healthcare Fund. PetsForward. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.petsforward.org/
3. Bautista-Alejandre A. Many pet owners cannot afford veterinary care, survey finds. dvm360. April 17, 2025. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/many-pet-owners-cannot-afford-veterinary-care-survey-finds