Why the Aspen Angel Fund Was Created
If you live long enough and you have pets, you are bound to have that one that supersedes the rest. Aspen was for Dr. Horstman. He got her as a gift during veterinary school. Though unsure at the time, how could he resist a chocolate Labrador puppy?
Over the next nearly 14 years, Aspen became his rock. She was even one of Dr. Horstman’s first solo surgeries when she was spayed at six months old. From Kansas State University to Georgia, Houston, Iowa, Mississippi, and finally Las Vegas, Aspen was by his side through every stage of his career.
She was a retriever at heart—endless energy, relentless ball chasing, and a bark that could pierce your ears. She earned the nickname Houdini and had a talent for finding food left on counters.
Aspen eventually lost her battle with cancer. One week before she passed, she enjoyed a final weekend at the dog beach in Huntington, California—running, swimming, retrieving, and watching the sunset like a puppy again.
She was the best, and her legacy lives on through The Aspen Angel Fund. We hope you’ll consider donating so that finances never become the reason a pet cannot receive specialty care.
At Sirius Veterinary Orthopedic Center (Sirius Vet), our mission is simple: Help return four- legged athletes to their peak performance.
And, because of our mission, we also believe that finances should never be the reason a family has to make a difficult decision about their beloved pet’s care. That is why we created the Aspen Angel Fund in partnership with the Veterinary Care Foundation, 501(c)3 organization.
The Aspen Angel Fund is here to help offset the financial stress you might encounter during a surgical pet emergency, where the pet would otherwise suffer, be euthanized, or relinquished without proper veterinary care.
In order to honor all donations and fairly help families, the Aspen Angel Fund will follow the following guidelines and restrictions:
- The medical condition must be an acute, non-elective surgical emergency requiring immediate intervention by a veterinary specialist to save the pet’s life or prevent severe suffering.
- Financial hardship is present
- Client has applied for Care Credit or other medical care financing options
- Client will present financial hardship proof documentation
- Prognosis Requirement: The attending veterinarian must provide a reasonable prognosis for the pet’s quality of life after the surgery. Funds will not be allocated if the pet’s quality of life is expected to be severely compromised even with the procedure.
