Did you know that Dec. 14 is National Chestnut Day? Some Americans celebrate by roasting chestnuts on an open fire (with Jack Frost nipping at their noses, of course).
Carmel, CA, December 14, 2020 - Max’s Helping Paws Foundation celebrates another special Chestnut — a beautiful brown-faced puppy left at a veterinary practice back in 2005. Chestnut became a loving family member to Dr. Jonathan Fradkin and Max’s co-founder Dyana Klein — and later the inspiration behind the nonprofit’s Chestnut’s Crisis Fund.
Named after the late, beloved Chestnut, the fund is an additional program created specifically for pet owners financially impacted by loss of work or business closures due to COVID-19.
Since its inception in 2020, the fund has raised more than $75,000 for Monterey County pet owners like the Moores, a military family that drove across the country with their 1-year-old Labrador puppy Brinkley last summer. Before they could properly move in, however, Brinkley grew lethargic and was throwing up repeatedly. The family’s belongings hadn’t even arrived yet and they found themselves at the animal hospital.
Brinkley faced a life-threatening liver issue. The family had already paid more than $3,000 to help him — money that was earmarked to pay for their move to Monterey. Knowing that they had to do everything possible to save their puppy, the financially strapped family turned to Max’s.
Through the foundation’s special Chestnut’s Crisis Fund, the Moore family was able to help Brinkley get the help he needed through veterinary partner Pet Specialists of Monterey.
“Brinkley is the sweetest pup, full of life and energy,” said Katherine Moore, Brinkley’s mom. “He has become a beloved member of our family in the three short months we’ve had him. We worried that he might not make it and he hasn’t even reached his first birthday.”
Brinkley’s happy ending is just one of many created by the special fund. Since mid-March when sheltering in place began throughout the state, Max’s has granted more than $170,000 to pet owners, with more than $75,000 of that given to Chestnut’s Fund recipients. This total represents a nearly 400-percent increase from this same time period just a year ago.
Initially expected to be available for a few months, Max’s co-founder Dyana Klein has announced that Chestnut’s Fund will do their best to offer this program for as long as they can continue to fund it.
“We need to make sure we keep this program alive for those doing their best to financially recover from the crises of this year,” said Klein, who hopes potential donors will see the great need and help contribute to the fund.
Believing that financial circumstances should never decide a companion pet’s fate, programs such as Chestnut’s Crisis Fund reduce economic euthanasia, surrender and suffering of severely ill or injured pets. To help the foundation in its mission, the community can donate in several different ways: through their unique link at the Monterey County Gives website where donations are matched, or through Max’s direct website at www.maxshelpingpaws.org/donate.
For more Chestnut’s Fund success stories like this one go to: www.maxshelpingpaws.org/blog.
About Max’s Helping Paws Foundation
Max’s Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF) was co-founded in 2016 by Dyana Klein and her husband and veterinary internist, Dr. Jonathan Fradkin, in memory of their pet, Maximillian. The foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports all Monterey County veterinary practices to provide financial assistance to clients with pets in need of both critical short-term or longer-term care for chronic illness. Since it first started providing financial assistance in mid-2017, MHPF has granted more than $330,000 to give hundreds of pets a second chance. MHFP is based in Monterey County and serves only Monterey County. Max’s Helping Paws Foundation (831) 704-6473 and info@maxshelpingpaws.org.
Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
The Buzz PR LLC
Salinas, CA
831-747-7455
marci@thebuzzpr.net
http://www.maxshelpingpaws.org/donate
