Frankie's Friends
 | |
| Formation | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Type | 501(C)(3) Corporation #59-3581823 |
| Headquarters | Tampa, Florida |
| Location | |
Executive Director | Bonita Voiland, MS, MBA |
| Website | http://www.frankiesfriends.com |
Frankie's Friends charitable pet foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation headquartered in Tampa, Florida. The organization aids in the funding of medical treatment for pets with promising outcomes whose families have financial difficulties. Additionally, the organization has special programs including the K-9 Heroes Fund which provides pet health insurance for canine partners of police officers in Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area.
As funding allows, for every pet helped by Frankie's Friends, the family of the pet must provide a significant portion of the funding. In addition, the hospital at which the pet is treated and the veterinarian who treats the pet also must contribute financially to assist with the cost of care for the pet.
History
Frankie's Friends Charitable Pet Foundation was originally founded in 1996 as The Veterinary Cancer Foundation by Dr. Neil Shaw, Chief Medical Officer at BluePearl Veterinary Partners, with the primary purpose of saving pets with cancer.
In 2008, the name was changed to Frankie's Friends in honor of Frankie, a greyhound, owned by the Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. family. The DeBartolo family is among the most generous supporters of the foundation.
Programs
Kallee Varis Fund aids in the funding of emergency treatment of pets.
Zeus Varis Fund aids in the funding of care for New York City cats and dogs that are diagnosed with cancer to help them be comfortable at home. About Kallee and Zues Varis: Kallee and Zues Varis were cats owned by Dr. Agnes Varis and her husband Karl Leichtman. Kallee was a calico cat and Zues was a domestic long-hair cat that were treated by BluePearl Veterinary Partners oncologist Dr. Timothy Rocha, DVM, DACVIM. Varis, created these two funds in recognition of the many New York families who need financial assistance with the cost of veterinary care.
Cure Canine Lymphoma is dedicated to raising awareness of successful treatment of Lymphoma if caught early enough, assists with the funding of treatment for those dog's families who are unable to afford the costs, provides discounts for dogs who are enrolled in clinical programs with new treatments at participating hospitals.
K-9 Heroes Fund funds pet health insurance premiums of dogs working for the Detroit and Southfield police departments. Frankie’s Friends commits for the life of the dog to pay the pet health insurance premium if the dog is accepted into the program.
K-9 Down underwrites life-saving emergency training to handlers of working dogs.
K-9 Search and Rescue Veterinary Care Fund is a fund set up to provide specialty care as needed for dogs who work with police, fire and rescue units.
References
- Animal hospital to assist humans St. Petersburg Times - Feb. 13, 2008
- 3rd-Grader Raises Money For Foundation That Helps Pets KMBC ABC 9 - Feb. 23, 2012
- Disabled woman rescued service animal when roaming dogs attacked Tampa Bay Times - Jan. 28, 2012