Struggling pet owners find lifeline with nonprofit’s emergency medical fund [Video]

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — For some pet owners, the choice to get emergency care for their pet is a difficult one, especially when the costs are high. 

Gina Highfield, president and founder of Paws In Need, said the nonprofit steps in when families are financially struggling but still want to give their pets a fighting chance.

“We don’t want anyone to have to make a decision for euthanasia because they can’t afford life-saving care,” Highfield said.

The inspiration for Paws In Need and the creation of its emergency medical fund came from Highfield’s experience with her own dog, Sis, who had cancerous tumors. 

“The surgery to remove the masses was not in our price range,” she said. “I never wanted to see another family in that situation.”

Since 2019, Paws In Need …