The Goldstock Fund: Helen Redlus Memorial Fund

TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund will consider providing assistance for medical expenses for Golden Retrievers, and Golden Retriever mixes:

• That are 8 years of age or older
• Where the medical needs are extraordinary in a dog of any age
• That are abandoned or in need of rescue, and for whom other funding is not available, or is insufficient.

Extraordinary would include but not limited to the following:

• Gunshot
• Car accident
• Abuse
• Seizure Disorders

Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis and require a vote of the Review Panel before funding. These funding guidelines will be followed to determine if the application is eligible for assistance from TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund.

In some cases the decision whether or not to fund the request will be clear. In other situations, the decision will not as easily be reached. The TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund panel will thoroughly consider each request. Verification of the medical condition is required. When necessary, the panel will consult with one or more veterinarians to assist in assessing the medical condition of the dog or the prognosis for recovery. The decision of the panel will be final.

Not all requests will qualify for either full or partial funding. The amount awarded will depend in part upon:

• The ability of the owner/rescuer to pay for the costs of treatment
• The expected quality-of-life for the dog following treatment
• Access to other funding sources and support services
• Current medical condition of the dog
• Available funds in TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund

In all cases, funds are issued directly to the veterinarian treating the dog, and/or to the pre-approved rescue organization or breed club. TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund reserves the right to determine which treatments are to be covered, and where the funds are to be used. Anything not specifically covered in the guidelines will require review and approval by the Review Panel before funds can be disbursed.

Guidelines for Eligibility

1. The dog is 8 years of age or older, requires medical treatment and is in a rescue situation.
2. The dog is under 8 years of age but require extraordinary or expensive treatment.
3. The dog is a purebred Golden Retriever or Golden Retriever mix. In either case, the dog must look enough like a Golden Retriever for the Panel to be certain that it is a Golden Retriever or a Golden Retriever mix.
4. The dog is not dog or people aggressive, and displays the characteristic good-natured temperament of a Golden Retriever.
5. It has been determined that there are no local rescue funds available, or they are insufficient to provide the medical treatment required to ensure that the dog will be healthy enough to adopt out.
6. A licensed veterinarian has assessed the dog's condition and is willing to issue a statement that the dog's health status after recovery will be compatible with adoption.
7. The dog may have a terminal diagnosis but with the treatment requested is expected to have a minimum of 6 months of quality life.
The dog will be adoptable at the end of the treatment being funded.
8. There is no age limit for extraordinary medical treatment. However, seniors (8 years of age or older) are given priority.
9. No funds will be released without specific assurances that the dog will be/or has been spayed or neutered. Only in rare cases will TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund provide assistance for spay/neuter procedures in conjunction with other funded procedures. Such assistance would require approval of the Review Panel when the case is considered.
10. Applications for the treatment of orthopedic conditions will be considered with the following additional requirements:
1. If the funding request is for surgery for correction of an orthopedic condition, the veterinarian has assessed the condition and is of the opinion that the dog's quality of life and adoptability will be significantly compromised without surgery, as opposed to other maintenance treatment options.
2. If the funding request is for the correction of hip dysplasia, all surgical options need to be considered. Total hip replacements and triple pelvic osteotomy (as opposed to femoral head osteotomy or other procedures) may be partially funded by TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund only if, in the opinion of the veterinarian and TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund's veterinary advisors, there are no other options that will result in a satisfactory prognosis.
3. TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund may require the applicant to seek a second opinion and further evaluation to ensure that the suggested surgery or treatment is the only option for ensuring a good quality-of-life for the dog.
4. The dog must be symptomatic. That is, the diagnosis was not made only from routine x-rays. The dog must be showing signs of lameness or other dysfunction. Many dogs with hip dysplasia never display any lameness throughout their life. Applications for funding these conditions must include a description of the symptoms being displayed by the dog.
5. While TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund does not wish to suggest, bargain shopping for veterinary care, because of the high cost of orthopedic work all options for surgery should also be explored by the applicant (vet schools, a vet that will give a larger rescue discount, etc.). TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund reserves the option of offering partial funding.
1. TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund will not provide funding for any medical treatment for established personal pets. However, in the following cases funding will be considered for recently adopted dogs if the application meets all other TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund guidelines:
1. Individual rescues: an individual has rescued a dog that was injured or ill at the time of rescue and would like to provide a permanent home for the dog. TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund will not consider funding requests for routine, non-emergency care that rescued dogs often need, such as bathing, flea control, vaccinations, routine worming, etc., nor for conditions that were not obvious at the time of rescue. The dog must have been examined, and a preliminary diagnosis made by a veterinarian within one week of rescue.
2. Adoption through a Humane Society or Shelter: a dog that appeared healthy or had a minor illness/injury has been adopted from a shelter and, after adoption; it becomes apparent that the dog's condition was serious. TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund may consider funding in these cases if the symptoms become apparent and a vet sees the dog within one week of adoption. TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund must have a clear indication from the treating veterinarian that the dog's chances of recovery are reasonable.
2. TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund will not fund the entire cost of treatment for a dog that is already in an adoptive home. The adoptive home is expected to pay some portion of the cost. Applications must include a dollar amount that will be paid, or that has already been paid, by the new owner. Prior to release of funds, TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund will require receipts documenting these expenditures.
3. In all ownership situations, applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the severity of the illness/injury and the details of the rescue.
4. Placements through a rescue organization: an ill or injured dog has been taken in by an established rescue organization. A permanent home is found for the dog during the funding application process, or a home is found before the organization had an opportunity to start the funding application process. The assumption here will be that, in the absence of an adoptive home, the case would have met all TGF Helen Redlus Memorial Fund funding guidelines, and that the adoption would have been seriously jeopardized if the assistance were not available.

Dogs that do not meet the above funding guidelines cannot be considered. Once you have determined that your dog meets the criteria set forth above, please review Decision Making Procedures and/or submit an application.