A new fund aims to help pit bull owners receive pet care services for $25

What’s happening: Stand for Animals, a nonprofit veterinary clinic in Charlotte, will receive a $500,000 grant as a part of the Artemis Cares Fund over the next five years. The grant will help pit bull owners receive affordable services.

The fund was provided by Cindy Levine so owners can get a spay/neuter surgery, as well as rabies and heart worm vaccinations for $25.

• Owners can also receive a heart worm test and three months of flea/tick/heart worm medication that will be covered through a donation from Merck.

Why it matters: The fund was created to help prevent unwanted litters that add to overcrowded shelters.

• In recent years under an older grant, Stand for Animals was able to perform over 5,000 spay and neuter surgeries at a low cost that helped keep more dogs from ending up at the shelter.
• Stand for Animals director Cary Bernstein also hopes that the new fund will educate dog owners on the importance of medical care.
• “It gives us an opportunity to talk about pit bulls in the community, which isn’t a conversation that people have very often about how they make great pets,” Bernstein said.

Background: Amanda Levine, Cindy’s daughter, was inspired by her rescue pit bull Artemis after she struggled to find a breed-friendly apartment.

• Amanda noticed there were a lot of misconceptions about pit bulls after her difficult apartment hunt.

After adopting Artemis, Amanda visited several shelters and realized a majority of kennels were occupied by pit bulls. “Until you really see it by walking through the shelters to witness it yourself, it’s hard to really grasp how many pit bulls are there. But once you walk through it, it’s just so different,” Amanda said.

Yes, but: The grant is primarily for pit bulls, owners of other dog breeds can also obtain low cost services.

• Bernstein says they will not deny other pet owners who really need financial assistance on care.
• “We want people to be able to access care,” Bernstein said.

How it works: Stand for Animals aims to perform about 1,000 spay/neuter surgeries annually for the next five years.

• They are also encouraged to make an appointment through the nonprofit’s website, by phone call or by email. Owners will be able to drop their dog off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon upon an appointment.

What’s next: There are plans to expand the reach of this new assistance program as it starts to roll out.

• Bernstein says they are in the process of brainstorming ways to reach more owners. \
• They also plan to add more days and services between their three locations in Charlotte, Pineville and Lake Norman.

Axios Charlotte | Alexis Clinton | Originally published November 22, 2022.