Newmarket resident Patsy Hawke said she used to not understand why people would spend thousands to help their pets.
But when her 10-month-old rottweiler Fonzy suddenly fell ill a few years ago, Hawke said they acted to get him well. She spent more than $10,000 searching for treatments for the dog, including surgery and ultrasounds. After vets struggled to heal the dog, Hawke made a difficult choice to put down Fonzy when his prognosis worsened.
Fighting for her dog’s life despite the expense motivated Hawke and longtime friend Grace Costa to try and help others facing that scenario.
“An animal becomes part of your home,” she said. “It becomes part of your family … That’s what drives me to help somebody else. To help them with their own members of their family.”
The duo started the Fonzy Fund in 2019, helping locals raise money for emergency vet bills. Since then, they have helped pay for more than 15 pets facing everything from broken legs to infections to cancer.
The two fundraise using a variety of methods like online auctions with donated items and meat sales, relying on the community's generousity to raise thousands.
Costa said she came up with the idea of “doing something to help people who can’t. Because, let’s be honest, the majority of people can’t afford an emergency vet visit … Especially today, the way times are, it’s just getting progressively worse.”
One of the dogs the fund helped was Louie in 2020, with $1,623 raised for an emergency vet bill, who got a septic joint infection on one of his legs. With the family spending more than $9,000, the Fonzy Fund pitched in to help reduce the financial burden.
"I have moments where I am just in awe of the kindness, love and generosity,” his owner, Neville Peachey said near the end of the fundraiser. “You have all helped more than you know, and we are forever grateful.”
The group is currently fundraising for the leg surgery of Kade, who broke his leg after falling down some stairs. The estimated cost for the surgery is between $5,000 and $8,000.
“I can't thank you all enough for helping those without a voice,” his owner, Jackie Pineau, said about the fundraiser. “We are an amazing village, and together, we make a difference one at a time.”
Hawke and Costa said doing these fundraisers, two or three per year, takes a lot of work and effort. They do it on an entirely volunteer basis.
“It’s a weird thing because, I tell you, it’s a lot of work for me. Every time I do it, I go, 'This is it, I’m not doing this anymore.' Then another person comes to me,” Hawke said, adding those pleas tend to convince her to say “‘got to do this, one more.’
“But it’s so satisfactory, there’s nothing better,” Hawke added. “The gratitude that we get out of it is a big satisfaction for me.”
People are plenty generous with donations, they said. Still, the pair said they hope they can get more support in managing the initiative.
Regardless, Hawke said it is important to help these families.
“We’re helping families that don’t have the money, and money is a big stressor in people’s lives,” Hawke said. “Keeping the animal in their forever home, that’s the bottom line.”
You can participate in online actions through the fund's private Facebook page. Questions and donations can be sent to [email protected].
