Protecting Pets One Donation at a Time
Discover how NCF’s donations make pet care more accessible to owners in need.
Pets are the ultimate companions. They don’t pass judgement, they don’t ask questions, and their love is unconditional. We get it. We’re pet owners too. That’s why we’re such huge supporters of organizations prioritizing the health and wellbeing of our furry, four-legged friends—organizations like Hearts Alive Village.
For over ten years, the Las Vegas-based animal rescue organization has been a safe haven, facilitating adoption, rehoming, and rehab services for pets across local communities. Now, with a recent donation of $1M, Nevada Community Foundation is helping Hearts Alive Village launch its first-ever low-cost veterinary clinic, which will make pet care more affordable and more accessible to families in need. But animals aren’t the only ones who will benefit.
Healthy pets, happy families
By expanding access to low-cost animal healthcare, Hearts Alive Village is also working to reduce overcrowding in local shelters. This way, families don’t have to make the choice: either pay for high-price pet care or give them up entirely, whether that’s to a shelter, another owner, or out on the streets.
Perks of low-cost vet care
Heart Alive Village’s new vet clinic will focus on routine preventive care—things like spay and neuter procedures, vaccinations, wellness checks, and microchipping, among others. With regular visits, staff can spot minor issues before they develop into full-blown emergencies—emergencies many households can’t easily afford.
When more pets get regular care, there are fewer disease outbreaks, fewer emergency surrenders, and fewer animals filling up already crowded shelters. And with an uptick shelter vacancy, fewer animals will need to be put down due to overcrowding or lack of funding. More importantly, though, is the fact owners will have peace of mind knowing their pets are healthy and in good hands.
Vet clinic vision
Once the low-cost vet clinic is up and running, the team from Heart Alive Village plans on providing an additional 13,000 spay and neuter services for local pet owners, which will significantly reduce the number of animals being abandoned to the streets or the shelter. Additionally, staff intends to put a portion of NCF’s donation toward its veterinary forensics program, an important initiative designed to investigate and mitigate instances of animal cruelty and neglect across Clark County and surrounding areas.
Creating lasting impact with NCF
The partnership between NCF and Hearts Alive Village is just one example of how charitable investment not only supports beneficiaries directly, but also creates a ripple effect of positive impact that extends far beyond community. More specifically, the new clinic will serve as a model for other communities facing similar challenges. With every service performed, Hearts Alive Village can track and measure the efficacy of its efforts and provide valuable insights other cities can follow.
How you can help
The most important thing to remember is this: you don’t have to donate a million dollars to make a difference. Community members can pitch in by volunteering at clinics, hosting local fundraisers, or organizing pet supply drives. These hands-on efforts can help clinics serve more pets, more often. And sharing information on social media or by word-of-mouth can help connect families to critical care they might not know exists.
Advocacy matters, too. Encouraging local leaders to invest in affordable vet care or supporting policies that make clinics more accessible can lead to bigger, long-term changes. And when more people speak up, more families can breathe easy knowing their pets are safe, healthy, and happy at home—not in a shelter.
That’s why investments like ours matter. They make real change possible, not just for pets, but for the people who love them.
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Want to be part of the solution? Consider donating to organizations that help expand access to affordable vet care. Together, we can ensure no one has to sacrifice their pet to high-cost healthcare.