WHAT WE DO

Help a Buddy Fund, informally known as Help a Buddy or The Fund, aims to increase the number of animals that are protected from abuse or neglect through supportive partnerships, activism, securing physical resources, and alleviating the financial burden for animal welfare groups.

We are a registered charity (Charitable No. 776490732RR0001).

Our funding grants provide qualified animal welfare groups with important funding for long-term rehabilitation. Our Bella Bucks program is specifically designated for emergency surgeries for rescue animals.

WHY WE DO IT

Currently, there are two major grants available to animal welfare groups in Alberta: The Four Feet Companion Foundation (emergencies and special projects) and The Animal Rescue Fund (medical and training). There are 78 registered animal welfare groups in Alberta alone (Canada Helps, 2019), many of which will apply to access these limited funds.
Help a Buddy Fund will bridge a gap for many of these animal welfare groups, with support dedicated to alleviate the emotional and financial burden animal welfare groups incur while overseeing guardianship of animals kept in long-term care for a year or more.  

MEET BUDDY

It all started with one dog: Buddy, aka, Butters and/or Francis.
Buddy was kept in foster care for four years through a local animal rescue. She was 14 years old at the time she was taken into care. Buddy suffered from various medical conditions that prevented her from being adopted. While never permanently adopted, Buddy left paw prints on the hearts of the two foster homes she spent her final years. It is in her honour that Help a Buddy was created.
Buddy will be remembered as the dog who loved the following:

• Eating food that didn't belong to her
• Spurts of energy that reminded you we all still have a bit of puppy in us
• Resilience through pain as long as she was surrounded by those she loved

OUR MISSION

To raise awareness of the dedication made by animal welfare groups towards long-term rehabilitation and to alleviate the financial burden of those who care for the well-being of animals in our province.

OUR VISION

A world in which our animal welfare heroes do not need to struggle to find social and financial support for the work they do, and where every animal is guaranteed outstanding care over a long-term period.

OUR VALUES

Help a Buddy Fund supports the following beliefs:
• Pet ownership or guardianship should be done so responsibly with prioritization given to an animal’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being in all life stages
• All living beings deserve compassion in our interactions with them
• Animals should receive a high standard of care throughout long-term rehabilitation lasting for a year or more
• Humane euthanasia is a last resort for pain or behavioural management
• We are strengthened by our desire to learn and discuss new perspectives concerning animal welfare and empowered to use our newfound knowledge to eliminate animal cruelty