A New Jersey charity is raising awareness and money to support service dogs that face medical hardships.

Alex Wong, Getty Images
Alex Wong, Getty Images
loading...

In 2011, Mark Magazu II founded the Angels for Animals Foundation, which raises funds to help pet owners suffering from extreme financial hardship to provide care for animals facing serious medical challenges.

Magazu decided to start an offshoot project called the Guardian Angels K9 Fund, after hearing the story of Judge. The 9-year-old German Shepherd was a service dog for the West Deptford police department before he was diagnosed with Cushing's disease.

With his medical bills exceeding $12,000, Judge's handler, Cpl Michael Franks, was forced to ask the community for help since the town only allotted $300 for handlers to spend on these expenses.

"Just like our officers, they can get injured, and those injuries can cost several thousands of dollars up into the tens of thousands of dollars," Magazu explained.

Magazu realized the budget gap creates a major burden. He does not want these handlers to have to ask the community for help, or sweat out the mounting medical bills.

"I'd like to let them have the peace of mind of knowing that they if should get the medical care they need, they won't have to scramble and be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars they didn't plan for," he said.

The fund will raise money to offer life-saving medical care to police and military service dogs on active duty and in retirement.

"Nobody's setting aside ten thousand, twenty thousand dollars, in the event the dog is shot or faces internal trauma or something like that," he said.

While the new fund is just in its infancy, it is already drawing a lot of attention. Magazu said they are setting up the infrastructure to support the charity, and of course, raising money.

To donate to the initiative, simply text the word 'GuardianK9' to the number 41444, followed by a space and the amount you would like to donate. Donations can also be made online.

"We'd like to make sure that any service dog, that serves our country, has the ability to get the medical care they need, no matter what the circumstance. That's the goal."

Learn more about this great New Jersey non-profit and this important new project by visiting the Angels for Animals Foundation website and Facebook page.

 

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM