“Mutual aid projects let us practice meeting our own and each other’s needs, based in shared commitments to dignity, care, and justice. They let us practice coordinating our actions together with the belief that all of us matter.”
Dean Spade
Let’s Work Together
About myBalto
As an emergency veterinarian, Dr. Robert often faced the distressing reality of pets not receiving adequate care due to their owners’ financial struggles. The existing charitable options were frequently slow, burdened with restrictions, and unable to provide the immediate help needed in critical situations. This left many pets without the necessary care and their owners in heartbreaking predicaments.
Recognizing this critical gap, Dr. Robert turned to his brother, Nathan, for a solution. Together, they envisioned an innovative approach to ensure that no pet would suffer due to financial constraints. Their collaboration led to the creation of a system that allows veterinary hospitals to establish their own Angel funds. These funds are designed to provide swift, flexible support to pet parents facing financial hardships, enabling them to access the care their pets need when they need it most.
myBalto is inspired from the true story of Balto, the Alaskan sled dog who helped deliver life-saving medication to the children of Nome, Alaska during a diphtheria outbreak in the 1920’s. With myBalto, Silver Lake Veterinary Clinic is able to provide mutual aid to our community’s pet owners who require critical financial support, mirroring the life-saving ethos of Balto and his historic journey.