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When Gail Hindman's beloved 50-pound boxer, Douglas, got cancer a couple of years ago, she spent about $3,500 on vet care to extend his life.
There were seemingly endless diagnostic tests and chemotherapy, not to mention special foods and vitamins to buy.
After Douglas died in the summer of 2015, Hindman, a Chattanooga insurance company account executive, set up a nonprofit organization called the Douglas Fund to help low-income pet owners who have critically ill and injured dogs pay for their care.
"We had this special bond," Hindman, 61, says of her relationship with her dog Douglas. "He was like my shadow. He was a shy, timid guy, and he didn't warm up to people quickly. "
Douglas, who was named after Hindman's father, was the first pet she ever picked out herself, he says. He was also the runt of his litter.
When Douglas did befriend people, he was fiercely loyal, Hindman says. He played with the UPS delivery man regularly, and ran out to greet a retired neighbor nearly every day.
"Douglas would be at the door with his toy every day when I got home, ready to run out and see my neighbor, Mr. Tate, who would be sitting in his lawn chair waiting to play with him," Hindman said.
One day, Hindman noticed that Douglas seemed to be losing weight. Blood tests at the vet showed abnormalities that led to more testing and finally to a diagnosis of lymphoma. Douglas took a turn for the worse three months later and eventually died at an emergency animal hospital here.
Hindman resolved to memorialize Douglas' death by starting a nonprofit to help families who cannot afford to pay for emergency care for their animals. She knew many middle- and lower-income people had to make the decisions to surrender their animals to shelters or to resort to euthanasia. For those who considered their dogs members of the family - almost like children - the choice was agonizing.
Hindman wanted to do things right, so she set up a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. She raised some seed money and bought contribution jars to place in local vet offices. She also talked to animal doctors to see if she was on the right track. All said there was a need, but some doubted her ability to build a durable network of donors.
But Hindman persisted. She recruited a corps of veterinarians who agreed to be messengers for her cause. She began to collect donations from the jars and even organized a fundraiser. Through a website and Facebook page, the Douglas Fund began to attract regular donors.
Then the referrals began.
One of the first beneficiaries of the fund was Bruce, a pit bull mix who had swallowed a corn cob from a trash can. The cob had caused an intestinal blockage and left Bruce near death.
A local vet called Hindman and asked if there was anything the Douglas Fund could do.
"We've got $564, that's what we can do," Hindman answered.
"We'll make that work," the vet said. The emergency surgery was successful and Bruce is now alive and thriving.
Soon, the requests started coming with regularity.
There was one dog with cancer and another having seizures. One dog was hit by a car, another needed surgery for bladder disease.
Hindman found there was great satisfaction in being able to help grieving pet owners who had nowhere else to turn. Now, more than a year into the effort, she is trying to grow the Douglas Fund donor base so she can scale up to help more families.
She has been getting requests for help from out of state, but she wants to concentrate on keeping the operation local, for now.
For 2017, she is focusing on applying for grants, getting more vets in her informal network (no money passes through the hands of pet owners), and attracting more donors and volunteers.
"No one should have to say no to treatment for a 'family member,'" Hindman says.
If you are moved to help, visit the Douglas Fund website at www.thedouglasfund.org or write to The Douglas Fund, c/o Gail Hindman at 7708 Nautical Way, Chattanooga, TN 37416.
Contact staff writer Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645.