A woman rests one hand on a young child's shoulder and the other on a dog lying on a stainless steel exam table, while a veterinarian in blue scrubs listens to the dog's chest with a stethoscope.

Saving families · saving pets

Keep love alive: Saving pets saves their humans.

You’ve been in that room. The vet lays out the number, and maybe you can pay for it. Not every family in that chair can. And that difference can mean everything.

Why this matters this much.

We are one of the few nonprofits in the country that funds this costly level of lifesaving care.
  • Elderly people living alone with only a companion animal left.
  • Kids with autism or a disability.
  • People living with a serious illness, PTSD, anxiety, or depression.

One reader wrote to ERDF about her own father, after her mother died. He’d stopped opening the curtains. The family asked him to take care of their cat, Abercrombie, for a while.

“I feel like that relationship gave me my father back.”

a daughter, in a story shared with ERDF.

More stories like this
An older woman leans her cheek against her small white dog in her living room, both looking toward the camera.

Faithful Friends are ALWAYS by your side

Every one of the 675+ loved ones we’ve helped needed someone already in place before the emergency, not after. Become a Faithful Friend, and each month you’ll receive soul-nourishing stories of the pets you’re saving, and invitations to member-only events. Proof arrives because you gave.

Join Faithful Friends

What is coming

  • 2026

    Better Together 2026 Event

    A CELEBRATION OF PETS & THEIR PEOPLE SEPTEMBER 26, 2026 11 am – 3 pm The Pines Pet Cemetery & Cremation Center 764 Riley…

  • 2026

    2026 EVENT SCHEDULE

    SATURDAY, APRIL 18th BLESSING of the ANIMALS 9:00 am – 10:00 am Faithful Friends Breakfast (exclusive) 9:30 am Doors Open for Photo Shoot, Free…

See all events

675+

loved ones helped

$1.3M+

spent on critical care

Families who got the yes

Different emergencies. Different families.
The Love Stories that continue because of you.

Cosmo, a white cat with blue eyes, looking into the camera.

Cosmo

“If I’d lost Cosmo it would have felt like losing my son all over again. You are such a blessing.”

Cosmo’s Mom

Watch Cosmo’s story
Roller’s family sitting outdoors with their corgi.

Roller

“They don’t just save a pet, they saved your family member, they saved your faith in humanity.”

Roller’s Family

Watch Roller’s story
Kimber, a chocolate labrador, resting her chin down and looking up.

Kimber

“If not for you donors of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, I would have lost the love that keeps me going.”

Kimber’s Mom

Read Kimber’s story
A smiling young girl lying on a sofa with her arms around Kash, a curly apricot doodle, her cheek against his head and both looking at the camera.

Kash

“Because of you, Kash was able to stay in the ICU long enough to have sufficient transfusions to raise and maintain his level of red blood cells.”

Kash’s Mom

Read Kash’s story
Lucy, a white-faced older dog, close to the camera.

Lucy

“Lucy has given us a special twelve years. We’re so thankful that you’ve helped that to continue for us, and will be there to help other families as well.”

Lucy’s Family

Read Lucy’s story
A woman and a young boy sitting on porch steps with a white dog on either side of them.

Chico

“It was a true blessing when, as I sat on the floor in the vet’s office holding Chico, I got the news that Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund would pay the majority of Chico’s vet bills/prescriptions.”

Chico’s Mom

Read Chico’s story
Mabel resting in the grass beside her owner's chair in a sunlit garden.

Mabel

“Mabel brought our family together as a team to love and care for her. We feel blessed to know that there are good people in this world like MVAH & ERDF to help us help Mabel.”

Mabel’s Family

Read Mabel’s story
Annie, a german shepherd, sitting on a porch and looking into the camera.

Annie

“Annie is not only beautiful on the outside, she is also so very beautiful on the inside. We are so extremely thankful to Dr. Giatis and to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund for making it possible for our beautiful girl to still be alive.”

Annie’s Mom & Dad

Read Annie’s story
A man in sunglasses holding Kahlua in both arms and kissing the top of her head.

Kahlua

“Kahlua and Hairball mean everything to each other. Homeless people are just like everyone else. Their animals are really family for them.”

Kat, SPCA Volunteer

Read Kahlua’s story
Mosha, a small chihuahua, held by her owner beside her veterinarian.

Mosha

“I don’t know what I would’ve done without Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. You’re helping me to do what’s best for my baby. Thank you for being our guardian angel.”

Mosha’s Mom

Read Mosha’s story
A woman kneeling on a brick patio with one arm around Colby, a beagle, both facing the camera.

Colby

“If it were not for your contributors and your fund, Colby would not have gotten a second chance at life.”

Colby’s Family

Read Colby’s story
A woman in a navy sweatshirt standing behind Smiley, a shaggy grey dog, with a hand resting on her back.

Smiley

“I cannot express how much Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund’s support meant to me. It was touch and go for a few days but with the wonderful care she received thanks to you she and I are together again.”

Smiley’s Mom

Read Smiley’s story
A woman sitting on a leather sofa with Roscoe stretched across her lap, both looking at the camera.

Roscoe

“It felt like a parachute being thrown to us. To the donors of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund we say, thank you for your kindness. You have literally kept our family together.”

Roscoe’s Mom

Read Roscoe’s story
Luke, a ginger cat, held cheek to cheek by his owner.

Luke

“Through this troubling time in my life, by helping my fur baby, you are keeping me from being lonely. You are giving me a big dose of hope.”

Luke’s Mom

Read Luke’s story
Pumpkin, a black cat in a blue flowered sweater, lying face to face with a young person on a bed.

Pumpkin

“We’re blessed to have Twin Maples Vets and the supporters of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund as part of our extended family. Words can’t begin to express what this means to our family, especially to my daughter.”

Pumpkin’s Mom

Read Pumpkin’s story
Sandor, a golden retriever, lying on a treatment table looking into the camera.

Sandor

“You have no idea how thankful we all are. I cried until I couldn’t open my eyes. Thank you so much for allowing Sandor an opportunity to heal.”

Sandor’s Mom

Read Sandor’s story
Boomer, a tabby cat, carried in his owner's arms.

Boomer

“Thank you for keeping me on the job: making my kids feel loved, protecting the newest little one, making Mom and Dad’s lives lighter.”

Boomer

Read Boomer’s story
Monty, a small white puppy, held by a man in a wide-brimmed hat.

Monty

“Monty couldn’t have had the surgery for his perforated bowel without you kind people who give to Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. Thank you for giving me back my boy.”

Monty’s Dad

Read Monty’s story
Darla asleep against her owner on the sofa.

Darla

“You saved her life. My kids think of her as a sibling. There are no words to express the depth of our gratitude.”

Darla’s Mom

Read Darla’s story
A person kneeling in a veterinary waiting room with an arm around Indy, a white shepherd in a red harness.

Indy

“What did it mean to us that you made this surgery possible? The world! You saved our world. I am so beyond thankful to every single donor to your organization.”

Indy’s Mom

Read Indy’s story
Monkey, a black and white cat, on an exam table beside her owner.

Monkey

“I may have trouble speaking due to my cancer, but I want you to hear how grateful I am to have the help of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund. It is a blessing from God that thanks to you I still have my precious Monkey.”

Monkey’s Mom

Read Monkey’s story
Binx, a black cat, held between two family members who are looking into the camera.

Binx

“With the help of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, the financial support was there to get our sweet boy through his emergency and back home with us where he belongs! You saved his life.”

Binx’s Mom & Dad

Read Binx’s story

    Drag, swipe, or use the arrow keys to move through 22 stories.

    How it happens

    How your gift becomes a yes

    Three people make it happen. You can be the third.

    The family

    The family pays what it can.

    Their vet

    Their own vet nominates them, and the clinic discounts its rate.

    Donors

    Donors fund what’s left.

    From both sides of the exam room

    Be the third.

    Diamond, a grey and white cat, resting on her owner's shoulder.
    Diamond and her family
    Dr. Lockhart smiling as she examines Diamond in the clinic.
    Dr. Lockhart, Diamond’s veterinarian

    “Without Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, we would have had to let Diamond go… Not only have you saved me, you have saved OUR FAMILY.”

    Diamond’s Mom

    Donate

    100% of donations are spent on veterinary care. Administrative costs are privately funded.

    Want to help every month, not just once? Join Faithful Friends.

    Reviews

    Messages from families our donors have helped

    Who We Are

    The dog that started it, the vision we’re building toward, and the impact we make.

    Ellie, a white shepherd, sitting in autumn leaves.

    Ellie’s Story

    A few days after Ellie was adopted as a rescue, she was in the ER for what was to be the first of many hospitalizations. It broke her people’s heart to watch families who couldn’t afford treatment leaving with their beloved pets still in pain—or worse. Ellie died in 2021 but her legacy lives on through every pet who gets the emergency or specialty treatment needed and every family who shares their love.

    A seal-point cat sits on a table beside a laughing baby in a living room.

    Our Vision

    Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund envisions a society that honors the vital role companion animals play in the lives and well-being of humans—where the lack of financial resources needed to provide medical care never threatens to separate humans from their companion animals.

    Bob Bob, a small shih tzu, lying on a sofa at home and looking into the camera.

    Our Impact

    We are the only organization in the area (and one of the few in the nation) that fully funds emergency and specialty vet care– costs that most often result in surrender or economic euthanasia. Pet guardians contribute, vets discount and your donations Save pets; Save families.

    “If it weren’t for supporters of Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund, people with such love and compassion, I would not be writing this now. You are such blessings. Thank you for saving me from having to say goodbye.”

    BobBob’s Mom

    In Their Own Words

    See the fund at work

    Local news, a partner vet, our founder, and the nights that pay for it all.

    A WDTN news anchor standing beside an Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund title card that explains the fund pays for emergency and specialty veterinary care.
    3:07

    What Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund Is All About

    WDTN’s Kelley King, with our director and a family whose dog came home.

    See every video on YouTube

    Our Sponsors

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