As The Glider Initiative has been offline for a time, we would like to take a moment to remind glider owners of the
vet Care Assistance (VCA) program, which is still running and available to those in need.
The VCA was set up to make sure that sugar gliders get the emergency veterinary care they need, when they need it. Owners struggling to pay for this care are welcome to apply for assistance. The VCA board reviews applications and decides whether or not to provide assistance.
The VCA board is made up of members of the glider community and the TGI board of directors. The names of those on the board are confidential to prevent applicants from exchanging favors. Applicants' names are kept anonymous for the same reason.
Owners can apply for assistance multiple times. Each request will be considered as if it is the first request. The VCA will assist with a variety of procedures, but will not be the primary means of payment. Glider owners must pay the majority of the bill. The VCA is meant for the most extreme circumstances.
If an application is approved, the VCA will send payment directly to the
vet or clinic performing the procedure. This is to protect the program from the rare person who will take advantage. Owners can apply for reimbursement from a procedure, but proof that the procedure was performed must come directly from the
vet or clinic. Never assume before committing to a procedure that the VCA will approve your application.
Applications for assistance are available in the Public Documents forum on the TGI Web site,
www.thegliderinitiative.org. After submitting the form, you will receive e-mail confirmation within 24 hours. Once your application is received, the board will discuss your case and will notify you of its decision by e-mail.
All information provided by applicants is kept confidential. The program's tax-exempt status makes it necessary to keep the information on file for up to seven years, after which only the information of those applicants who have received assistance will be kept.
Interested parties can help the VCA's efforts by making monthly or one-time donations to the program. Donations can be sent through the PayPal address
donate@thegliderinitiative.org, or through the "Donate" button on TGI's home page. Make sure to include somewhere in your message that the donation is meant for the VCA program.
