ROBBINSVILLE — Making the decision to euthanize a pet is difficult, especially when the beloved animal can be saved by medical care that the family simply can’t afford.

Each year, thousands of pets with treatable conditions are put to sleep because their owners have financial constraints that prevent them from being able to afford necessary specialty care. Seeing so many families struggling with not being able to afford procedures that would keep their pets alive pulled at the heartstrings of technicians and doctors at NorthStar VETS in Robbinsville. Ten years ago, the veterinary staff at NorthStar VETS formed Vet-I-Care Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization committed to helping families secure the resources required to provide much needed specialty and emergency care for their pets. Since its inception, the foundation has saved over 300 pets, according to Vet-I-Care Foundation board member Maria Lutz said. “The Vet-I-Care Foundation provides grants to people who can’t afford veterinary care,” Ms. Lutz said. “Our goal is to keep families and their pets together.”

Funded entirely by the generosity of the community and through fundraising events, Vet-I-Care accomplishes its mission — to be a resource to families and their pets during their time of need — by raising awareness, contributions, and participation throughout the local community.

On Friday, Aug. 29, local families brought their dogs out for an ice cream social hosted by the Vet-I-Care Foundation. Pet owners and their furry friends enjoyed free frozen delights and donated $5 per ticket to enter a 50/50 drawing. The raffle raised $11,000 to be used by the Vet-I-Care Foundation to help save animals’ lives.

Stanley, a 5-month-old English mastiff, gobbled down some strawberry ice cream for the good cause. Vickie Mate brought him all the way from Roebling in Florence Township so they could show support for the foundation.

“We’ve always brought all of our dogs here for emergency care and wanted to support this cause,” Ms. Mate said. “It’s a great cause and a great hospital.”

Pet owners from near and far choose NorthStar VETS over other veterinary hospitals because it is one of only a few 24-hour emergency hospitals in the state and its veterinarians are board-certified, residency trained, or have received certification in a particular complimentary therapy. The hospital not only serves canines and felines but also avian and exotics and provides clinical care in specialty disciplines such as dentistry.

Nancy Acosta, of Edison, has three greyhounds — Regis, Kiki, and Oliver. Not only does she give back to the pet community by attending fundraisers such as the ice cream social but her dogs serve as blood donors at NorthStar VETS.

All of the participants, young, old and furry, enjoyed the social.

Karen Schuster, of Metuchen, had her rabbit, Becky, with her.

“It’s great to have an event like this,” she said. “It’s very nice.”

Two-year-old Sloane Dorbert, of the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold, helped her pooch, Ludo, eat his doggie ice cream (all of the doggie ice cream was provided by Bag of Bones Barkery in Hamilton) while her mother looked on and said how important it is to support Vet-I-Care.

The next Vet-I-Care Foundation fundraising event, “Luck of the Paw” casino night, featuring gourmet food, games of chance, and prizes, will take place Nov. 15 at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township.Donations to Vet-I-Care can be made online via Paypal at http://www.vet-i-care.org/ or by mail to 315 Robbinsville-Allentown Rd. Robbinsville, NJ 08691.

The “Echo & Cariño” Hope and Healing Garden presents a unique way of making a contribution to Vet-I-Care. Recognize a special pet or person by purchasing an engraved brick paver in the healing garden, which blooms with flowers and provides reflection benches next to NorthStar VETS. Each brick donation helps to support the lifesaving work of The Vet-I-Care Foundation and each donated brick paver will forever grace the honor walkway in the garden.For more information about Vet-I-Care, call 609-259-8300 ext. 1153. To find out more about applying for assistance through Vet-I-Care, visit http://www.vet-i-care.org/assistance.php.