Community Love
The Community Love program, a collaboration between Four Winds Connections and Lil BUB’s Big Fund, is an initiative that allows Four Winds Connections to offer financial assistance to community members and their pets. Community Love is centered on building trusting and authentic relationships with communities. We’re currently focused on providing support to our friends at Little Earth of United Tribes with more urgent veterinary care, specials needs pets and pet behavior consultations. We plan to expand our reach as more funding becomes available.

Nola, an 8-month-old pup, was hit by a car on Leech Lake Reservation, which broke the femur in her back right leg. A vet clinic in Bemidji, Minn., took X-rays, and it was determined that if she could have surgery, there was a good chance to avoid amputation. Four Winds Connections was contacted by Rick Haaland with Leech Lake Tribal Police, but there were three major hurdles: first, finding an open spot with an orthopedic surgeon; second, the cost; and third, getting the surgery done fast enough to save Nola’s leg. Our network of partners quickly came together, including Vet Partners Edina, Lil BUB's Big Fund and Nola’s family and neighbors. With a flurry of emails, text messages and phone calls, Vet Partners Edina was able to locate an orthopedic surgeon to do Nola’s surgery late on a Friday afternoon. Nola’s family’s neighbor drove her down the night before surgery — a 3.5-hour drive from Leech Lake Reservation to Minneapolis — so that she would be ready to head to the vet office early the next day. Nola was hosted in the home of Marilou of Four Winds Connections, who fell in love with her gentle, loving spirit. Nola’s neighbor made another trip the next evening to transport Nola after her surgery. Her human sister stayed up late to welcome Nola back, and despite Nola being sleepy, her tail wagged vigorously when she saw her human sister. Then there were tears of joy. There's a lot involved in recovering from a broken femur, and Nola's family and neighbors committed to doing everything to ensure Nola heals completely and regains full use of her leg. Nola’s surgery cost more than $5,600, and a network of individuals and organizations came together to cover the cost, including Four Winds Connections, Lil BUB's Big Fund, Leech Lake Tribal Police, Vet Partners Edina and Vet Partner Cares.

Tommy is a boxer lab mix pup deeply loved by his mom. Tommy was struggling with severe itching, discomfort and losing fur. His family said Tommy was clearly suffering and uncomfortable. We were able to get Tommy to be seen at our partner vet clinic, and Tommy was put on meds for a few weeks. Just a week after he began treatment, we got a message from his mom excitedly sharing that Tommy was regrowing his fur and was back to his usual loving self. His mom wrote: “His skin redness is totally gone, and he is regrowing his fur. It is bald in spots, but it is soft, good-looking skin ... my kids wanted me to tell you and the doctor thank you for saving our baby Tom."

Snoop, an 11-month-old cat, broke his front leg while chasing and playing hard with his sister Coco. He needed orthopedic surgery to fix his leg. A team effort came together to raise the much-needed funds to cover Snoop's almost $4,000 surgery. Through community fundraising, the Community Love program and significant discounts offered by our vet partner, we were able to get Snoop the care he needed. Snoop is now fully healed and back to his usual playful self!

Doxie, an 11-year-old dog, is the pet of a couple whose mother passed away. The owners shared that Doxie was losing teeth, having a hard time eating and had really bad breath. Our vet partner confirmed that Doxie had severe periodontal disease, which had caused recession and bone loss. Doxie had 21 teeth extracted! She's now healing nicely, eating, no longer in pain and feeling so much better!