Hello, Shelly Kocan here, Board Member for Cordova Community Medical Center and heading the committee for a safe and humane Pet Euthanasia Service here in Cordova, AK.

TJ Holley & myself have been working with CCMC to establish this long-needed program. We've cleared most of the hurdles; now we need some money to get a few willing individuals certified as Pet Euthanasia Technicians.

As many current and past pet owners know, end-of-life options for an ailing pet are intermittent in Cordova due to our rural location and lack of a permanent veterinarian. This sometimes leaves families with the difficult options of either taking on the task oneself or watching a pet die more slowly and more painfully than necessary.

It's time to offer a better solution. We have cleared the hurdles needed to establish this service here in Cordova. CCMC has willingly obtained the license for holding these medications and the insurance to provide these services. Now we just need to train a few community members so that these services are available year-round, when you need them.

The training is online and happens through the University of Florida, Shelter Medicine Program, and costs $400 per individual. We have some willing individuals and now we are aiming to raise at least $1200 to cover the cost of this training. Any additional funds raised will be used only for costs associated with this program.

In the long run, we hope to be able to house this program under a non-profit so we are eligible to apply for grants to help cover some of the costs of this program. But in the meantime, we want to keep the momentum going and get this program off the ground, before another family finds themselves in a difficult position.