Dedicated to raising funds and awareness for dogs and cats with heart disease, The Big Hearts Fund believes that dogs and cats are deserving of vital veterinary care despite any financial limitations of their owners.

To that end, The Big Hearts Fund has created a line of high quality, locally manufactured pet products, the proceeds from which support the charitable fund. The charitable fund supports the Financial Aid Program, available to owners in need of assistance in paying for the additional veterinary care required by the various forms of heart disease in dogs and cats.

Problem

Heart disease in dogs and cats is far more prevalent than many realize. Studies indicate that at least 10% of all dogs in the USA currently suffer from a form of heart disease, and nearly 40% will develop a cardiac condition over the course of their life. Diagnostics alone can cost upwards of $500 with treatment options, both medical and surgical, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. This is a burden many families are unable to bear, leaving them with too few options, including relinquishing their beloved pet to a shelter or worse, leaving the condition untreated and watching them suffer and ultimately, die.

Solution

Through the Big Hearts Fund website, which serves as an education and resource center, rich with both information and veterinary referrals, The Big Hearts Fund is able to educate the public and those whose animal has just been diagnosed with a cardiac condition. Offering support, knowledge, and a means of addressing the growing needs of their pet, The Big Hearts Fund can keep pets with their families and save lives. The Big Hearts Fund also sells its proprietary line of pet products, of which 100% of sales proceeds support the charitable mission. Through this unique and diverse revenue stream, the Big Hearts Fund is able to sustainably and consistently offer financial assistance to those families who are unable to afford the cost of cardiac veterinary care. The Big Hearts Fund products are also sold at local pet boutiques in Chicago, furthering its outreach to the animal community and raising awareness of the prevalence of canine and feline heart disease. In time, The Big Hearts Fund hopes to sell its products in national chain stores and boutiques alike, raising funds and awareness.

Example

All of The Big Hearts Fund products are sold with specially made tags, labelled with little known facts about the various forms of animal heart disease. Directing customers to The Big Hearts Fund website, these products not only raise funds to support the charitable mission, they act as a marketing vehicle for raising awareness and public education on a national stage. Customers are not only purchasing a high quality, locally designed and manufactured product for their pet, they can rest assured knowing their money is being used to help those pets and families in need. Through education, awareness, and assisted veterinary care, The Big Hearts Fund believes that in time, heart disease is no longer a death sentence, but a minor bump in the road to a long and happy life for our amazing four legged friends.

Marketplace

On the non-profit side, The Big Hearts Fund is the first organization of its kind to offer financial assistance and education on heart disease in dogs and cats. There are a small number of organizations in the United States that offer financial assistance for veterinary care, however they do not focus on cardiac disease and diagnostics. In the pet product market, The Big Hearts Fund main competitors are other small, high end product lines sold exclusively online or in small boutiques in big cities. These competitors pose a challenge to us in that we are competing for customers. However, as our line of products supports a charitable cause, we feel that we have a leg up on the competition in appealing to the socially conscience consumer who appreciates supporting worthy causes.