Helping veterinary medicine’s unsung heroes: Finn’s Friends Fund supports CSU technicians
Veterinary technicians give everything to care for animals. Finn’s Friends Fund helps them care for their own pets, honoring the love and dedication they show every day.
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Veterinary technicians are the unsung heroes of animal care. They work long hours, manage complex medical cases, and provide emotional support to both pets and their families – often while facing financial challenges of their own.
To recognize their essential role in the CSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital, and to help technicians care for their own pets, three private donors established Finn’s Friends Fund in 2022. The fund honors Finn, a “sassy” golden retriever who underwent cancer treatment at the Flint Animal Cancer Center in the hospital.
“The techs taking care of her sent me pictures and told me funny stories about how adept she was at eating the pill pocket while spitting out the meds. Those pictures and the visual of her trying to fool them made a hard time a little easier for a worried parent,” said her owner, who wishes to remain anonymous.
Finn had surgery for a mast cell tumor on her ear, followed by 17 days of radiation for an acanthomatous ameloblastoma. When the techs came to get her, “Finn would jump up and stick her head out the window and wag her tail a hundred miles an hour. Then they would walk back to the hospital together, happy as clams. This continued throughout her treatment, and I’ve always been so grateful to the technicians who showered her with such love and care that she never resisted going with them,” her owner said. “Even though she couldn’t have felt great after that many days of sedation and radiation, she was always happy to come back the next day to see her friends.”
In 2022, Finn developed an aggressive soft tissue sarcoma. “This time, Finn expanded her circle of friends by adding the medical oncology group for chemo. When the tech came down the hall to get her, the mutual love fest began. Then off she would go to treatment, never afraid, never looking back. I think she knew she was in good hands and would be well taken care of by the people who loved her. Ultimately, however, this was a fight we couldn’t win, despite the Herculean efforts by everyone concerned.”
When it became time to let her go, Finn had a peaceful passing surrounded by family, friends, and hospital staff who came to say goodbye. “It was truly a testament to the loving and caring bond that is created between the doctors and technicians and their patients,” her owner said. “There are so many people who are such an integral part of the care team who are often overlooked when the thank yous are said. And so, with help from our wonderful support team in the Argus Institute and the CSU Foundation, Finn’s Friends was born to honor and assist these behind-the-scenes angels.”
“Our hope is that through this fund, we will be able to express our deep appreciation for the love and care that was shown to Finn during her time here. Her family is forever grateful and I know that Finn is proud to be helping the people she loves so much.”
Caring for the carers
The fund helps to cover emergency veterinary costs for the technicians’ personal pets, ensuring they don’t have to choose between financial strain and lifesaving care. “Finn’s family believes that supporting this special group of hospital staff is important because they want to recognize the dedication, compassion, and special skills that each technician brings to the care of their patients,’ said Maria Gore, director of operations and program services for the Argus wellness and support service, the hospital’s counseling center. “Supporting techs means recognizing their essential role and helping them care for the animals in their own lives.”
The fund was there when a CSU technician faced an emergency just days before Christmas. Their dog suffered a serious spinal injury shortly after navigating cancer treatment for another beloved pet. Emotionally overwhelmed and financially stretched, they were forced to consider euthanasia as the only option. But upon learning they qualified for support from Finn’s Friends Fund, they chose to move forward with surgery.
“That support lifted a tremendous burden, allowing their dog to receive critical care and return home to the family that same week. The technician later shared that watching her son and their dog continue to share backyard adventures and nightly tuck-ins has been an unforgettable gift – one made possible by the generosity behind Finn’s legacy,” Gore said.
One of the fund’s founding donors previously worked in a veterinary clinic and deeply understands the emotional and financial demands of the profession. “Their gift honors the memory of sweet Finn – a cherished patient – and celebrates the extraordinary care she received from the technicians who made her feel safe and loved,” Gore said.
To make an online donation, select “Finn’s Friends” under “Additional Designations.”