Saving Lives, Supporting Veterinarians
Discover our story and the mission behind HelpSavePetsAndVets.org.
Our Journey
Our History
1990
2020s and Current:
Help Save Pets & Vets was founded in 1990 with a singular mission: to provide life-saving medical care to homeless pets and help them find their forever homes. Initially, the organization focused on covering medical costs for animals in shelters, ensuring they could receive the treatments they needed to become adoptable. By addressing the financial barriers faced by shelters and rescues, Help Save Pets & Vets successfully saved thousands of lives and gave countless pets a second chance at happiness.
Over the years, the organization grew in scope and impact, evolving to meet the changing needs of pets, their owners, and the veterinary community. This commitment to adapting and expanding its mission has cemented Help Save Pets & Vets as a trusted advocate for animals and their caregivers alike.
Meet Dr. Tony
Dr. Tony Kremer: Veterinarian and Founder of Help Save Pets & Vets
Dr. Tony Kremer began caring for animals at the age of 14 when he was hired by his neighbor, a veterinarian. Over the course of his career, he has owned 15 hospitals in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio. At the time of his hospital sale, he employed 50 veterinarians and over 500 employees. He is also the co-founder of Help Save Pets, an animal rescue organization that has saved more than 16,000 homeless pets by adopting dogs and cats from his animal hospitals. Help Save Pets has since pivoted to focus on supporting veterinarians struggling with the stress and mental health challenges associated with economic euthanasia.
Dr. Kremer earned his veterinary degree from the University of Illinois. He is also a certified Veterinary Journalist and a graduate of the Illinois Center for Broadcasting. He has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, WGN, and was even a guest on Good Morning America. Dr. Kremer and his staff were featured nationwide in a season of Animal ER Live on Nat Geo Wild. For three years, he co-hosted a weekly talk show called Pet Lifestyle Radio with his sister, Suzanne Ward, on WJOL in Chicago.
In his free time, Dr. Kremer is a motorcyclist, guitarist, marathon runner, triathlete, snowboarder, and advanced open-water diver. He adopted a Chihuahua mix named Ania and ended each episode of his radio show by saying, “Save a life—adopt your next pet!”
Together, we’re building a future where no pet is lost due to financial hardship, and no veterinarian is left unsupported.
Transforming lives
Our Mission
Adoption Services
Saving More Pet Lives
Every pet deserves a chance at a healthy and happy life. Our mission prioritizes providing resources and financial assistance to ensure pets receive the medical care they need. By bridging the gap between affordability and treatment, we’re helping save more lives and giving families hope during challenging times.
Foster Programs
Reducing Economic Euthanasia
Financial hardship is many times a barrier to saving a beloved pet's life. Our program provides veterinarians access to grants ensuring pet owners have access to life-saving treatments for their pets.
Veterinary Care
Reducing Compassion Fatigue
The emotional toll of veterinary work can be overwhelming. We aim to reduce compassion fatigue by providing veterinarians who already participate in pet rescue, shelter medicine, or have actively helped save homeless pets in other ways with grants to help offset the costs when facing economic euthanasia.
Foster Programs
Reducing Veterinary Burnout
Veterinarians often face immense stress from the demands of their profession. Our mission includes offering solutions to reduce burnout, such as mental health resources, wellness programs, and funding support. By prioritizing their well-being, we’re ensuring they can continue their essential work with renewed passion and purpose.
Veterinary Care
Helping to Alleviate the Shortage of Veterinarians
The veterinary profession faces a growing shortage of skilled professionals. The fact of the matter is that anxiety, burnout, and compassion fatigue cause many veterinarians to rethink their career path and contribute to the veterinary shortage by dropping out of the profession. By investing in the mental well-being of veterinarians we're ensuring pets and their families have access to the care they need for years to come.
Veterinary Care
Continue to Support Adoption Programs for Homeless Pets
Adoption has always been a vital part of our mission, and we remain committed to giving homeless pets a second chance at life. While expanding our efforts to provide financial support to reduce economic euthanasia, we continue to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome pets in need. To date, our adoption programs have helped over 16,000 animals find loving homes, and we are dedicated to continuing this life-changing work for pets and their future families.
