Determined to help Pet owners pay for Veterinary care, Dina Ruiz joins Max’s Helping Paws Foundation board

2024-12-27 10:12:01 News & Society

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Facing unprecedented hardships brought by the pandemic, many Monterey County pet owners find it difficult, if not impossible, to afford the costs of unexpected care for their treasured pets.

Carmel, CA, November 11, 2020 - Now they have a new champion in Dina Ruiz, the newest board member for Max?s Helping Paws Foundation, a local animal welfare nonprofit that helps responsible pet owners fund treatment for pets facing a health crisis. ?Helping responsible pet owners obtain vet services in times of need is one of the greatest undertakings in the nonprofit arena,? said Ruiz, who is ?mom? to four dogs and one stray cat, who adopted her family in 2019. ?Being part of Max?s Helping Paws, getting to be part of taking away stress and maintaining love, is an honor, a privilege.?

Ruiz has enjoyed a long and varied career in broadcast and print media. She is the former weeknight anchor at KSBW-TV in Salinas. She co-hosted the pioneering television show, ?Candid Camera? with Peter Funt. She also created, executive produced and starred in E! Network?s ?Mrs. Eastwood & Company? while managing the pop-vocal band Overtone featured in the show.

Ruiz has a 30-year history of service as president and/or member of nonprofit boards, including The California Museum, The Panetta Institute for Public Policy, Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Greater Bay Area, and now Max?s Helping Paws.

?I came late to the wonderful world of dog ownership, getting my first dog (a pug named Coco) when I was 48-years-old,? she said. ?Since then, I?ve adopted and/or fostered nine dogs. I cannot imagine the agony of watching their health falter ? or losing them altogether ? due to not being able to take care of their medical needs. I am so grateful to Max?s Helping Paws for making vet care accessible to so many Monterey County citizens.?

Ruiz recognizes pet owners face urgent needs during the pandemic.

?Times are tougher than ever with Covid, virus-related job losses and other hardships,? she said. ?Max?s Helping Paws is the light at the end of a dark tunnel for pet owners in their darkest hour. I am honored to be part of it!?

Believing financial circumstances should never decide a companion pet?s fate, Max?s relies on the generosity of the community to fund its mission. General donations are accepted through the nonprofit?s website www.maxshelpingpaws.org.

Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF) was co-founded in 2016 by Dyana Klein and her husband and veterinary internist, Dr. Jonathan Fradkin, in memory of their pet, Maximillian.

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports all Monterey County veterinary practices to provide financial assistance to clients with pets in need of both critical short-term or longer-term care for chronic illness. Since it first started providing financial assistance in mid-2017, MHPF has approved more than $300,000 in financial assistance, and has helped hundreds of pet families give their pets a second chance. MHFP is based in Monterey County and serves only Monterey County. Max?s Helping Paws Foundation (831) 704-6473 info@maxshelpingpaws.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
The Buzz PR LLC
(831) 747-7455
http://www.maxshelpingpaws.org