MPRINT: Client assistance funds saving owners’ hopes, pets’ lives
In exam rooms and waiting areas at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the most powerful moments often depend most on love.
Two families have felt that truth and been inspired to establish funds that are helping to save pets’ lives.
Jerry and Laura McLean of Indianola were referred to MSU’s veterinary hospital by their local veterinarian in Greenwood years ago when their pets required specialized care.
Over time, the McLeans made repeated trips to Starkville with two beloved dogs: Sarge, a Yorkshire terrier who belonged to Jerry’s parents, and Sue, the family’s brown Labrador retriever. Both dogs received advanced diagnostics and treatment at MSU.
During long days at the hospital, Jerry began talking with other pet owners in the waiting room. What struck him was not just the seriousness of the cases, but the depth of devotion. Many owners were facing heartbreaking financial decisions.
One story stuck with him: an individual whose only companion was a small puppy. The prognosis was good. The likelihood of success was high. But the owner did not have the financial means to proceed.
“That just broke our hearts,” Jerry said. “For some people, that pet is the only family they have left.”
Marcia Lane’s experience with MSU’s vet school led her to the same realization and a similar conclusion.
Patrick Lane, Marcia’s son, grew up in a home that always had a dog and a cat. Among those animals was a dog named Rocky — a beloved pet who became the namesake for something larger. Marcia, who passed away in November of 2024, had long been a client of the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, regularly bringing her pets there for care. During those visits, she grew aware of the financial heartbreak that could accompany a pet’s illness. At some point, she encountered someone who simply could not afford to help their animal. It stayed with her.
The McLeans established the Sue & Sarge McLean Endowed Client Assistance Fund. Marcia Lane established the Rocky Lane Pets in Need Endowment. Both exist to assist pet owners who need help bridging the financial gap for treatment.
“She always wanted to take care of animals,” Patrick said of his mother. “Even during her own final days, her top priority was making sure the Pets in Need fund would live forever.”
The College of Veterinary Medicine carefully reviews each request for assistance, ensuring cases meet established guidelines. The funds help bridge the remaining gap in situations where a positive outcome is likely.
“We pride ourselves on providing the best possible care,” said Dr. Nicholas Frank, dean of the MSU CVM.
Frank emphasizes that veterinary medicine is inseparable from the human-animal bond. The connection people share with their pets, he said, is often as deep and sustaining as any other relationship in their lives.
“We’re going through the journey with our clients,” he said. “We care about the outcomes because we understand how important these animals are.”
Two families. Two funds. One shared understanding that love for an animal is real, that loss is real, and that sometimes the difference between heartbreak and healing is simply a bridge across a financial gap.
Through the Sue & Sarge McLean Endowed Client Assistance Fund and the Rocky Lane Pets in Need Endowment, compassion is translated into action — ensuring that, in moments when love and medicine intersect, finances do not always have the final say.