Everything you need to know about the Healing Paws Program.
What is Healing Paws?
Healing Paws is our special sponsorship program for dogs who need more than routine rescue care. These are dogs facing medical treatment, long recoveries, chronic conditions, or extra support while they heal.
Some dogs come in with heartworm, orthopedic injuries, neurological issues, post-surgical recovery, or conditions that require more diagnostics, more follow-up, and honestly… more money. Healing Paws gives supporters a way to directly help one of these dogs through that journey.
Why do some dogs need to be part of Healing Paws?
Not every rescue case is the same.
Some dogs need basic care before they’re ready for adoption. Others arrive with more complicated medical needs that take weeks or months to manage. That can mean medications, bloodwork, x-rays, surgeries, follow-up appointments, strict rest, or long-term monitoring.
Healing Paws exists for those dogs — the ones whose second chance comes with a few extra invoices and a lot more patience.
What are the different tiers to sponsor a dog?
Healing Paws offers three monthly sponsorship tiers, so you can choose the level of support that feels right for you:
Healing Paws – Friend ($10/month): Helps provide steady support for essentials like medication, follow-up visits, special food, and the day-to-day care these dogs need while they heal.
Healing Paws – Angel ($25/month): Helps us manage ongoing treatments, diagnostics, recovery care, and the many unexpected costs that come with complicated rescue cases.
Healing Paws – Hero ($50/month): Helps fund advanced care, specialist visits, emergency diagnostics, and the kind of support that gives our most vulnerable dogs a real chance at comfort, stability, and a future.
No matter which tier you choose, your support makes a real difference. Healing Paws dogs often need more than a quick fix, and every monthly gift helps us keep showing up for them.
What do I receive as a Healing Paws member?
As a Healing Paws member, you’ll receive access to your dog’s private member page, where you can follow their journey more closely.
Depending on the dog and where they are in treatment, that page may include:
Updates on their progress
Photos and videos
Notes about their care and recovery
Information about medications or treatment plans
Important milestones, setbacks, and victories
The everyday little details that make them who they are
Some dogs will have more medical information to share than others, but every page is meant to help you feel connected to the dog you’re supporting.
How do I access my dog’s private page?
After signing up, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the private page link and password for your chosen dog.
If you don’t see it right away, please check your spam or promotions folder first (technology loves chaos almost as much as rescue does).
If you still can’t find it, just reach out to us and we’ll make sure you get access.
How often will the page be updated?
We’ll do our best to update each page regularly, especially when there are important medical updates, treatment milestones, or changes in the dog’s condition.
That said, rescue life is unpredictable, and sometimes our schedule is being held together by coffee, WhatsApp, and a dog who just stepped in their own poop right after a bath. So updates may not always happen on a perfect timeline.
What we can promise is that Healing Paws dogs are not forgotten, and their supporters will be kept in the loop as their journey unfolds.
What does my membership help cover?
Your membership helps cover the real, ongoing cost of caring for a dog with medical or special-care needs.
That may include:
Vet consultations
Bloodwork and diagnostics
X-rays or imaging
Medications and treatments
Surgeries and post-op care
Heartworm or long-term disease management
Preventatives and follow-up appointments
Special food or recovery support
Beds, supplies, and the everyday basics that help a dog heal safely and comfortably
In short: not just the dramatic emergency moment, but the full messy process that comes after.
Can I sponsor more than one dog?
Absolutely.
If more than one Healing Paws dog steals your heart, you’re welcome to sponsor multiple dogs. Some people fall in love with one underdog. Some accidentally build a tiny army of medically questionable favorites. We respect both.
Each dog will have their own membership and private page.
Can I switch my membership to another dog later?
In many cases, yes.
If you’d like to move your support from one Healing Paws dog to another, just contact us and we’ll do our best to help make that happen.
Sometimes the easiest option may be to cancel one membership and start another directly through Zeffy, depending on how the campaign is set up, but we’re happy to guide you either way.
What happens if my dog gets adopted, passes away, or no longer needs Healing Paws support?
This is an important one, because rescue doesn’t always follow a neat script.
If your chosen dog completes treatment, gets adopted, no longer needs extra medical support, or sadly passes away, we’ll reach out and guide you through the next step.
When you sign up, you’ll be asked what you’d prefer in that situation. You can choose between two options:
End your membership
Transfer your membership to another Healing Paws dog who needs support
If that moment comes, we’ll follow the option you selected and help make the transition as smooth as possible.
Our goal is to be transparent, thoughtful, and respectful — both to the dog you chose and to the trust you placed in us.
Can I cancel my monthly membership anytime?
Yes.
Healing Paws memberships are monthly and can be canceled at any time through Zeffy. There’s no long-term commitment required, and we understand that life changes.
Of course, consistent support helps us plan medical care better, but we’re grateful for every month you’re part of a dog’s journey.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes. Isla Animals is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
You’ll receive a receipt through Zeffy after your donation is processed for your records.
