Why the Aspen Angel Fund Was Created

If you live long enough and you have pets, you are bound to have that one that supersedes the rest. Aspen was for Dr. Horstman. He got her as a gift during veterinary school. Though unsure at the time, how could he resist a chocolate Labrador puppy?

Over the next nearly 14 years, Aspen became his rock. She was even one of Dr. Horstman’s first solo surgeries when she was spayed at six months old. From Kansas State University to Georgia, Houston, Iowa, Mississippi, and finally Las Vegas, Aspen was by his side through every stage of his career.

She was a retriever at heart—endless energy, relentless ball chasing, and a bark that could pierce your ears. She earned the nickname Houdini and had a talent for finding food left on counters.

Aspen eventually lost her battle with cancer. One week before she passed, she enjoyed a final weekend at the dog beach in Huntington, California—running, swimming, retrieving, and watching the sunset like a puppy again.

She was the best, and her legacy lives on through The Aspen Angel Fund. We hope you’ll consider donating so that finances never become the reason a pet cannot receive specialty care.

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At Sirius Veterinary Orthopedic Center (Sirius Vet), our mission is simple: help return four-legged athletes to their peak performance.

We believe finances should never determine a pet’s outcome. That’s why we created the Aspen Angel Fund in partnership with the Veterinary Care Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.

The Aspen Angel Fund helps offset financial stress during surgical pet emergencies where a pet might otherwise suffer, be euthanized, or relinquished without proper care.

Guidelines for assistance:

• The condition must be an acute, non-elective surgical emergency requiring immediate specialist intervention.
• Financial hardship must be present:
  • The client has applied for CareCredit or similar financing
  • Client provides documentation of financial hardship
• A reasonable post-surgical quality-of-life prognosis must be provided by the attending veterinarian.

Donation processing occurs through a secure external platform, ensuring donor privacy and compliance while allowing us to focus on mission-driven work.