HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A Homestead veterinary technician is making it his mission to save pets across South Florida, focusing on preventive care and affordable treatment for families in need.
Jacey Birch, Local 10′s Animal Advocate, introduced Dallas, a dog undergoing lifesaving heartworm treatment through Pet Trio Charity, a nonprofit founded by Alexander Contreras.
Dallas was diagnosed with heartworms during a routine checkup.
“We came up for our usual checkups and usual shots, and then when they did the heartworm test, they told us that Dallas had heartworms,” said his owner, Caleb Charles Torres.
Heartworm treatment is lengthy and expensive, but through Pet Trio Charity, Torres was able to afford care for Dallas.
“His program, they have a way that they can pay for half of it, and we could pay the other half, which is great because heartworm disease is a very serious disease and it could kill Dallas if it’s untreated,” Torres said.
Contreras, who has been a veterinary technician for nearly two decades, created the nonprofit to address barriers families face when accessing care for their pets.
“I see firsthand the impacts, unfortunately, of some families that don’t either have access to care or can’t afford the treatment for their pet,” he said.
Pet Trio Charity focuses on prevention, offering affordable spay, neuter, and vaccination services to help reduce the need for costly treatments.
“I want to be able to help families in need on the preventative aspect of things — spays, neuters, vaccines,” Contreras added.
Through grants and donations, the organization partners with families to split the costs for lifesaving treatments. Contreras hopes his model inspires others in the veterinary community.
“I’m just a kid from Homestead that had a passion and a dream and a vision for something that’s greater than me,” he said.
Birch emphasized the organization’s broader impact.
“Pets like Dallas are just the beginning. Pet Trio Charity hopes to help many others through a cycle of donations and partnerships,” she said.
Click here for more information on how to support Pet Trio Charity and here to read more of Local 10′s Animal Advocate stories.
