Economy proves to be a bummer for pet-care fund

Photo by: William D. Lewis

Photo

Dr. Charles Sung, a Hubbard veterinarian, who helped establish the Bummer Fund to help pay for animal care.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Bummer Fund needs help, and people and their pets need the Bummer Fund — particularly in these tough economic times.

The fund, founded in 1994 by Anne McMahon in honor of her beloved family cat, Bummer, helps responsible pet owners in temporary financial crisis get medical treatment for their animals.

Bummer, named so by McMahon because of his erratic but endearing behavior, lived with her for 20 years and was cared for by Hubbard veterinarian Dr. Charles Sung for the last two years of its life.

“When Bummer died, I tried to give Dr. Sung a donation because I knew he did a lot of pro bono work,” McMahon said.

But Dr. Sung refused the gift for himself and suggested instead using the money to create a fund, which became the Bummer Fund, to help people who want to take care of their animals but can’t cope with catastrophic medical costs.

Read the full story in Monday’s Vindicator and on vindy.com