New Local Nonprofit Helps Cover Emergency Pet Care Costs
Goodwin Family Launches ‘Cali’s Angels’ In Memory of Beloved Dog’s Passing
by Eli King Conklin | July 10, 2022
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The loss of a pet is a special kind of heartache. After the passing of their beloved dog, Cali, in May, one local family is honoring her memory by bringing emergency financial aid to pet owners in need through their new nonprofit, Cali’s Angels.
“During Cali’s last week, we spent astronomical amounts of money between inpatient emergency care and follow up appointments,” says Kenny Goodwin Jr., who co-founded Cali’s Angels with his wife, Devin. “We knew these costs up front. In fact, we had to sign a document confirming that we knew the costs before she was even treated. It was in that moment that my heart sank thinking about all of the dogs out there that wouldn’t be given a shot at recovery and returning home because of cost of their healthcare.”
The mission of Cali’s Angels is to provide timely emergency grants for life saving veterinarian care based on financial need. Local vets and emergency clinics have been asked to reach out to Cali’s Angels when life-saving procedures are required for pets whose owners need financial assistance. The Goodwins will be privately funding the first few cases until they are granted 501c3 status, and then begin fundraising and outreach within the community.
Goodwin rescued Cali from a puppy mill in Atlanta, GA 13 years ago. The poodle schnauzer mix went home with him to New York City and had been a family fixture ever since. Goodwin even published a children’s book – Cali Needs Her Rest – about her in 2016; it’s available at Northshire Bookstore, Barnes and Noble and on Amazon (all proceeds from book sales from here forward will be funneled to Cali’s Angels).
“Cali passed away on May 27th. Our two-year-old still walks around our house and yard searching for his best friend. It is absolutely heartbreaking,” says Goodwin. “We did literally everything possible to save her but God simply had another plan for her. I don’t want to see any child go through what my son is going through right now because pawrents can’t afford treatment in that moment.”
The Goodwins reside in Malta – Kenny is an executive in the medical device industry and owner of the local bicycle billboard advertising company, Spin My Ad. His wife, Devin, is a a 4th grade school teacher. They have two children, Camden (two-and-a-half), and Harper Rae (seven months). They also have a high-maintenance (yet extremely athletic and loving) 5 year old Morkie Poo.
For more information or to make a donation, please email Kenny and Devin at CalisAngelsNY@gmail.com. You can also follow them @CalisAngels_NY or visit calisangels.org.
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