Cause For Paws covers emergency, life-saving veterinary care for pets of low-income families in our community — so a hard month never has to mean an impossible goodbye.
We’re Trent and Soleil Lorenz, and we love animals! Our home has been filled with all kinds of critters — from cats and dogs to fish and snakes and quite a few things in between. We believe raising our daughter to love and care for animals properly is an essential part of life, and we share that love with her every day. We love them all, big and small!
As pet owners, we understand the weight of that quiet, universal fear: what if they get sick or injured, and we can’t afford to save them? Everything is fine one day, and the next you’re sitting in an emergency vet office facing something larger than you could have planned for. We know that fear. In 2024, our beloved cat Indigo showed sudden symptoms of kidney failure. He needed life-saving care, a three-day vet stay, and a lifelong prescription diet. We’ll never forget the big conversations we had to have that weekend — and we went into debt to save him. We’d do it again. He’s family.
But many in our community don’t have that option. Right now, a family in an emergency often has exactly one path to cover life-saving vet care: opening a line of credit. That locks out the people already struggling the most — and no one should need a credit score to save a pet’s life.
That’s why we started Cause For Paws 🐾 — a community-funded safety net for Mt. Pleasant and Henry County, so that when a family is fighting for their pet’s life, the only thing they have to focus on is love.
Our mission: to eliminate financial barriers to veterinary care by providing a community-funded safety net, ensuring no family has to choose between economic security and their pet’s life.
Simple by design — because emergencies don't wait.
A licensed veterinarian confirms the animal has an urgent or life-threatening condition and provides a treatment estimate.
A short application with simple proof of financial need. Decisions on most requests within 24–48 hours — not weeks.
Approved funds go straight to the clinic. The family focuses on their pet's recovery, not the invoice.
Every dollar donated to Cause For Paws goes toward veterinary bills for families in crisis — paid directly to local clinics here in southeast Iowa.
Covers medications and follow-up care after an emergency visit.
Funds an emergency exam, diagnostics, and treatment for a sick pet.
Helps cover an urgent surgery that saves a family's best friend.
Online giving is launching soon. Until then, email us to pledge your support and we'll follow up personally as soon as our donation platform is live.
If that sounds like your situation, don't wait — apply today. We review most requests within 24–48 hours and pay approved amounts directly to your vet.
Our application takes about 10 minutes. You'll need your vet's name, a treatment estimate if you have one, and basic household information.
Email Us to Apply →Our online application is launching soon. For now, email us your name, phone number, your vet's name, and a short description of your pet's situation — we'll respond within 24–48 hours.
A volunteer board of Henry County neighbors who believe no pet should be lost to a bill.
Whether you're a donor, a vet clinic interested in partnering, or a family that needs help — we'd love to hear from you.
inquiries@causeforpawsiowa.org