Firehouse vets donate $10,000 in pet care to Season for Caring dogs

Benji Lee is shaking. The 4-year-old Chorkie, (Chihuahua-Yorkie mix) isn't sure about all the activity surrounding him at Firehouse Animal Health Center in Kyle.

He sticks close to owner Jae Lee as Lee discusses Benji's separation anxiety, his upset tummy and his need for regular vaccinations with Dr. Lara Wilson and veterinarian technician ReeAnn Reyna.

"He just has a really sensitive stomach," Lee said. If he gets people food, he'll throw it up, he said. And when it comes to the separation anxiety, "he's a Velcro dog," Lee said. "I'm cooking, he's underneath me. I'm eating, he's underneath me."

Season for Caring: Jae Lee doing 'more than survive' for his daughter

Benji does like to sit on the balcony of their apartment and greet the neighbors. "He's like an old man," Lee said.

Lee, 33, and his daughter Tiare, 13, are part of the Statesman's Season for Caring program. After 10 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, Lee is now in college studying to be a social worker. He has lived through years of abuse from an ex-husband and another person who prevented him from seeing his family and his daughter for years.

Now reconnected with his daughter, his eye is on the future. "I was always going to go to college, I was always going to finish. There's periods of time in my life that were dark … (but) it was never a question of whether I was going to die in those situations. I was always going to come back and do more than just survive," he said.

Lee was nominated for Season for Caring by Foundation Communities, which provides affordable housing in communities throughout Austin to families like the Lees.

On Tuesday, Lee was receiving free veterinary care for Benji from Firehouse Animal Health Center as part of Season for Caring.

This is the sixth year Firehouse Animal Health Centers has contributed $10,000 of care to the Statesman program, which helps featured families nominated by local nonprofit organizations, as well as hundreds of other families throughout Central Texas served by these nonprofits.

Firehouse Animal Health Centers has seven veterinary office locations throughout Central Texas as well as two Firehouse Pet Resorts boarding facilities.

Already, the Firehouse team has helped Araceli Ramirez's dog Nala get her checkup, a nail trim and bath. Nala is scheduled for spaying in January. Ramirez has stage four breast cancer and was nominated by Breast Cancer Resource Center.

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Michelle Jimenez, whose son has brain cancer, paid a visit with her dog Snow on Monday. She was nominated by Hospice Austin. Christine Kemokai will bring her dog Millie in next Monday. The Kemokai family is living in an RV in Granger after they could no longer afford their rent in Round Rock. They were nominated by Health Alliance for Austin Musicians.

For Lee, seeing Benji get his vaccines, bloodwork, an exam and a bath and toenail trim, made him tear up.

"It's very emotional," he said. "It's very hard for me to know that I'm his mother, and I'm not able to provide for him."

Benji also received probiotics for his food to help with the uneasy stomach and anxiety.

"I love that dog very much," Lee said. "I'm very grateful. We've had to piecemeal what care we've given him."

"Thank you, guys," he said to the staff.

Lee works part-time while going to school and needs help with rent, medical bills as well as needing a new laptop. He would like help with gender-affirming care, including surgery to remove his breasts.

As part of his wish list, Lee also wants household items that will make his daughter feel more comfortable in their one-bedroom apartment, and funding for several summer camps she would love to attend. Tiare has her eye on camps by Sky Candy and Earth Native Wildness.

To find out more about the Lee family or to give an item on their wish list, contact Foundation Communities, 512-447-2026, foundcom.org.

How to donate to Season for Caring

Find the daily coupon in print on Page 2B or go to statesman.com/seasonforcaring.

Now through Christmas Day, $500,000 in donations will be matched by the Sheth family.

P. Terry's Giving Back Day, with all profits going to Season for Caring, is Dec. 10.

The Driskill hotel's Cookies for Caring cookie tins are on sale at exploretock.com/thedriskillaustin.

Use the form below or click here: https://statesmansfc.kimbia.com/statesmanseasonforcaring

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Firehouse animal center donates pet care to Season for Caring dogs