Every day in Switzerland, animals are injured in road accidents—cats are particularly frequent victims. If they are not killed instantly, they are often left severely injured, disoriented, and in shock. In such situations, every minute counts.
But this is precisely where a serious problem often arises: Who covers the costs of the first urgently needed treatment? Out of fear of having to pay for it themselves later, finders sometimes hesitate to take an injured animal to a veterinary practice or animal hospital immediately. At the same time, it happens that injured animals are not treated promptly if the owners cannot be located quickly and the financing is unclear. For the animals involved, this uncertainty can have dramatic consequences: unnecessary suffering, missed chances of survival, or, in the worst case, premature euthanasia.
This is precisely where the Susy Utzinger Foundation for Animal Welfare comes in with its SaveMyLife project. SUST provides immediate, life-saving assistance for injured stray animals, ensuring that urgently needed treatments are not hindered by cost. In this way, the foundation offers concrete and immediate help at a moment when the animal's life may be at stake.
The project primarily supports cats, but also pet birds, rodents, and other companion animals found injured. SaveMyLife helps ensure that emergency medical care and life-saving measures can be initiated immediately—even when ownership is unclear. At the same time, the project helps prevent beloved pets from being euthanized prematurely without their owners' consent, simply because no one can immediately cover the treatment costs.
With SaveMyLife, SUST takes responsibility precisely where rapid assistance is crucial: unbureaucratic, targeted, and in the animal's best interest. No injured stray animal should have to forfeit its chance of survival for financial reasons.
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) has established a fund from which it can provide contributions (within a fixed budget) primarily for life-saving initial care of stray animals, but also, under certain circumstances, for further treatments (e.g., surgical procedures). The amount of the contribution for further treatments is decided by the foundation on a case-by-case basis. However, it should generally not exceed 80% of the total costs. If, due to the severity of the injuries, there is no prospect of recovery, the foundation may also be charged for the euthanasia of a pet (SUST contribution: CHF 80).
Agenda
Veterinary clinics and veterinarians can cover the costs of life-saving initial care, including emergency treatment, for stray animals up to a certain amount. Maximum of CHF 730.–* The SUST will be billed accordingly. In return, the foundation receives a photograph of the cat, as well as information about the animal, its medical history (if known), information about the treatments received, and information about the animal's intended future (direct placement from the clinic, via a private foster home, or transfer to an animal shelter). The SUST may use this information for its own purposes.
*According to the SUST definition, life-saving initial care including emergency treatment comprises the following measures:
For further treatments (surgeries, therapies, etc.), a written application must be submitted, which will be reviewed by management: info@susyutzinger.ch
IMPORTANT: If an owner is identified after treatment, they should reimburse the SUST foundation for the contribution made to the foundation.
The project «SaveMyLife» primarily benefits veterinarians who support our Swiss cat neutering campaigns with discounted rates.
The most important points in brief: Document for printing (.pdf)
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