Member Story: Northern Adirondack Pet Fund

Matthew Griffin’s new organization, the Northern Adirondack Pet Fund, is dedicated to helping local residents get the resources they need to care for their four-legged friends. So it makes sense that he wants to do his banking someplace just as dedicated to our hometowns.

Which is why the Northern Adirondack Pet Fund’s account is at Adirondack Regional FCU.

“I knew I wanted to open an account at a credit union because our organization is obviously supporting the community, so it’s really important for us to keep the money in the community,” said Griffin, who lives in Saranac, NY.

It’s true: Adirondack Regional is a non-profit that serves Clinton, Franklin, Essex and St. Lawrence counties, and every dollar deposited here stays in the community. If Griffin went to a commercial bank, the money he deposits would be re-distributed to far-away shareholders, or as loans in other places.

As a small operation that just this September received official approval to become a non-profit corporation, the Pet Fund’s coffers are still low. So Adirondack Regional’s no-fee business checking accounts are important to Griff

It didn’t hurt that when he walked into the door of our Plattsburgh branch for the first time, he was greeted by Assistant Manager Kelli Jock’s dog.

“We’re dog friendly in here, if you couldn’t tell,” she told Griffin. “That was the thing that really clinched it for me,” he said.

Griffin was moved to start the Pet Fund earlier this year, after losing his 14-year-old cat, Sabbie, on the 4th of July. She died just a day after falling ill. But as painful as that was, he was gripped by an even sadder realization: What if he lacked the resources to pay the $200 to have her cremated, or, worse, was unable to afford veterinary care in the first place?

That experience inspired him to launch the Pet Fund.

“I’ve seen a lot of posts on social media from people who were on different Facebook groups, needing help for a sick animal that needs medication, or an operation, and they just couldn’t afford it,” he said. Often, those people are encouraged to launch a GoFundMe or other crowd-funding campaign — but people are, understandably, reluctant to send money to strangers through those.

Now that he’s secured non-profit status, Griffin expects to raise money and eventually distribute it directly to veterinarians, to be sure the donations are used for their intended purpose.

Griffin first came to the Adirondacks to earn a culinary degree from Paul Smith’s College. After leaving that world, he considered being a nutritionist, and re-enrolled for more classes. After learning about soap-making in a chemistry class, he decided to try it himself, and now owns Saranac Mountain Hearth, a maker of small-batch soaps and lotions.

He’s most excited about his latest venture, though.

“It’s taken 20 years to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, and I finally feel like with the Pet Fund, this is what I’m supposed to do,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of things, and I feel like I’m in the right spot.”

We’re glad to help him stay there.