Financial Aid for Pets

Following is a comprehensive list of resources that offer financial assistance for pet guardians who are struggling, as well as senior citizens, people with disabilities and people who are seriously ill.

If your pet needs medical care that you cannot afford, here are listings of state-specific programs that may be able to help you.
Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California: Los Angeles area | California: Other areas | Colorado | Connecticut | Idaho | Illinois | Iowa | Massachusetts | Michigan | New Jersey | New York | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Tennessee | Utah | Virginia | Washington | Washington, D.C. | Wisconsin

Breed-specific resources
Dogs

Disease-specific resources for dogs
Cancer | Lymphoma

Resources for those with assistance dogs

Resources for animal welfare groups

Resources for animals of senior citizens, people with disabilities, people who are seriously ill
California | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Michigan | New Jersey | New York | Virginia | Washington | Washington, D.C.

Other possible sources of financial assistance

Pet medical care can be expensive. If your animal needs a medical procedure that you can't afford, there are organizations that may be able to help. Some tips and limitations:

• Be aware that few, if any, organizations will pay for ongoing medication that pets will need for extended periods of time.
• It is unlikely that any one organization or program will pay for expensive procedures in their entirety. So, be sure to contact as many sources as possible. The grants may be very small, but they can add up if you get help from a number of sources.
• Try negotiating with your veterinary clinic for a better price or the ability to finance the cost of care over time. Also, consider getting price comparisons from other providers. CareCredit provides financing for veterinary care; check their website to see if you qualify.
• If possible, contact any possible sources of financial aid before procedures are done. Few sources are willing to pay bills for care that has already been provided.
• Most organizations take applications only through email or web forms on the Internet. If you aren 't computer-savvy, find a friend, relative or neighbor to help you.
• The inclusion of services, organizations or programs listed here is NOT an endorsement or recommendation. We cannot vouch for these programs, and you should check them out yourself before asking for their aid.

If your pet needs medical help you cannot afford

• RedRover (formerly United Animal Nations) works to bring animals from crisis to care and to strengthen the bond between people and animals.
• The Pet Fund provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need vet care. They also provide information about preventive care, pet insurance programs, and financial services to help prevent future emergencies. Note: All applicants are required to contact the Pet Fund by phone at 916-443-6007 before applying for funding. Emergency funding is not available. The Pet Fund has a waiting list for those needing non-basic, non-emergency care. There are links for other funding organizations on Pet Fund's website.
• Paws 4 A Cure is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance throughout the United States to those who cannot afford veterinary care for their beloved furry family members. Paws 4 A Cure helps dogs and cats with all illnesses and injuries and does not discriminate against breed, age, or diagnosis. Please visit the Ask For Help page to read the guidelines and policies.
• The mission of the Pet Lifeline Program is to help provide financial assistance to pet owners who are struggling to cover their pet's veterinary bills. The program is exclusively for non-basic, non-urgent care cases only. Go to the Pet News Daily website for more details.

Listings of state-specific programs

Alaska

• Friends of Pets in Anchorage has a fund for emergency care and low-cost spay/neuter for residents of Anchorage. Call 907-562-2535.
• Save Our Seward (SOS) Pets has emergency funding for rescued and homeless animals in Seward and a low-cost spay/neuter program.

Arizona

• Animal Aid Network's SAVE fund provides assistance for medical emergencies in the Valley Verde area. People are required to sign a contract stating they will pay back the money so that treatment for other animals can be funded. Funds must be approved prior to treatment.

Arkansas

• For Pets' Sake Best Friends Program provides financial assistance to seniors or special-needs residents of northwest Arkansas for pet medical care. They also have a pet food bank and can assist with temporary pet care during hospitalizations. Email forpetsake@hotmail.com.

California: Los Angeles area

• Actors and Others for Animals is a Southern California community-based organization serving the greater Los Angeles area. Among other services, the organization provides financial assistance for emergency medical procedures for those of limited income. Call 818-755-6045.
• Mercy Crusade in Oxnard offers low-cost veterinary exams. Call 818-597-2926.
• Holiday Humane Society is a private hospital that offers some of the lowest-cost services in Los Angeles. They cover basic procedures only. Call 818-765-8196.
• Pet Orphans offers a program for individual rescuers that helps primarily with spay/neuter, vaccinations and adoption events. They also have a Good Samaritan Fund to assist with medical emergencies, as funds are available.
• The Sam Simon Foundation provides low-cost or free non-orthopedic surgeries to low-income residents of Los Angeles.
• Voice for the Animals Foundation Helping Friends Program helps seniors and people with disabilities, terminal illnesses or fixed incomes to take care of their pets.

California: Other areas

• Orange County: Animal Assistance League of Orange County has a referral program for vet care, vaccines and low-cost spay/neuter services. Call their 24-hour phone line at 714-891-PETS (7387).
• Orange County: Rescuing Unwanted Furry Friends (RUFF) helps injured and ill pets in Orange County and provides medical assistance for pet owners and rescuers of stray or abandoned pets.
• San Diego County: Foundation for Animal Care and Education (FACE) provides grants for people who are unable to afford the cost of their pet's emergency or critical care.
• San Francisco: Pets Are Wonderful Support (PAWS) provides assistance for pets of seniors and people with HIV/AIDS and other disabling illnesses.

Colorado

• Boulder Valley: The Humane Society of the Boulder Valley's CARE program provides medical care and spay/neuter surgeries at a discount to low-income clients. Call 303-442-4030, ext 680.
• Colorado Springs: Harley's Hope Foundation provides financial assistance with major/emergency/specialty veterinary care, financial assistance with behavioral training, short-term for care for animals living with temporarily incapacitated pet parents, and other services.

Connecticut

• Newington: Connecticut Humane Society's Fox Memorial Clinic offers veterinary care for pet owners in financial need.

Idaho

• Boise: The Idaho Humane Society STAR Fund operates a nonprofit veterinary hospital and provides a variety of low-cost services to the public.

Illinois

• Chicago: The Anti-Cruelty Society provides veterinary services to low-income pet owners in the Chicago area.
• Spay Illinois has a program called Project Families Forever that provides sliding-scale coverage for spay and neuter surgery, preventive care and, in some cases, emergency care.

Iowa

• The Brown Dog Foundation provides financial assistance to low-income residents of Illinois, Iowa and Tennessee to help offset the cost of veterinary emergencies and treatment of chronic conditions.

Massachusetts

• Cape Cod and the islands: The Sampson Fund helps sick and injured cats and dogs in need of urgent care.
• Angell Animal Medical Center-Boston offers financial assistance through MSPCA's Pet Care Assistance program.

Michigan

• The Michigan Humane Society operates three clinics and provides services to residents of Detroit, Rochester Hills and Westland.

New Jersey

• God's Creatures Ministry Veterinary Charity Fund provides assistance with veterinary bills ($50 maximum).

New York

• Monroe, Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming, Erie, Niagara and Orleans counties: All 4 Pets West New York provides one-time grants to pay for medical care for pets whose caring, responsible owners are not able to pay due to low income, personal crisis or disaster.

Oregon

• Portland: The Velvet Financial Assistance Fund, a program of Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital, provides emergency vet care for low-income pet owners. Applicants must first apply for and use funds through CareCredit. The maximum amount is $750 per applicant.
• Lane County: Pro-Bone-O is a nonprofit organization that provides free veterinary services for the pets of people who are homeless or living in distressed conditions.

Pennsylvania

• The Humane Animal Rescue offers low-cost services.
• Centre County: PAWS of Centre County has a fund for medical costs of unowned, stray animals.

Rhode Island

• Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) is an organization of volunteers dedicated to animal well-being and the promotion of the human-animal bond through programs of education, advocacy and assistance. VSA provides financial assistance to pet owners for veterinary care. Call 401-273-0358.
• RIVMA's Companion Animal Foundation provides financial assistance to help cover the cost of veterinary care. Their website also features a list of agencies in Rhode Island that offer financial assistance to pet owners in need.

Tennessee

• The Brown Dog Foundation provides financial assistance to low-income residents of Illinois, Iowa and Tennessee to help offset the cost of veterinary emergencies and treatment of chronic conditions.

Utah

• Salt Lake County and surrounding area: Pet Samaritan Fund provides financial assistance to individuals unable to afford medical care for their pets.

Virginia

• Loudoun County: Companion Animal Resource Effort (CARE) provides temporary assistance to residents of Loudoun County who are temporarily unable to afford to provide veterinary care for their companion animals.

Washington

• The Good Samaritan Fund at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine is used exclusively to treat ownerless or special-needs animals who, ideally but not exclusively, also present a teaching opportunity for the veterinary students.
• Lewis, Mason and Thurston counties: Concern for Animals provides financial assistance for spay/neuter and emergency vet care.

Washington, D.C.

• Humane Rescue Alliance provides reduced-cost veterinary care and low-cost or free spay/neuter for low-income pet owners.

Wisconsin

• Milwaukee/Ozaukee County: The Wisconsin Humane Society provides veterinary care at a reduced cost for low-income residents.

Breed-specific resources

Dogs

If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the national club for that breed. In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial assistance fund. To find the national club for your breed, try searching www.yahoo.com or www.google.com, using the following search criteria: breed + national club (for example: standard poodle + national club).

Here are a few websites for groups that provide financial assistance for specific breeds:

• Boxer
• Corgi
• Doberman (special needs)
• Great Pyrenees
• Greyhound Health and Wellness Program
• Keeshond
• Pit bull terrier / Staffordshire terrier
• Westie

Disease-specific resources for dogs

Cancer

• The Magic Bullet Fund provides financial assistance for tumor removal and certain types of chemotherapy for lymphoma.
• The Animal Cancer Therapy Subsidization Society is dedicated to bringing affordable modern veterinary cancer treatment to veterinary cancer patients in Alberta, Canada. They provide subsidies to dedicated pet owners as well as educate animal owners and veterinarians on the availability, uses and benefits of advanced cancer therapies in the treatment of veterinary cancers.
• The Live Like Roo Foundation offers grants, care packages, special experiences and more to help pets and their families get through cancer diagnoses.

Lymphoma

• Frankie's Friends is a nonprofit offering financial assistance for veterinary specialty or lifesaving emergency care for pets.

Resources for those with assistance dogs

• The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) has established an emergency veterinary fund to provide financial aid to U.S. IAADP partner members whose assistance dogs require high-cost veterinary intervention beyond their ability to pay.
• The California Department of Social Services Assistance Dog Special Allowance (ADSA) Program provides a monthly payment of $50 to eligible individuals who use a guide, signal or service dog to help them with needs related to their physical disabilities. The allowance is to help pay the costs of food, grooming and health care for the dogs. This program, available only to residents of California, will provide these funds monthly toward the care of registered service dogs. Call 916-657-2628.

Resources for animal welfare groups

• The Second Chance Fund, operated by the American Humane Association, financially assists agencies that rescue, care for, and rehome abused or neglected animals. (To qualify, your organization must be a member of the American Humane Association.)

Resources for animals of senior citizens, people with disabilities, people who are seriously ill

California

• San Diego: Helen Woodward Animal Center's AniMeals program offers free pet food for the dogs and cats of elderly or disabled people throughout San Diego County.
• Sonoma County: Pets Are Loving Support provides services to help people with HIV/AIDS keep their pets as long as possible.

Florida

• Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando serves the pets of seniors who live in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties and meet specific criteria.

Georgia

• Atlanta: Pets Are Loving Support provides free food, basic veterinary care and support to the pets of the elderly, critically ill or disabled.

Illinois

• Chicago: Blessed Bonds provides help for pet owners when they are experiencing physical problems that make daily pet care difficult.

Michigan

• Detroit: The Michigan Humane Society provides low-cost veterinary care, a food bank and other services to help people care for their companion and service animals.

New Jersey

• Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem counties: PetPALS of Southern New Jersey provides services to the animal companions of people living with terminal, chronic or debilitating illness, or financially needy senior citizens.

New York

• Rochester area: The Humane Society at Lollypop Farms provides assistance for seniors on fixed incomes and also maintains a pet food bank for seniors.

Virginia

• Loudoun County: C.A.R.E. is dedicated to providing pet owners in need with financial assistance, goods and services to enhance the quality of life for their companion animals while keeping pets in loving, caring homes. They provide assistance to citizens who are elderly, seriously ill, injured, or in a situation where they cannot afford to care for their pets.

Washington

• King County: The Seattle Humane Society provides services that help people maintain a lifelong commitment to their pets. Low-income senior citizens can receive a supplemental supply of pet food and people disabled by AIDS can receive pet food, supplies, grooming and veterinary care.

Washington, D.C.

• PETS-DC is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people living with HIV/AIDS or other disabling conditions and their companion pets. They provide public health education, exercise, pet food, veterinary care, grooming, foster care and adoption services at no cost.

Other possible sources of financial assistance

• Most veterinary schools treat pets at a reduced cost. Click here to locate vet schools accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
• Decorate a few donation coin cans with an appealing photo of your pet and a brief explanation that money is needed for medical care. Ask your veterinarian if you can put one in the office. Put one out on your desk at work, and ask a friend or two to do the same. This sounds old-fashioned, but it really works!
• A small fundraiser such as a yard sale or bake sale can raise significant funds if it is well planned. Ask friends and neighbors to help; it usually takes just a couple of people to pull it off. Some tips:

Neighborhood yard sale: Ask neighbors, family, co-workers and friends to contribute items. The event can be publicized in the local newspapers and by posting flyers around town. You'll need a place to store the items, and there is some time involved in planning, publicizing and organizing, but a single neighborhood yard sale can raise several hundred dollars.

Bake sale: Another simple, low-risk way to raise money is to organize a bake sale. Ask neighbors, family, co-workers and friends to contribute baked items. To be successful, the bake sale must be in a high-traffic area, where many people will pass by.

• Create a Facebook page to get the word out online about your pet's needs. Click here to learn the basics of Facebook, how to create an appealing personal profile page and how to find friends and attract others to your page.
• Consider purchasing pet insurance for your pets. For information about pet insurance, click here.
• The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) does not provide direct financial assistance to pet owners for veterinary or other expenses, but they do have a page on their website where they offer additional suggestions for what you can do if you are having trouble affording veterinary care.

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