Get help paying vet bills when you're in a financial crunch. Pet emergencies don't always come at a convenient time, and veterinarian medical care is expensive. At one time, not having enough money to pay for such an emergency meant tearfully dropping the pet off at the animal shelter. Today you can find help through organizations that want companion animals to stay with the families that love them.
Paying Vet Bills in Lean Times
by BrendaReeves
There may come a time when you or someone you know needs help paying vet bills. Know how to get help when an emergency arises with your pet.
Charitable Pet Organizations
The following charitable organizations can provide monetary help for those needing veterinary care for their pets:
- Angels4Animals
- Care Credit
- Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP)
- God's Creatures Ministry
- Help-A-Pet
- IMOM
- The Pet Fund
Angels for Animals
When an animal is facing euthanasia or abandonment due to financial hardship, Angels4Animals works through links they have established with animal clinics across the United States. Once financial hardship is verified through the vet, Angels4Animals makes arrangement with the animal clinic to disburse payment for services.
CareCredit
CareCredit provides a line of credit for health care related expenses only. Those in need of health care can be anyone in your family including your pets. CareCredit is not charitable assistance. It's a credit card with an interest rate and a specified time for paying off your debt. Your terms of repayment depend on the plan you choose when you use the card.
Dogs Get the Last Laugh
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Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance
This charitable organization provides emergency medical funds to a specified group of cat owners. To qualify you must already receive assistance through any one of the following programs:
- State Medicaid
- Medicare
- Social Security as only income
- public assistance program
- Unemployment benefits
Miscellaneous Pet Charities
God's Creatures Ministry
This charitable organization can donate $50 for those in need of pet care assistance.
The Pet Fund
The pet fund provides financial assistance for non -emergency and non -basic veterinarian services only.
Pet owners must pass a phone interview for eligibility before filling out the application.
IMOM
At this time, IMOM provides financial assistance for life-threatening pet emergencies only.
RedRover
Red Rover, formerly United Nations Animals, provides many services for those in need including emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance and education.
Every year thousands of companion animals in the United States face euthanasia or abandonment by their owners for lack of funds. These charitable organizations strive to save companion animals from such a fate by providing financial assistance. They exist through volunteers and donations from the public. Even if you don't anticipate ever needing financial help with your pet, you might meet someone in need of assistance. Keep this list for such an occasion. Consider adding one of these organizations to your preferred charities list. Donations are always needed and much appreciated.
Updated: 11/17/2012, BrendaReeves
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Comments
That's a great program you have. It should be that way everywhere in the U.S.
I've just learned our county shelters offer vet services for a minimal cost. If you take in a abandoned or feral pet the cost is even lower. I checked out the FCSPCA here in Columbus and they will spay and neuter pets including a micro chip for under $100.00 compared to my vet that's a fraction of the cost. It's good to know there are more affordable options for vet bills.
Thank you Tina. I appreciate the pin.
B, Let me know if you have a Pinterest board and I'll follow you. If you don't have one, you should join. Pinterest is kind of like a visual Twitter... and I'm getting good at it. Tina
Hi Brenda, I recognized you from Suite, so I pinned this article using a different picture on my Pinterest board: http://pinterest.com/boomerinas/ I hope that's okay. If not leave a comment on the pin (it's under Cool Articles Written by Friends) and I'll take it down. However, the pin might get you some hits. Cheers, Christina (Tina) Gregoire
Yes, I periodically go back and check those charities to make sure they're still in business. With the lean times, I had to remove one or two.
Thank you Sandy. I have four dogs and two cats. It's definitely expensive.
Nice article. Vet bills can be quite expensive. I know from taking my own dog to the vet.
Thanks for the comment, Mira.
What a great article! Very informative -- so useful to so many pet owners who can't afford vet bills.