So I just saw a post from someone struggling to pay vet bills for their cat's euthanasia (unfortunately lost the user/post) and it broke my fucking heart. However, it reminded me of the list I've been putting together of various charities and organizations who can help you or your loved ones afford veterinary bills in the US.
NOTE: I’m not 100% sure that all of the charities listed are active. There's also an outside chance someone sketchy is part of the organization, so please be extremely careful with your information and personal details.
Not seeing a charity you know and trust? I would LOVE additional groups, grants, or information. These resources are critical for keeping pets out of the shelter system and ensuring they can stay with the people who love them.
Pet Medical Assistance Programs
(Updated 2/25)
under the cut:
For the Love of Alex
https://www.fortheloveofalex.org/
Provides emergency funding for life-saving veterinary care for low
income families.
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Dogs on Deployment
https://www.dogsondeployment.org/
Grants financial assistance to military pet owners during times of
emergency.
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Frankie's Friends
https://www.frankiesfriends.org/
Provides grants to assist with the cost of life-saving or life-enhancing
emergency or specialty care for pets whose families cannot afford the
cost of treatment.
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Friends & Vets Helping Pets
https://friendsandvetshelpingpets.org/
Assists families with financial limitations to pay for extraordinary
veterinary expenses necessary to save a pet's life.
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Waggle
https://www.waggle.org/
Pet-dedicated crowd funding platform devoted to raising funds for pets in
medical crisis. Your pet may also qualify for a matching grant.
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The Onyx & Breezy Foundation
https://www.onyxandbreezy.org/
Provides funding and support to pets of individuals where medical
hardship is present. Apply online.
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Free Animal Doctor
https://freeanimaldoctor.org/
Pet-dedicated crowd funding platform. funds raised go directly to the vet.
Over 90% of their campaigns get fully funded.
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Joey's Paw
https://www.joeyspaw.org/
Provides wheels, prosthetics, and mobility aids to dogs with special
needs.
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American Pit Bull Foundation
https://apbf.dog/
Breed-specific organization. Offers a number of services for pit bull
parents, including financial aid for veterinary care and behavioral
training. Also partners directly with veterinary care providers to offer
financial assistance to clients with pit bulls who are facing financial
hardship.
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Brown Dog Foundation
https://www.browndogfoundation.org/
Public fund that helps with pending bills, does not reimburse bills already
paid. Apply online.
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The Pet Fund
https://www.thepetfund.com/
Helps cover the cost of chronic illnesses like cancer, heart disease,
endocrine disease, etc. They help with pending bills, do not reimburse bills already paid. Apply online.
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The Magic Bullet Fund
https://themagicbulletfund.org/
Helps people who have dogs or cats with cancer who can't afford
treatment. Slightly questionale name (I say, all in good fun.) Apply online.
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Live Like Roo
https://www.livelikeroo.org/
Offers a number of services to pet parents caring for a pet with cancer,
including financial assistance for treatments, hospice care, and grief
counseling. Apply online.
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Red Rover Relief
https://redrover.org/
Offers urgent care grants of around $200. An application must be
submitted before treatment expenses are incurred.
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Paws 4 A Cure
https://www.paws4acure.org/
Non-profit that helps with surprise veterinary bills for pet parents in need.
Submit an online application with your vet's diagnosis and estimated
invoice for consideration.
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Veterinary Care Foundation
https://veterinarycarefoundation.org/
Helps cover vet costs. Unlike other funds, your vet must be the one to
apply and they must be enrolled in the program.
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Bow Wow Buddies Foundation
https://www.bowwowbuddies.com/
Offers veterinary expense relief for pets with severe injuries or illnesses.
Apply online.
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Help-A-Pet
https://www.help-a-pet.org/
Offers financial aid for injuries or illnesses in dogs.Household income
must be less than 40k, or 20k for a single-income household.
(more coming??)
Final note: if you want to come here and bitch about people having pets they can't afford, keep walking. I'm too tired to get into all the details right now, but I have worked with animals and their people for well over a decade. So if this is your stance, you should re-examine your relationship with the concept of kindness, the current realities of our economy, and existing shelter/foster groups.
PLEASE REBLOG WITH MORE GROUPS OR DONATE IF YOU CAN!! I will verify any recommendations to the best of my ability and reblog as many times as needed.
I'm collecting donations for the West Michigan Humane Society in honor of Smokey. Smokey was my 11 year old Maine Coon who was rescued from the West Michigan Humane Society as a kitten. He was an elegant, aloof cat who tolerated you petting his head, but when I moved back home from college he slowly warmed up to me, starting with laying on a pillow on my lap and it progressed from there until he lost all his dignity. He would purr and rub all over me, come running when I called, climb on the back of my chair and sit on my shoulders where he clearly didn't fit, and sleep on top of me at night. He loved to meet new people and favored them all with a headbutt and lots of purrs. Like many people, Smokey was there for me at a time when I was at my lowest with lots of love and snuggles. His love saved me and in a way continues to save me. There's nothing quite like the unconditional love of a pet.When he passed away last year I knew I couldn't keep my house cat free for long. Knowing other cats out there needed a good home and I had one ready and waiting for them, i went back to the West Michigan Humane Society and adopted Captain Tribbles Purrcard (formerly Tiger) a 7 year old torbie who was there with her kittens. Though she'll never replace Smokey in my heart (I doubt any cat could ever fill the big, fluffy spot he occupied) she'll always have a home with me. But I can't take them all! So please consider making a donation to help the humane society rescue and place other cats like Smokey in memory of all his love he had to share.
As something that’s not horribly depressing, I’m participating in a walk/run with my mom and our pups. I figured I’d share just in case anyone is interested. There’s absolutely no need to donate, but if you’d like this one is set up in honor of my late kitty.
How to Find Legitimate Pet Charities in Your Area?
Choosing a pet charity can be a difficult decision. You want to select a charity that will put your money and supplies to good use, so it is essential that you make sure the charity is legitimate. Fortunately, this is easier than you might think. There are a few things you can do to ensure that you choose a legitimate pet charity.
