HELP! I Can't Afford Vet Care for an Emergency! 

Animal Aid is often contacted by pet owners who have vet bills that they cannot
afford and are looking for assistance with paying them.  Animal Aid typically does not
pay for owned animals, however we can offer these suggestions for assistance:

payment planYou might be able to work out a payment plan with the vet--or he/she may be aware
of sources of financial aid. Ask.  If you are a regular and established client they are more likely to
work with you then if you have never been seen at their office before.

imomThere is an organization that tries to help out with vet bills of this type; it's called
IMOM, and their website is at:  http://www.imom.org/  The amount of help they are able to give is,
of course, dependant on the situation and how much they've received in donations, but they
will also put your story in their Pets In Need section so that individuals may also donate
directly to the pet's medical bills.

AAHA
If you are a client at a AAHA accredited hospital you may be able to ask your veterinarian to 
sponsor you for a AAHA grant.  AAHA Helping Pets Fund helps those in need access quality veterinary care. 
With this fund, veterinary care is possible for sick and injured pets, even when they have been abandoned or
 when their owners are experiencing financial hardship.  With the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, the Foundation’s
Trustees envision a future where companion animals receive needed veterinary treatment, regardless of their
owners’ financial circumstances, and live longer, lives.  To find an AAHA accredited vet go to
http://healthypet.aahanet.org/eweb/startpage.aspx?site=HealthyPet

United Animal Nations' Lifeline Rescue Fund http://www.uan. org/lifeline/ index.html 

LifeLine Crisis Relief (for Individuals)

When an unexpected personal disaster affects a family, LifeLine Crisis
Relief grants can provide financial assistance to help families provide for
their pets' immediate needs. Personal disasters may include:  
  • Large-scale disaster, such as a flood, wildfire or hurricane
  • House fire
  • Domestic violence situation

THE PET FUND:
The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to
owners of domestic animals who need veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer
needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or medical treatment.
Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect
medical needs because of the costs involved. www.thepetfund.com

HELP-A-PET:
Established in 1999, HELP-A-PET is a nonprofit organization with a single purpose: to provide
financial assistance nationwide for the medical care of pets whose owners are unable to afford
the expense. www.help-a-pet.org

FELINE VETERINARY ASSISTANCE FUND- CATS ONLY!
The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that
provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary
services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.  www.fveap.org

ANGELS FOR ANIMALS:
Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services, has a
mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial
situations. At Angels4Animals we believe that animal owners should not have to say goodbye to the
animals that they love. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the
country, eager to assist as many animals, and their owners, as possible. Our services range from
financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need. www.angels4animals.org
CARE CREDIT
Some Vets offices have a program called Care Credit.  It is a line of credit that can only be
used at their office for vet bills.  It is like a charge card program and you must be approved
prior to treatment.  Call your vets office and ask if they offer Care Credit, or you can check
for a list of veterinarians online at http://www.carecredit.com/providerloc/index.html


OTHER RESOURCES:
You might also take a look at the Humane Society of the US web page on trying to find help
with catastrophic vet bills.  Some of these suggestions are very good, some not worth considering,
but there may be some ideas here that can help: 
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you_can_do_if_you_are_having_trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html

The Handicap Pet Website provides information and resources for those with Handicap pets.  They
also have a listing of assistance groups offering financial assistance including breed specific groups.
www.handicappedpets.com