Vet bills can be expensive! Surgeries and medications can cost thousands of dollars, and many pet owners don’t have the funds necessary. If you’re in a financial bind, it’s worth looking into every resource available to you.
The funds in this list are generally for emergency treatment. If a few hundred dollars will mean the difference between life and death for your pet, you don’t have to lose hope.
The 8 Organizations and Charities that Will Help Pay Vet Bills
1. Brown Dog Foundation
Brown Dog Foundation was founded in honor of Chip, a brown Labrador who lost his life to lymphoma. Today, Brown Dog Foundation helps pay for pending vet bills across the United States. Applications are made online and require up to five business days to reach a decision. Brown Dog Foundation works to bridge the gap in emergency, life-saving situations. There are several factors (like having an ongoing relationship with your vet) that make the Brown Dog Foundation more likely to help you.
2. The Pet Fund
The Pet Fund is dedicated to helping sick and injured pets receive care, but only in certain situations. The Pet Fund doesn’t provide routine or basic care, but it also doesn’t cover emergency care. If your pet requires life-saving emergency surgery, The Pet Fund won’t be right for you. But if your pet has cancer or another serious disease, they may be able to help you out. You can apply for assistance online.
3. Frankie’s Friends
Frankie’s Friends provides up to $1,500 towards future vet bills. There are some requirements to receive the grant, including that the treatment needed will have a good prognosis and that approval is granted prior to treatment. Frankie’s Friends also helps manage many other animal help funds, such as research grants and wildlife protection grants. They require fairly robust documentation to ensure that you really need financial help.
4. Veterinary Care Charitable Fund
If your vet is willing to go to bat for you, they can apply on your behalf to the Veterinary Care Charitable Fund, a program of the American Veterinary Medical Foundation. Vets enrolled in this program can receive grants to cover expenses for pets that would otherwise be unable to receive treatment. Unlike other programs, pet owners can’t apply to this one directly—you’ll have to talk to your vet to see if it’s an option for you.
5. My Pet Child
My Pet Child doesn’t currently give direct financial assistance to pet owners, but they run one of the largest catalogs of local places to receive pet food and vet care for free or reduced prices. This includes pet care at every stage—spay/neuter clinics, dental care, diagnostics, emergency treatment, and more. If you’re facing unforeseen vet bills, it’s worth checking My Pet Child to see what resources are in your area.
6. Friends and Vets Helping Pets
Friends & Vets Helping Pets is a nonprofit organization that will give grants to help cure treatable diseases, pay for expensive medications, and cover costs for prostheses. Their grants are available for households with incomes within 200% of the federal poverty line. Friends & Vets Helping Pets also has a directory of community vet partners that may be able to help you find assistance.
7. Paws 4 A Cure
Paws 4 A Cure is a nonprofit organization that can help pets with non-routine medical care, including medication, surgery, and medical equipment. The organization offers one-time grants of up to $500 for treatment. Their staff is entirely made of volunteers so that all funds can go straight to helping dogs and cats.
8. Red Rover Relief
Red Rover Relief helps give small grants to pets in need. This organization has pretty strict guidelines, helping households with incomes of under $60,000 and pets that have a treatment plan with a favorable outcome. Red Rover Relief grants are up to about $250, making them ideal if your means are just a little bit short.
Other Ways to Help Pay Bills
Vet Insurance
Pet insurance can cover a large percentage of your medical expenses, helping you cover expensive illnesses and surgeries. Some insurance can cover up to 90% of your expenses. However, insurance must generally be in place before an accident or illness occurs.
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding has helped many pet owners pay for unexpected bills. Through crowdfunding, you can cover a portion or the entirety of a vet bill and help your kitty come home safely.
Regional Assistance Funds
Along with the pet funds listed, there are many different regional pet care funds available. These serve pets in a small area and generally offer a limited amount of funds that can supplement your vet care budget in an emergency.
- Actors and Others for Animals: Los Angeles area
- The Mosby Foundation: Virginia
- Shakespeare Animal Fund: Northern Nevada
- Harley’s Hope: Colorado
- Lovie’s Legacy: Tennessee
Last Thoughts
Paying for vet bills can be expensive. In most cases, pet insurance is the cheapest and safest way to care for your pet’s health. But if your pet develops an illness that insurance doesn’t cover or if your pet has a health crisis and isn’t insured, there are options available. We hope these resources are helpful to you.
Featured Image Credit: Stock-Asso, Shutterstock
