ALLEY CAT RESCUE
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Financial Assistance for Vet bills

Picture
Despite providing your cat with the best medical care possible, an emergency trip to the vet could happen at any time. These visits are often costly, and many cat owners struggle to afford the related expenses. The good news is that there are a number of options for financial aid available, as well as alternative steps you can take to help cover an emergency vet visit.

​There are a variety of national and state resources for cat owners struggling to afford vet bills. Below are some of the organizations offering financial assistance:
  • Actors and Others for Animals
  • Blessed Bonds
  • Brown Dog Foundation
  • Care Credit
  • Companion Bridge
  • Diabetic Cats in Need
  • For the Love of Alex
  • Frankie's Friends
  • Friends of Animals
  • God's Creatures Ministry Veterinary Charity
  • HandicappedPets
  • Harley's Hope
  • Hearts United for Animals 
  • God’s Creatures Ministry Veterinary Charity
  • Frankie's Friends
  • Joshua Louis Animal Cancer Foundation
  • Live Like Roo Foundation
  • Lucy the Rescue Dog Inc.
  • PAWS
  • PAWS 4 A Cure
  • Pets of the Homeless
  • Red Rover
  • Rose's Fund
  • Shakespeare Animal Fund
  • The Anti-Cruelty Society
  • The Big Hearts Fund
  • The Mosby Foundation
  • The Onyx and Breezy Foundation
  • The Pet Fund
  • The Dog and Cat Cancer Fund
  • Paws 4 a Cure
  • Pets of the Homeless
  • The Riedel and Cody Fund
  • RedRover Relief
  • Shakespeare Animal Fund
  • SpayUSA

​Additionally, each state has numerous organizations that offer assistance with covering vet bills, as well as assistance with spay/neuter costs, cat food, litter, and vaccine costs.
In addition to these organizations, it is sometimes possible to reach an agreement with your vet. If you are a long-time client in good standing, some vets will agree to a weekly or monthly payment plan. Another option is to offer to complete tasks at the clinic, such as cleaning kennels, answering phones, or various other jobs to help work off your bill. Sometimes it is wise to get a second opinion. While this will cost some additional money up front, another vet may have alternative, less costly ways to treat your cat. If you live in a big city, try using a vet in a less expensive area. In smaller towns, vets will often charge lower fees. You can also research veterinary schools in your area. Many schools run low-cost clinics for clients with limited incomes. Similarly, you can contact your local animal shelter and inquire if they have a low-cost onsite vet clinic or work with local vets who agree to lower their prices. Some shelters also have loan or grant programs.   

If using a credit card is an option, speak to your bank about a limit increase or loan options. Care Credit is a credit card designed specifically for medical expenses, including your pets, and is accepted by many veterinarians. It also offers a variety of payment options that could be helpful in a time of need. Similarly, Scratchpay is an online payment plan for vet costs. Scratchpay pays the clinic upfront, and then you make payments to them. However, your clinic must be registered with Scratchpay so be sure to confirm this first. Some organizations, such as RedRover, allow you to apply for financial aid to help alleviate the costs associated with your vet bills. Another option is to start a crowd funding page using sites like GoFundMe or YouCaring.
Finally, while it won’t help your current situation, it would be smart to consider enrolling in a pet health insurance plan to help with any future medical expenses.
 
 
References 
​
Having trouble affording veterinary care? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/having-trouble-affording-veterinary-care
PetMD. (2018, September 19). PetMD. Retrieved from https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/5-ways-pay-vet-costs

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  • Home
    • About >
      • Email Sign-up
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • History >
        • Our Team
        • Board of Directors
        • Financial Information
        • Privacy Policy
        • Partners
    • Press
    • Our Stories
    • Action Alerts >
      • Welfare Programs >
        • Petitions
        • California Declaw Bill
        • New York Declaw Bill
        • PACT Act
        • Spay Neuter Pledge
        • Michigan TNR bill
        • No Declaw Pledge
        • Toxoplasmosis gondii, Cats, and the Threats Posed to Pregnant Women
        • Adoptions >
          • Cats available for adoption
          • Adoption Inquiry Form
          • New Cat Checklist
          • Introducing A New Cat
        • Campaigns >
          • Working Cats Program >
            • Shelters with Working Cat Programs
          • African Wildcat >
            • Press Release on African Wildcat Campaign
            • Differences between AWCs and domestic cats
          • The Feral Fix
          • End Deadly Eradication Methods Campaign
          • "Fix the Family" Campaign
    • News >
      • ACR Newsletters
      • Press Releases
  • Spay/Neuter
    • COVID-19 Protocol for S/N Clinic
    • Early Age Spay/Neuter
    • Misconceptions About Spay/Neuter
    • Types of Spay and Neuter Procedures
    • State Low Cost Spay/Neuter
  • How to Help Community Cats
    • Find a Stray Cat?
    • What is a Feral Cat? >
      • Feral vs. Stray Cats
      • Benefits of Feral Cats
    • TNR-- What does this mean? >
      • TNR Statistics
      • TNR Step-by-Step
      • TNR: Do It Yourself!
      • Targeted Trapping
      • TNR Tips
      • Hard to Catch Cats
      • TNR Equipment Resources
      • TNR/Community Cat Care Financial Resources
      • Where to Buy TNR Equipment
      • Helping Shelters Implement TNR Programs
      • Adopting Adult Feral Cats >
        • Feral Kittens >
          • What to do if you find kittens
          • Stages of Kitten Development
          • Orphaned Kittens
          • Socializing Feral Kittens
          • Fostering Kittens
        • How Rescuers Can Effectively Adopt Out Cats
      • Common Complaints
      • Providing Shelter
    • State Resources
    • Health Care
    • Cat Overpopulation
    • Relocation
    • Feral Cats and the Law
    • Cats and Wildlife >
      • Cats and Predation
      • Where have all the birds gone?
      • Debunking the Myths and Misinformation: Cat Predation
      • Why Eradication Methods Fail
    • Handbook Download
  • Cat Health
    • Health Care for Your Cat >
      • Vaccines
      • Wellness Vet Checkups
      • Microchiping
      • Nail Trimmings
      • Effects of aging
      • Hospice Care and Euthanasia Decisions
      • Financial Assistance
      • Cat Supplies
      • How to Prepare for an Emergency
      • Pet Food Banks
    • Common Cat Health Issues >
      • Feline Panleukopenia
      • Fleas
      • FIP, FeLV, FIV >
        • Testing for FeLV/FIV
      • Zoonotic Diseases
      • Rabies
      • Toxoplasmosis
      • Ringworm - Symptoms and Treatment
      • Ringworm Myths Debunked
      • Obesity in Cats
      • Diabetes
      • Indoor/Outdoor Cats >
        • Winter Tips for Protecting Cats
        • Summer Tips for Cats
    • Cats & Claws
    • Animal Cruelty Against Cats
    • Hazardous Poisons
    • Poisonous Plants
    • Pet Disaster Preparedness
    • COVID-19 Pet Food Banks
    • Cats and COVID-19
  • Cat Behavior
    • Solutions to Prevent Surrendering you cat
    • Common Cat Behavior Issues
    • Litter Box Problems
    • Scratching and Destructive Behavior
    • Meowing and Yowling
    • Urine Marking
    • Aggressive Cats
    • Cat Enrichment
    • Introducing Cats
    • Cat on Cat Aggression
    • Behavior Issues in Elderly Cats
    • Tips for Entertaining an Indoor Cat
    • Cat Supply Resources
    • Lost Cat
  • Donate
  • Store