Need Help Paying Vet Bills?

Work with your veterinarian. Ask your primary vet whether any less expensive treatment option is available. Think about getting a second opinion to compare medical cost. Try to arrange a payment plan. Ask whether the practice would accept services in place of cash. Perhaps an extra hand at the reception desk or in the kennel is needed at times.

Consider going to a vet in a less expensive area or locate a veterinary school with a clinic for low-income clients. The American Veterinary Medical Association has a list of schools by state here.

Explore animal welfare organizations that offer help to pets needing medical care. These funding programs typically have specific application procedures, eligibility requirements and may be limited to certain breeds, species, diseases, etc.

Helpful links to various types of financial resources follow:

National Resources

• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Helping Pets Fund https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/get_help_from_the_american_ani.html
  Works with AAHA-accredited veterinary practices to identify pets in need.
• Hope Fund of Frankie’s Friend http://www.frankiesfriends.org
  Supports pets that would have a good prognosis from a single intervention for long-term recovery to a normal quality of life. Must be recommended by attending veterinarian.
• Paws 4 A Cure http://www.paws4acure.org
  Provides financial assistance for any injury or illness to those who can’t afford veterinary care.
• Mosby Foundation http://www.themosbyfoundation.org (based in Virginia)
  Assists in the care of critically sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs.
• SPAY/USA http://www.spayusa.org
  Makes spay/neuter services affordable to those who might not otherwise spay/neuter their pets.
• The Pet Fund http://www.thepetfund.com
  Provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need veterinary care.
• Red Rover Relief Grants www.redrover.org/redrover-relief-grants 
  Helps fund specific and immediate emergency vet care for destitute animals suffering from acute, life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
• Best Friends http://bestfriends.org/Resources/Financial-Assistance-For-Pet-Guardians/  A great source for finding financial assistance organizations and online advice.

DOGS – BREED-SPECIFIC ASSISTANCE:

• Labrador Life Line http://www.labradorlifeline.org/
  Assists eligible Labs, owned or in rescue, with medical treatment, transportation needs, boarding costs, or other special needs that will enable the Lab to find a home and to live out life surrounded by people who love the pet.
• Pyramedic Trust (Great Pyrenees)  http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/pyramedic/summary.html 
  Financial assistance for Great Pyrenees in need of emergency medical care or with a chronic illness.
• Special Needs Dobermans http://www.doberman911.org/seniors/snseniors.html
  Assistance to eligible Doberman owners and rescuers.

DISEASE-SPECIFIC RESOURCES:

• Canine Cancer Awareness http://www.caninecancerawareness.org
• Diabetic Pets Fund http://www.petdiabetes.net/fund/ 
• Fetch a Cure Canines in Crisis program: Richmond www.fetchacure.com/caninesincrisis.html 
  Veterinary care assistance for cancer treatment.
• Helping Harley Cancer Treatment Grant (for working dogs) http://grants.landofpuregold.com
  Grants of $500 per working dog for oncology-related medical expenses.

SERVICE DOGS:

• The Assistance Dog United Campaign http://www.assistancedogunitedcampaign.org/
  Funding in order to purchase service dogs for people with disabilities.
• Assistance Dogs Special Allowance Program http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/PG82.htm a monthly allowance to help pay for food, grooming, and health care for assistance dogs.
• Helping Harley Cancer Treatment Grant (for working dogs) http://grants.landofpuregold.com
  Grants of $500 per working dog for oncology-related medical expenses.
• International Association of Assistance Dog Partners http://www.iaadp.org/iaadp-membership-benefits-vcp.html
  Help for assistance dogs if a sudden illness or injury requires high cost veterinary intervention.

CATS:

• Cats in Crisis http://www.catsincrisis.org
  Offers grants for cats with kidney disease, thyroid disease or cardiac conditions, or neurological conditions or mobility impairments such as Cerebellar hypoplasia, paraplegia, and limb malformations.
• Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program http://www.fveap.org 
  Medical costs for life-threatening illness or injury. Limited to recipients of State Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security only income; a public assistance program; or unemployment benefits.
• SPAY/USA http://www.spayusa.org/about/about.asp
  Affordable spay/neuter services.

PAYMENT PLANS AND FUNDRAISING:

• CareCredit http://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/loans
  Offers short-term, interest-free payment plans. Check with your veterinarian for availability.
• VetBilling.com http://www.vetbilling.com
  Interest-free payment plans through veterinary practices participating with VetBilling.com.

Local Resources

 (DC Metro Area)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA:

• PETS-DC http://www.petsdc.org/
  Veterinary care assistance programs for senior, disabled or ill pet owners.
• Humane Rescue Alliance http://www.humanerescuealliance.org/medical-care 
  Pet food and supplies, discounted veterinary care including spay/neuter and vaccination assistance.

MARYLAND

• Animal Advocates of Howard County: Ellicott City https://awshc.org/ 
  Spay/neuter assistance.
• Animal Welfare Society of Howard County: Columbia https://awshc.org/Vet_Services.html
  Low-cost spay/neuter, vaccines, exams and consultations.
• Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County http://www.awlmc.org/
  Spay/neuter assistance.
• Caroline County Humane Society: Ridgely http://www.carolinehumane.org 
  Pet food, spay/neuter assistance.
• Frederick County Humane Society: Frederick http://www.fchs.org 
  Pet food, spay/neuter assistance, assistance for necessary veterinary medical care.
• Humane Society of Charles County: Waldorf www.humanesocietycc.org 
  Spay/neuter assistance.
• Montgomery County Animal Services & Adoption Center: Derwood  http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/animalservices/ Rabies clinics.
• Spay Now Inc.: Graysonville https://www.spaynow.com/
  Spay/neuter and vaccination assistance.
• Talbot Humane Society: Easton http://www.talbothumane.org/ 
  Pet food, spay/neuter assistance.
• Spay Spa & Neuter Nook: Davidsonville www.spayspa.org
  Low-cost spay and neutering services.

VIRGINIA:

• Animal Welfare League of Alexandria: Alexandria http://alexandriaanimals.org
  Spay/neuter assistance.
• Animal Welfare League of Arlington: Arlington www.awla.org 
  Spay/neuter, vaccination and microchip assistance, assistance for emergency veterinary care.Pet food, supplies and spay/neuter assistance.
• Fauquier SPCA: Warrenton www.pwspca.org 
  Spay/neuter assistance.
• Humane Society of Culpeper: Culpeper https://www.culpeperhumane.org/
  Spay/neuter assistance.
• Humane Society of Loudoun County: Purcellville https://humaneloudoun.org/
  Spay/neuter assistance.
• Humane Society of Fairfax County: Fairfax http://www.hsfc.org/ 
  Pet food.
• Spay Inc.: Northern Virginia http://www.spay.org 
  Spay/neuter assistance.