Here is a list of some organizations available to help companion animal owners financially when a medical emergency arises. Click on the name of each organization to be taken to their website.
IMOM: Dedicated to better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals and to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. Allows owners to fundraise for their pets’ care via their website. Also has limited funds for emergencies, blind dogs, diabetic pets, and those with chronic renal failure. www.imom.org
THE PET FUND: Provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care. Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund is to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal medical care need never be made on the basis of cost. The Pet Fund also provides information to owners about preventive care, pet insurance programs, and financial services that will ensure that pet owners are able to develop financial resources on their own and thus avoid future emergencies through care and planning. www.thepetfund.com, Tel. (916) 443-6007
HELP-A-PET: Provides financial assistance for the medical care of pets whose owners are unable to afford the expense. Focuses on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor. Tel. (630) 986-9504, fax (630) 986-9141
FELINE VETERINARY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Provides assistance to cat/kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes. Focuses on seniors, people with disabilities, people who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten. Address: FVEAP, 1641 Elizabeth Lane, Yuba City, CA 95993 Fax 888-301-4246
LABMED: Will provide monetary assistance toward emergency medical expenses for Labrador retrievers or Lab mixes who are abandoned or in a rescue situation and for whom no other funding is available or insufficient.
LABRADOR LIFE LINE: Aids purebred Labrador retrievers in need of new homes, urgent medical care, or other assistance in order to live a full and productive life. Provides assistance to dogs: a) currently in or soon to be placed in rescue situations; b) dogs currently at shelters with whom LLL has a current Memorandum of Understanding; c) dogs who are with families, but for valid reasons the family cannot provide the required help for the dog’s condition.
GOLDSTOCK FUND: The Fund’s mission is to provide funds to rescue organizations or individuals to pay for transportation, boarding, evaluations and medical costs of Golden retrievers and golden-hearted dogs taken into rescue. The Goldstock General Fund also supports other breeds of dogs in rescue situations, and provides educational information and materials to rescues and the public.
ORTHODOGS’ SILVER LINING: OSL was created to help orthopedic cases including owner companion dogs, service dogs, and animals in the care of “no kill” shelters and rescue groups.
STARFLEET CANINE AID FOUNDATION: SCAF was created to provide financial aid to owners or rescue organizations that could not otherwise afford medical treatment for curable diseases or recoverable accidents of a canine companion.
NOTE: If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the National Club for that breed. In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial assistance fund.
"God made the cat in order that man might have the pleasure of caressing the tiger."
~Fernand Mery