Crisis & Financial Assistance
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Second Chance Medical Program
It could happen to anyone with a pet: You’ve always managed to give your pet the medical care he or she deserves, but because of unexpected circumstances, you’re faced with sudden vet expenses that are far beyond your ability to afford them. Yavapai Humane Society’s Second Chance Medical Program is designed to provide needed veterinary care to injured or critically sick animals whose owners are unable to afford normal veterinary rates. The Second Chance Program, funded by donations and grants, will provide certain types of non-emergency medical care to pets if their owners income qualify according to Federal Poverty Level guidelines.
How to apply for the Second Chance Medical Program
- Take your pet to a full service veterinarian and obtain a diagnosis. If your pet needs the type of medical care we can provide, your veterinarian will send a referral form to Yavapai Humane Society’s Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic.Only clients whose pets have been examined, diagnosed, and referred to YHS by a licensed veterinarian will be accepted into the program. Have the referring veterinarian give you their written Estimate of medical procedure costs and provide that to YHS.
- After the income qualification, upon receipt of a completed Referral Form and Estimate from your veterinarian, the YHS Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic will assess your case. Acceptance of a case is at the discretion of the YHS veterinarian and may require an examination of the animal and the medical records supporting the case.
- Once qualified and accepted for the program, our staff will contact you by phone to discuss the case. Generally, an evaluation appointment is made so that our Veterinarian can see you and your pet in person. A cost estimate for the surgery will be provided to you at this evaluation, and an appointment will be scheduled for your pet’s surgery/procedure (surgery is performed Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays). Second Chance procedures are on an outpatient basis: overnight hospitalization is not provided. Free veterinary services are not available. All fees will be due at the time of service. Yavapai Humane Society accepts cash, debit or credit cards (personal checks are not accepted for this medical program).
Financial Aid for Veterinary Care
Financial aid is out there. Here are some steps you can take to cover an emergency veterinary bill:
General Financial Assistance Programs
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): Helping Pets Fund P.O. Box 150899, Denver, CO 80215-0899 866.443.5738 Fax: 720.963.4404 E-mail: [email protected]
- Vet-I-Care P.O. Box 41, Clarksburg, NJ 08510 609.259.2230 E-Mail: [email protected]
- Prince Chunk Foundation P.O. Box 8044, Blackwood, NJ 08012-1522 856.302.6373 E-mail: [email protected]
- Financial Assistance Resources Help exists for those struggling to pay veterinary bills (article with resources)
Specialized Financial Assistance Programs
The following information describes other programs that offer pet owner/guardians financial help to pay for veterinary bills. Some of these programs are specific to locations in other areas of the county. Most of the programs listed have detailed funding guidelines. The following are summaries. For more detailed information on funding guidelines, please visit the organization’s website or contact them using the information provided below.
- Limitations: No assistance with routine care or vet care already received; see full list of qualifications online. (Note: Once approved, can raise money from online community of supporters; must communicate online and respond to e-mails within 24 hours.)
- IMOM – www.imom.org
- Financial assistance for life-threatening situations
- P.O. Box 2574, Briarcliff, NY 10510
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Limitations: Only dogs after diagnosis of cancer; under 10 years old. Family must be incapable of funding cancer treatment without assistance and must correspond online everyday with caseworker and with online community of supporters.
- The Magic Bullet – www.themagicbulletfund.org
- Cancer & dog specific assistance
- 1510 19th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
- 916.443.6007
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Limitations: No routine or preventative care and no treatment where the prognosis for survival beyond six months is 50% or less. Financial assistance for basic, non-emergency care.
- www.thepetfund.com
United Animal Nations LifeLine
- P.O. Box 188890, Sacramento, CA 95818
- 916.429.2457
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Limitations: No assistance with routine care, ongoing illness, testing/diagnosis, or if vet care already received and pet released from care; see full list of qualifications online.
- Red Rover Relief – 916-429-2457 – www.uan.org
- Financial assistance for victims of domestic violence or adopters/fosters of a homeless pet
- ***Red Rover also maintains a comprehensive directory of other agencies that provide financial assistance some of which are breed or illness specific.***
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program
- 1641 Elizabeth Lane Yuba City, CA 95993
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Limitations: Cats/kittens only; life-threatening illnesses, injuries, or conditions or one that seriously compromises the quality of life. (Note: Contact them to see if they currently are accepting applications.)
- Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program – www.fveap.org Owner must be on Medicaid, Medicare, welfare or public assistance program, disability or unemployment
- Limitations: Pit Bull or Pit Bull mixes only; spay/neuter, life-threatening conditions and, under certain circumstances, other surgery.
- 8415 Canning Terrace, Greenbelt, MD 20770
- 877.853.9469
- Limitations: West Highland White Terriers/mixes only; one fund for congenital orthopedic conditions, one fund for other medical issues. Dog must have been recently adopted from a credible rescue source. Alternatively, funding may be available in a situation where an individual has rescued a dog who was injured or ill at the time of rescue and would like to provide a permanent home for the dog, or it is determined by a veterinarian that the dog needs medical treatment for a condition that was not readily obvious at the time of rescue. Applications must be submitted no later than 60 days after incurring the expense.
- 3941 Legacy Drive, Suite 204, #A115, Plano, TX 75023
- 972.208.2470
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Limitations: Abandoned and/or injured Labrador Retrievers (or Lab mixes displaying “strong Labrador characteristics”) in need of rescue; medical conditions that were present at the time of rescue may be eligible for funding if the dog has been examined and a preliminary diagnosis made by a veterinarian within two weeks of the date when the dog was rescued. Medical conditions that are acquired after a dog has been rescued are not eligible for funding.
- c/o Joyce Trittipo, Treasurer, 4038 Cherokee Drive, Madison, WI 53711
- E-mail: [email protected]
- Limitations: Rescued Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, or Corgi mixes; no aid for established personal pets; aid for recently adopted dogs under certain circumstances. Expenses must have been incurred within six months of the application.
- P.O. Box 2496, Goldenrod, Florida 32733-2496
- 302.351.6137
- E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] (senior Dobermans)
- Limitations: Senior and special needs Doberman Pinschers.
- Cancer specific – requires a positive diagnosis, application approval required prior to incurring vet costs
- 630-986-9504
- Financial assistance for physically and mentally challenged individuals, senior citizens, and working poor
- 540-939-4035
- Dog specific, non-emergency financial assistance
Dog breed-specific veterinary care assistance programs
- CorgiAid
- Special Needs Dobermans
- Labrador Harbor
- LabMed
- Labrador Lifeline
- WestieMed (West Highland White Terriers)
- Pyramedic Trust (Great Pyrenees)
Fundraising and Temporary Credit
If you don’t qualify for a credit card or bank loan that can help you through your pet’s crisis, you may still be able to get an account with Care Credit, a credit card that’s specifically for health expenses, including your pet’s. Care Credit offers a no-interest or low-interest grace period that may help you if you can pay the mony back within a few months. It’s accepted by many veterinarians (and people doctors). Groups like IMOM and RedRover also allow you to apply for financial aid if you can’t afford veterinary care for your pet.
Or, raise your own funds! Sites like GoFundMe and GiveForward enables you to create a personal fundraising page to raise funds for pet medical care. They charge a small percentage of funds raised.
Can you afford a pet?
See how much dog or cat ownership in 2024 costs here and get a practical breakdown of pet expenses.