Affording Emergency Vet Care

In an instant, your world can change. One minute, Tabby is playing in the corner with her toy mouse, and the next minute, she is laying on her side clearly in distress.  You pick up the phone immediately and call your veterinarian scheduling an emergency vet visit.  Then with precious Tabby in a cat carrier, you are on your way to the clinic.

For some cat owners, the emergency becomes two-fold. Not only worry about the cat undergoing treatment, but also concern about how they going to pay for the vet visit?  Most responsible pet owners understand the importance of having pet insurance. However, with over 69 million companion cats living in homes across the United States, only a handful of these cats are covered adequately with pet insurance. So what do you do if you don’t have insurance, and the vet bills are piling up?

There are organizations that offer hope to the uninsured, and to those drowning in vet bills. However, each of these organizations carries their own strict guidelines when it comes to looking at applicants wishing to qualify:

IMOM- “In Memory Of Magic.”  Supported by private donations, IMOM helps those who find themselves struggling with vet bills. Not everyone who applies, will be chosen, for there are no corporate sponsors behind this homespun organization. Visit www.imom.org  for more information.

Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program or fveap-  Provides financial assistance to cat and kitten owners who are not able to pay for emergency or life-threatening accidents or illness.  This includes seniors, rescuers, Good Samaritans, anyone who rescues a cat or a kitten in need.  Their website:  www.fveap.org

Help A Pet- A non-profit organization providing financial assistance for pets needing medical care, when the owner cannot afford to pay for treatment.  www.help-a-pet.org  for more information.

United Animal Nations- sponsored privately by compassionate donors. This organization helps to rescue animals out of crisis and put them into care. Aids caregivers who are in the low-income or no income  bracket
www.uan.org

American Animal Hospital Association- AAHA- helps by holding fundraisers to support animals that have been abandoned, or put in harm’s way.  Offers money for treatment for those who are unable to handle the high cost of emergency vet care.
 www.aahahelpingpets.org

Angels4Animals- provides funds for life-saving treatments for critically ill animals. Offers financial aid or complete treatment for those who cannot afford it.  www.angels4animals.org

The Pet Fund- helps owners to cover medical costs beyond the normal care associated with owning a cat. A 501 non-profit organization.  http://thepetfund.com

Handicapped Pets- An organization that helps those caring for Special Needs companion animals. See  www.handicappedpets.com for more information.

Care Credit- A credit card company offering to help cover vet expenses. Many veterinarians accept Care Credit in their clinics. www.carecredit.com 

God’s Creatures Ministry- offers help for those who are unable to meet demanding veterinary costs.  www.all-creatures.org

Live in the San Francisco?

PAWS- Pets Are Wonderful Support- if you have a disabling illness, or are in a low-income bracket and cannot afford vet care, contact this wonderful group.  www.pawssf.org

Oregon

POPPA Inc.- Pet Over-Population Prevention Advocates- arranges funding to spay and neuter cats throughout Oregon. The money is raised from purchases made at their Nursery Recycled Gardens and through private donations.  www.poppainc.org

New York

New York S.A.V.E- Save Animals in Veterinary Emergency- Publicly supported organization that offers funds to cover emergency vet care within the five boroughs of New York.  www.nysave.org

United Kingdom

PDSA- for pets in need of vet care.  The UK’s leading veterinary charity. http://pdsa.org

For pet owners who are blessed with healthy cats and no emergency situations. Perhaps you can visit one of these websites and donate money for such a worthy cause.