I know what it’s like to struggle to pay the bills. I’ve been there. I feel for everyone who is there now. What’s even worse is when there’s an emergency and you don’t have the funds you need. This happened to me in November 2011. I was a poor college student living on my own. I had a guinea pig, Kirby, and a cat, Edison. One late night Edison broke his back leg. I rushed him to emergency at 11pm. That one visit costed me about $500. I knew I was in trouble. I wish I had resources back then, so that’s why I’m sharing some with you now. Here are some resources if you need financial assistance with veterinary bills or pet food for your dogs and cats.
I got lucky with an amazing vet when Edison broke his leg. The emergency doctor told me I’d have to amputate Edison’s leg or put him to sleep. Um….no and no. I saw my regular veterinarian the next day. He told me “We’ll cast it for 6 weeks and he should be fine!” Turns out, he was right. Edison was healed in six weeks and totally back to normal. However, the journey there was not easy or cheap. Lots of testing, x-rays, casts, check ups, etc. It costed me thousands of dollars. Thankfully my vet knew how much trouble I was in financially at that point, so he did a lot of the work for free. But this doesn’t happen for most people.
Many people fall into rough times and struggle to afford food for their pets. Please don’t fret. There are several pet food banks that can help you out! The last thing we want you to do is feel the need to surrender your beloved pet because you can’t afford food. There are lots of people willing to help you!
Dog Food Banks in Arizona
- The Good Dog Food Bank (You can request assistance directly online and you don’t need any proof of financial hardship)
- Scottsdale Pet Pantry (dogs and cats)
- Chuck Waggin’ Pet Food Pantry (dogs and cats)
- Cause4Paws Pet Food Bank (dogs and cats)
- Empty Bowl Pet Food Pantry (offer assistance for Veterans, domestic violence victims, disaster victims, financial hardship, etc)
- Several other assistance program around the valley.
Financial Assistance With Veterinary Bills
Looking for help paying vet bills? Here’s a great list of organizations that provide financial assistance.
- Angels For Animals
- Brown Dog Foundation
- Canine Cancer Awareness
- Care Credit
- Cats in Crisis
- Extend Credit
- Fairy Dog Parents
- Frankie’s Friends
- Gracie’s Mission
- In Memory of Magic
- Paws 4 a Cure
- Shakespeare Animal Fund
- The Dog & Cat Cancer Fund
- The Magic Bullet Fund
- The Mosby Foundation
- The Pet Fund
- Red Rover
- The Riedel & Cody Fund
Other Pet Expense Resources
- Local pet events: Be on the lookout for pet events in your area. More times than not they will offer low cost or free vaccinations, nail trims and microchips.
- Low cost spay/neuter clinic: I have taken all of my animals to Spay AZ in Chandler. It’s a low cost spay and neuter clinic, which also offers vaccinations and microchips. Forget about paying hundreds of dollars for this important surgery – save some money and go to a low cost spay and neuter clinic! If you’re worried about how good the doctors are, don’t be. For example, Khloee got spayed there and she doesn’t even have a mark or scar!
- County vouchers: Maricopa County gives out a certain amount of vouchers for FREE spay and neuter services every month. Check your local county shelter to see if they do the same!
- Facebook groups: Join some local animal rescue Facebook groups. You will find that most of the people are very helpful and friendly. If you need help, ask. I almost guarantee at least one person will help you.
With all of the resources that I just listed, you are bound to find help with pet food and vet bills. Don’t be afraid to ask for help – that’s why all of these organizations exist! They WANT to help you! Your pet deserves to stay with you, and many people are willing to help ensure that happens.
If you have any other great resources you’d like to share, please list them in the comments!
Linda says
You are the greatest.