15 amazing organizations that help with vet bills
Vet bills are one of the major causes of emotional distress for vets and pet owners alike. As much as they wish they could, if vets gave away treatments and medication to every pet owner who said they couldn’t afford it, they’d go out of business in a day and lose the ability to help other pets.
Pet owners who can’t afford treatments often unfairly take it out on the vet, accusing them of only caring about money. This is one of the leading triggers for depression, anxiety, and suicide amongst veterinarians. Just as you wouldn’t expect a pediatrician to cover your child’s medical bills, it’s not a vet’s responsibility to cover your pet’s costs.
If you’re not currently in urgent need of help with vet bills, please check out my blog posts on why you should seriously consider signing up for pet insurance. If you can’t afford pet insurance premiums, check out my post on alternatives to traditional pet insurance. Both signing up for pet insurance and having alternatives in place for a rainy day can help keep you from having to scramble and look to others for help with vet bills when time is of the essence.
Organizations that help with vet bills
The organizations listed below have programs to help pet owners and veterinarians with funding for lifesaving treatments such as urgent care and cancer treatments as well as food and medications.
Each organization has its own demographic that it is set up to help, with its own application requirements, so make sure you thoroughly read all the information on a website to make sure you don’t waste your time (and theirs) by applying for programs you don’t qualify for, because that loss of time will jeopardize not just your pet’s life but that of other pets who do qualify.
Please note that this information is provided in the hopes that it will be useful. Vets Are People Too is not affiliated with any of these organizations and links to third-party sites do not represent an endorsement nor guarantee of funding.
I decided to feature Waggle first, because it works with a network of fundraisers and sends payments directly to veterinarians, making it seem like fastest way to get pets the veterinary care they need.
Waggle
Waggle is a revolutionary crowdfunding model for pets in crisis. Waggle connects animal lovers to pets facing euthanasia by working with everyone—from the veterinarian to the pet owner, to the broader pet health network.
Donate to the FurEver Fund
Set up a recurring, monthly donation to our FurEver Fund and give life-saving treatment to sick and injured animals.
Veterinary Care Charitable Fund
The Veterinary Care Charitable Fund® (VCCF) provides veterinarians with a simple and effective way to offer charitable veterinary services to clients facing personal hardships as well as a means to support animals who are injured or rescued from abuse and neglect. Enrolled veterinary hospitals now have a way to offer low or no-cost services to clients who may otherwise be forced to surrender or euthanize their beloved pets.
Bow Wow Buddies Foundation
The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation® is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping sick and injured dogs by funding urgent medical care and aiding with veterinary bills for serious conditions. Dedicated to providing medical care funds to individuals struggling to cover their veterinary bills for serious ailments, and to shelters and rescue organizations needing assistance to cover medical treatments for dogs awaiting adoption.
Feeding Pets of the Homeless
Feeding Pets of the Homeless® is the first and one of the few national nonprofits providing pet food and emergency veterinary care to pets that belong to homeless people. We believe every pet deserves not to be hungry or suffer from an illness or injury. If you are homeless, or a Veteran, and need help caring for your pet, we can help.
Frankie’s Friends
Frankie’s Friends is a non-profit foundation dedicated to finding cures and saving pets with cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Founded in 1999, Frankie’s Friends is proud to celebrate 20 years in helping to save pets’ lives. You can help us save even more pets in need of emergency and specialty veterinary care by making a donation today.
Handicapped Pets Foundation
The Handicapped Pets foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation dedicated to the health and well-being of elderly, disabled, and injured pets. We donate new or reconditioned wheelchairs to pets in need. Dedicated to extending the life of disabled pets by helping them move and getting the exercise they need to live long, happy, healthy lives.
Help-a-Pet
Established in 2019, Help-A-Pet is a nonprofit organization with a single purpose: to provide financial assistance nationwide for the medical care of pets whose owners are unable to afford the expense. Help-A-Pet is a recipient of the GuideStar Exchange Seal indicating it discloses full and updated information and documentation to the public.
Joshua Louis Animal Cancer Foundation
The JLACF partners with Frankie’s Friends, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to finding cures and helping pets with life-threatening illnesses, including cancer. Since inception, the JLACF has granted over $150,000 to Families and animals in need.
The Magic Bullet Fund
Magic Bullet Fund provides assistance when a family is unable to pay for treatment and the pet would not be able to have (or complete) treatment without our assistance; and when we can reasonably believe that the treatment may add a year of quality life for the pet
The Mosby Foundation
The heart of The Mosby Foundation is keeping dogs with the families who love them. Our general medical fund, generously funded by our donors and the Petco Foundation offers financial assistance to qualified applicants to help with non-routine medical expenses.
The Onyx & Breezy Foundation
The Onyx & Breezy Foundation provides funding and support to spay and neuter programs; cancer research; military and police dogs; disaster relief; shelters, rescues, foster groups and sanctuaries; individual pet owners; veterans suffering from PTSD; and more.
The Pet Fund
The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals in the United States who need veterinary care. The Pet Fund also works directly with licensed veterinarians to provide necessary treatements.
RedRover Relief
The RedRover Relief Urgent Care grant program provides financial assistance, resources, and emotional support for pet guardians struggling with economic hardship when pets are in life-threatening situations.
The Riedel & Cody Fund
The Riedel and Cody Fund (RCF) is a non-profit organized to provide funding for owners who have a pet diagnosed with cancer and cannot afford to pay for the treatment.
Shakespeare Animal Fund
Shakespeare Animal Fund stops the suffering of animals by helping pet owners with emergency veterinary bills due to accidents, sickness and other emergencies, in 13 northern Nevada counties.
Know of other organizations that help with vet bills?
If you know of an organziation that you think should be included on this page, please send me a link.
