Featured Writer Blog

Posted 7/23/2008. We will all face veterinary bills for our pets at some point in time, whether we're prepared to pay for them or not.  I've been forced to choose between a pet's surgery and paying the rent on time, so I know it's a frustrating situation.  If you ever come up with one of these bills to help take care of a sick pet, here are a few options to help pay that bills or come up with some aid straight from the Humane Society of America: Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. Contact your local shelter. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. You can find the name and number of your local shelter in the Yellow Pages of your phone book under "animal shelter," "animal control" or "humane society," or by calling Information. You can also go to www.Pets911.com and enter your zip code to find a list of animal shelters, animal control agencies, and other animal care organizations in your community. If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the National Club for that breed. (The American Kennel Club, www.akc.org, has a list of the national dog clubs.)  In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial assistance fund. Additionally, The HSUS has a list of breed-specific assistance groups. There are some organizations that offer assistance locally (by state or community). See our state-by-state (including Canada) listing. The HSUS also has a list of organizations that provide assistance to senior, disabled or ill pet owners. Ask your veterinarian to submit an assistance request to the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) "Helping Pets Fund." In order to qualify, your animal hospital must be AAHA accredited. To learn more about the program visit the AAHA web site. To find an AAHA accredited hospital in your area, search online at www.Pets911.com. If you purchased your dog from a reputable breeder, check your contract to see if there is a health guarantee that covers your pet's ailment. These are just a few of the suggestions you can find to help come up with the funds to pay for a pet's veterinary bills.  Look for more at: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/what_you_can_do_if_you_are_having_trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html