Cant afford medical care for my yorkie

Question

Mr. Bojangles  

BoBo   Hi, I adopted my yorkie Bo 9 years ago, he is 17 now and people think he is still a puppy. I lost my job around 4 years ago and he really needs to see a vet but I can't afford it. Do you know if there are any out there that volunteer their services ? Please help my little boy.

Answer

Hi Colleen,

If you are having trouble afford veterinary care, first talk to your regular vet. 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. Another option is to contact local animal shelters or the Humane Society. Some shelters operate or may know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs in your area. If you happen to live within driving distance to veterinary school, check with them to see if they offer discount services to the public. There are a couple special credit cards to apply for which help with medical bills (including veterinary bills) read about them here:

http://www.carecredit.com
http://www.healthcard.citicards.com
http://www.extendcredit.com

There are organizations that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need. Please keep in mind that each organization is independent and has their own set of rules and guidelines. Therefore you will have to investigate each one separately to determine if you qualify for assistance:

http://www.redrover.org/redrover-relief-grants
http://shakespeareanimalfund.org
http://www.thepetfund.com
http://www.browndogfoundation.org/process
http://www.all-creatures.org/gcm/help-cf.html
http://www.imom.org/fa/index.htm
http://graciesmission.org/Assistance_and_Donations.html

I hope that helps!
Best of luck,
Patti