PAGE ONE
TO BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION

• The following application for individuals seeking funding from The Pet Fund is now available online only. To begin your application, please read over the following information carefully.
• ALL applicants are REQUIRED to email The Pet Fund a description of your animal’s medical needs. Send your email, including a phone number where you can be reached, to info@thepetfund.com. Staff will inform all applicants about both the current wait list time and the eligibility requirements for applying for financial assistance. The Pet Fund receives hundreds of requests for assistance per day, and it may take our volunteer staff some time to respond to each email request. Applications which are sent in before applicants have been advised by our staff will not be processed.
• Please note – we are not able to fund emergencies. The Pet Fund ONLY funds non-basic, non-urgent care. This includes medical care that is above and beyond basic care, but which does not require urgent treatment. Unfortunately we have a chronic wait list for funding, due to the large number of applicants to our fund. IF YOU ARE HAVING AN EMERGENCY, STOP HERE - THE PET FUND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP. PLEASE REFER TO THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND ADDITIONAL LINKS FOR HELP PAGES OF THE PET FUND WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING RESOURCES.

Next Step

• Applications for veterinary care funding can ONLY be done online and will require access to a printer. If you do not have internet access you will need to go to your local library, which will have computers, printers, and internet access available. Alternatively, you can ask your veterinarian’s office for assistance, or you can ask friends or family members to assist you.

Rules For Applying

• Please note – no contributions are EVER given directly to individuals. The Pet Fund ONLY sends funding directly to the treating veterinarians ONLY IF your application is approved and treatment is scheduled. Funding resources are limited, and the Pet Fund makes every effort to use limited funds in the most responsible way.
  
  The Pet Fund does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, or disability. The Pet Fund reserves the right to deny funding to anyone for any reason. Please read the complete application agreement for details of the application process.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS/STATEMENTS ABOUT VETERINARY CARE

1. “My animal’s situation is not urgent.”
   We will let you know if your situation is medically appropriate for our wait list time.
2. “My vet said this was not urgent.”
   Your vet does not evaluate our wait list. We will let you know if your situation qualifies.
3. “The surgery (or treatment) will just have to wait anyway, because I don’t have the money to pay for it right now.”
   Care that we consider too urgent to qualify for our program does not qualify based on financial need. Applicants’ medical treatment will ONLY be considered if the situation meets our wait list criteria.
4. “Your website says you work on this area” (heart disease, cancer, etc.).
   The Pet Fund provides assistance for a variety of treatment areas, but each specific treatment or procedure must be able to qualify for the current length of our wait list. If we are not able to assist we will provide you with resources listed elsewhere on the website where you may be able to receive help.
5. “Can you tell me which of those organizations can help me?”
   The Pet Fund staff will not be able to do this for you. Pet owners are encouraged to read through the entire list of resources so they can develop a comprehensive awareness of all available sources of assistance. A list of nonprofit organizations is available on the Additional Links for Help page of the website, and other resources for help with medical bills are located on the Financial Assistance page of the website.

A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

1. The Pet Fund receives thousands of requests for assistance. We are not able to cover every situation, nor is there any nonprofit that is able to assist with every medical situation in every case. We provide as much help as our funding and wait list will allow.
2. There are no organizations that are able to cover every category of care at a national level. Some organizations work only on urgent care, and other organizations focus on cancer treatment, etc.
   
   The instructions about what we cover are listed clearly on our website, and organizations that provide care in other treatment areas are also listed on the website for situations where we may not be able to help.

Before You Start

• After you have been advised by The Pet Fund staff and it has been determined that you may be eligible to apply for funding, you will need to have the following items available to help you complete the financial portion of the online application. We advise that you gather this information together before you begin your online application. Once you have started the online application, you will not be able to return at a later time to complete it. You will have to start over from the beginning with your online application for funding.

Collect the following:

• Proof of income - This can be a copy of a check stub, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, etc. The proof of income must be recent, and we cannot use tax forms for this purpose.
• Copy of a written cost estimate for the needed procedures and/or treatment from your veterinarian.
• Name, address, and medical license number for your treating veterinarian. This will be included on your online application form. If you do not have this information available, wait to fill out your online application until you have obtained this information.

To proceed with your online application, type your name in the box below, as your signature.

PAGE TWO
QUALIFYING FOR THE APPLICATION

Please read over the following information to see if you qualify for funding from The Pet Fund.

WHAT WE DO NOT FUND:

• Emergencies. Unfortunately we have a chronic wait list for funding, due to the large number of applicants to our fund. IF YOU ARE HAVING AN EMERGENCY, STOP HERE - THE PET FUND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP. PLEASE REFER TO THE “FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE” AND “ADDITIONAL LINKS FOR HELP” PAGES OF THE PET FUND WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING RESOURCES.
• Basic care, including but not limited to spay and neuter surgeries, food or basic pet supplies, deworming, grooming, flea treatments, vaccinations, or routine veterinary care. Pet owners are personally responsible for these basic expenses. The Pet Fund can benefit in serious situations where medical treatment is needed beyond routine care.
• Any bills already paid or procedures already in progress. The Pet Fund cannot reimburse anyone for veterinary expenses already paid. Even if you have not yet paid your bill, if the procedure has been performed or is in progress we cannot cover the bill. Even if the procedure/treatment is performed after the application has already been sent to us, if the application has not yet been approved for funding, we will not be able to fund the procedure.
• If the applicant is already on the wait list and the procedure needs to be performed sooner than the funding is available, the bill cannot be covered. Whatever procedure or treatment is required, the medical care must be able to safely wait until we receive funding and notify applicants to schedule treatment to be eligible for funding. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Any rescue animals. The only animals covered by The Pet Fund are permanent adoptions already made. You must have owned your animal for 6 months or longer and must intend to keep the animal. Animals which are currently being fostered are not eligible, nor are animals which will eventually be rehomed. If you purchased or adopted your animal with a known pre-existing condition, that is considered a rescue and is not eligible for our program. Individuals working with rescue groups or good Samaritans who have recently rescued an animal should read over the "Additional Links for Help" and "Advice for Nonprofits" pages of the website for referrals to resources for assistance.
• Any animals owned by breeders.
• Horses – we regret that care for horses is too expensive to fund.
• The cost of vet visits for animals who have not yet been seen by a veterinarian. Applicants must already have taken their animals to a veterinarian for diagnosis and must have a written estimate for the needed procedures.
• Declawing, ear cropping or debarking surgeries. The Pet Fund strongly discourages these practices and will never fund these procedures under any circumstances.

To proceed with your online application, type your name in the box below, as your signature.

PAGE THREE
ABOUT OUR FUNDING

What We Cover

• The Pet Fund provides need-based financial assistance for the benefit of owners of domestic animals where serious veterinary care is needed beyond routine procedures, including treatment, surgery, and medications. We will consider most requests for needed medical care, including serious chronic health problems. Depending on the level of funding available and the urgency of the needed treatment, The Pet Fund will determine whether or not to pay for all or a portion of the animal’s care.
  
  The Pet Fund will use the following criteria to determine whether funds will be disbursed for an animal’s care:
  
  
  • The financial need of the animal owner.
  • The opinion of the treating veterinarian as to the medical necessity, urgency, and prognosis for the treatment needed.
  • The demonstrated capability of the animal owner to take responsibility for his/her animal.
  After consulting with the veterinarian to determine the immediacy of care and after determining the animal owner’s level of responsibility for the animal’s future care, The Pet Fund will determine the level of funding to be provided. Requests for grants will be put on a waiting list for available funding and will be limited to a $500 limit per applicant. Funding may be less than that amount depending on the funds needed and the funding available.
  
  When The Pet Fund staff approves funding for an animal owner, we will contact the individual requesting funds and if he/she is able to pay the balance of treatment costs (if any) over and above the amount contributed by The Pet Fund, then we will notify the treating vet that funds have been approved for the necessary procedure. At that point treatment can be scheduled, and The Pet Fund will then disburse the approved funds directly to the veterinarian.

Who We Cover

• The Pet Fund will consider funding requests for all domestic companion animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, potbellied pigs, pocket pets such as guinea pigs, etc. We will NOT cover farm animals, animals owned by breeders, or animals used for research or commercial purposes of any kind. If applicants to The Pet Fund are discovered to be using animals for illegal fighting purposes, we will provide the information to law enforcement agencies and assist in whatever way we can in prosecution of these illegal activities.

Rules for Proceeding with Your Application:

• Urgent Care - The Pet Fund is not able to fund emergencies, so immediate needs (for example, emergency surgery for a broken leg) are not eligible for funding due to the length of our wait list. For emergencies, please refer to the "Financial Assistance" page for suggestions about raising funds quickly, as well as the "Additional Links for Help" page for contacts to other organizations. The needed treatment or procedure(s) must be able to safely wait the length of the current wait list, and the treating veterinarian must verify this in order to qualify for funding.
• Applicants Must Provide Care Promptly - Your animal's medical needs cannot have been neglected past all reasonable time for treatment. For example, if your companion animal needed urgent care months ago but you were unable to fund the treatment, the fact that the medical care was urgent months earlier and is now extremely critical will still be considered to be an emergency. Applicants are responsible for making arrangements for getting their companion animals treated within a reasonable time frame, regardless of the financial situation. Sometimes this involves making very difficult decisions, but the best interests of the companion animal will be our only consideration.
• Preventative Care - Applicants whose companion animals are ill due to neglected preventative care will not be considered for funding. For example, if a dog has heartworm disease because the owner neglected to provide preventative care, the applicant will not be eligible. However, if the applicant adopted a dog not knowing the animal already had heartworm, the applicant would be eligible for consideration (providing the treatment could wait the length of the current wait list).
• Grant Amount - All grants are capped at $500 per applicant, and sometimes lesser amounts are granted. Applicants must be able to fund the rest of the procedure or treatment to be eligible for this grant. We cannot "hold" funds for applicants who have not been able to come up with the remainder of funding needed when they have reached the top of the wait list.
• Prognosis - If treatment is likely to cause an animal suffering with little hope of a good long-term prognosis, we will not cover the procedure. The animal's prognosis must include a survival rate of 50% or better for survival beyond 6 months (as determined by the treating veterinarian) for the applicant to be eligible to apply. We are not able to cover euthanasia costs in any circumstance. Please note that the staff of The Pet Fund will not be able to advise you EVER in any way regarding the medical treatment, diagnosis, or prognosis of your animal(s). If you have medical questions about your animal's condition, you will need to consult with your treating veterinarian.
• Relief Grants - For ongoing companion animal health issues, such as diabetes or thyroid disease, where lifetime treatment is necessary to keep the animal alive and healthy, applicants must be able to provide the care on an ongoing basis to qualify for the grant. For example, if an applicant cannot afford to maintain the needed prescribed treatment, The Pet Fund will not be able to consider the application. Applicants are eligible to apply for a relief grant (one time only grant) for ongoing medical needs, but the treating veterinarian will have to verify that the applicant will be able to take responsibility for funding the lifetime care needed.
• Approval or Denial of Grants - When we receive your complete application, we will contact you regarding approval or denial of funding. Please note – if funding is denied, the staff of The Pet Fund will not provide the reason for denial of funding, nor will we reconsider our decision. Most denials of funding will be based on lack of funding, but no matter what the reason for denial, the Pet Fund staff will not be able to discuss it with you. However, we will provide each applicant with information regarding preventative care, financial planning services, and helpful product information, so each applicant will have the opportunity to develop his or her resources for the future.
• Results - While the application process is in part based on the subjective judgment of veterinarians and our staff, we feel these basic guidelines are clear, unbiased and necessary, and we will make the most ethical decisions possible with the information we have in each circumstance.

Personal Requirements for Applicants:

• You must be able to provide basic care for your animals. This includes not only food and permanent shelter, but also basic vet care when needed. Applicants who are not able to provide basic care for their animals on an ongoing basis will be encouraged to seek out appropriate adoptive homes for the animals they cannot afford to care for.
• You must have a source of income. Eligible sources of income include Unemployment Insurance, SSI Benefits, or earned income. You must provide proof of your source of income, either in the form of copies of pay stubs or a copy of your Benefit Award letter. You will be asked to fax this in at the conclusion of your online application.
• Owner Responsibility - Your treating veterinarian will be asked about your demonstrated responsibility in caring for your companion animals. Since one of the greatest benefits of the Pet Fund is keeping animals out of shelters, giving funds to irresponsible owners would not accomplish this goal.

Working with The Pet Fund:

• The Pet Fund is staffed by highly trained volunteers who generously give their time to applicants needing assistance. However, applicants to The Pet Fund are expected to treat volunteer staff in a professional manner. Abusive, rude, or disrespectful applicants to our organization will not receive assistance, and will be barred from receiving any assistance in future.

A few things to keep in mind while speaking with staff members:

• Each pet owner is responsible for providing medical care for their animals. The Pet Fund, your veterinarian, or your local shelters are not responsible for your financial situation. We look for responsible pet owners who are prepared to accept this responsibility both in attitude and in actions.
• The Pet Fund currently receives hundreds of requests for help per day. You may face a lengthy wait for returned emails. We will respond to your request as soon as we possibly can. Emails are responded to on a first come, first served basis.
• The Pet Fund is primarily an education resource, which strives to inform pet owners about preventative care, financial planning, and assistance resources. Our grants are secondary in importance to our education and outreach mission, which helps to ensure that pet owners are provided with medical and financial resources which will prevent future veterinary costs from becoming financial crises. Even if you do not receive a grant, The Pet Fund considers our main contribution to applicants to be information which will help provide future resources for needed animal medical care.

Requirements for Treating Veterinarians:

• Veterinarian Phone Consult - The participating veterinarian will be required to consult with The Pet Fund’s staff regarding the subject animal’s diagnosis, prognosis, and recommended treatment. Veterinarians must also provide their medical license number to applicants so Pet Fund staff can verify their license to practice.

The Pet Fund Application Process

1. First email The Pet Fund about your animal's medical needs to see if you are eligible. Provide a phone number where you can be reached with your email.
2. Complete the online portion of the application.
3. Fax the completed application forms to The Pet Fund.

To proceed with your online application, type your name in the box below.

PAGE FOUR
APPLICATION FOR FUNDING

All applicants will need to fill out and fax the following:

• Application Form - Available online on the following pages.
• Funding Agreement - Available online on the following pages.
• Proof of income - This can be a copy of a check stub, unemployment benefits, disability benefits, etc. The proof of income must be recent, and we cannot use tax forms for this purpose.
• Copy of a written cost estimate for the needed procedures and/or treatment from your veterinarian.
• Name, address, and medical license number for your treating veterinarian. This will be included on your online application form. If you do not have this information available, wait to fill out your online application until you have obtained this information.
• No application for funding will be considered without a complete online application form, copy of veterinarian's written estimate, proof of applicant's income, and phone consult with both the applicant(s) and the treating veterinarian.

• ALL OF THESE FORMS MUST BE FAXED TOGETHER TO THE PET FUND AT THE CONCLUSION OF YOUR ONLINE APPLICATION. Applications that are sent with missing parts may be lost or significantly delayed.
• ANY EMAILED APPLICATIONS RECEIVED WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION WILL BE DISCARDED.
• If you have questions about any part of the application process, we recommend that you contact The Pet Fund via email before faxing your application, at info@thepetfund.com. Please remember to put “The Pet Fund” in the subject line of your email.

To proceed with your online application, type your name in the box below, as your signature.

PAGE FIVE
THE APPLICATION FORM

In order to receive funds from The Pet Fund, this application must be completed by the person(s) seeking funds. All applicants for Pet Fund funding must provide the following information.

Statement of Financial Need

Please provide all the information requested below, including the reason funds are needed (i.e., unemployment, insufficient income to pay for treatment, other emergency circumstances, etc.). Applicants will also be asked to list assets, debts, and other financial information relevant to their application.

PAGE Six
THE PET FUND FUNDING AGREEMENT

This agreement and waiver must be signed by the person(s) seeking funds in order to receive funds from The Pet Fund. All recipients of Pet Fund funding and all applicants of Pet Fund funding agree that The Pet Fund is in no way responsible for the outcome of any medical procedure funded in whole or in part by the Pet Fund, nor is the Pet Fund responsible for the outcome of funding being denied in whole or in part to the applicant(s). Applicants for Pet Fund funding agree that The Pet Fund will not be liable for any damages or losses as a result of either being denied funding or because of the outcome of any diagnosis or treatment funded in whole or in part by The Pet Fund. The Pet Fund and its employees do not make any representations or warranties, expressed or implied, regarding applications for funding or awarding of funding, and are released and not liable for any costs, damages, and expenses, including attorney fees arising from any claims, damages, or liabilities asserted by third parties arising from application for or receipt of funds from The Pet Fund.

Funding resources are limited, and the Pet Fund makes every effort to use limited funds in the most responsible way. The Pet Fund does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, or race. The Pet Fund reserves the right to deny funding to anyone for any reason.

This is the entire contract, and no applicant for funding can modify it. This contract is not assignable. Applicants for funding to The Pet Fund waive all laws in conflict with the above agreement.

To proceed with your online application, type your name in the box below.

Now that you have filled out your online Application Forms, click on the Print Application button below and then print the documents from your computer.

Now that you have filled out your online Application Forms, print the documents from your computer.

Pet Fund Faxing Instructions (Print this from your computer.)

You must FAX the application form with the following documents in order to complete your application for funding:
1. Application Form (the document you just printed).

2. Written Estimate and description of the medical procedure(s) needed and the cost of the procedure(s). This information will have to be provided, in writing, from the treating veterinarian.

3. Proof of applicant income. Applicants will need to provide proof of income and/or unemployment benefits in the form of a recent check stub, unemployment benefit receipt, or a copy of an SSI Benefit Award Letter. Please note - we do NOT accept tax forms for any reason, nor are we able to accept non-recent check stubs. Income must be current in order to qualify for funding.

Please send your completed application together. Applications that are sent with missing parts may be lost or significantly delayed.

*APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT SEND COPIES OF BILLS OR OTHER NON-REQUESTED PROOF OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. We do not need your pet’s entire medical history or pages of already paid bills. If we need additional proof of your income or financial situation we will ask you to provide such information. We pay for faxes received, so do not increase our costs unnecessarily by sending non-requested information. Applicants who do not follow directions seriously reduce their chances of receiving funding. Please remember that we look for responsible pet owners who are capable of following directions. If you have questions about the application, please call us prior to sending your application.

IMPORTANT - The Pet Fund uses an online fax service. Please remember to call us prior to applying, and if you do not hear back from our staff within a reasonable time period, applicants must make a follow up call to ensure that we have actually received your fax documents. Faxes do not always go through, and - for example - if our server is temporarily down, we will be unable to see the fax and may not receive the document. Applicants are responsible for following up with their application.

The fax number for The Pet Fund is 1-267-821-4210. Forms cannot be faxed until the applicant has contacted The Pet Fund by phone prior to applying and has completed the online application section.

Once you fax all the documents listed above, you have completed your application for funding. The submission of an application does not guarantee funding. The Pet Fund will contact you as soon as possible after we receive your documents. Please call The Pet Fund with any questions at (916) 503-0550.