Financial Assistance
The Pet Fund wishes to provide our applicants for funding with every possible resource with which to develop financial independence. The Pet Fund is not responsible for the outcome of any involvement with any financial service associated with our website, but we do welcome you to make responsible decisions about which services might be appropriate for your individual financial situation. While the staff of The Pet Fund is unable to advise you regarding financial planning, we do encourage you to explore these potential solutions to avoid future fiscal crises.
Helpful Resources for Financial Difficulties
- Ask your veterinarian about setting up a payment plan for the needed medical treatment. If your vet does not currently offer a payment plan, read over the links to Varidi and Scratchpay listed below.
- Register with a local temporary agency to obtain employment on a “temp” basis, or to pick up a part-time or second job to generate additional income.
- Exchange services with family, friends or neighbors—for example, doing home repair, babysitting, or cleaning in exchange for payment for needed veterinary care.
- Hold a garage sale to get rid of unused or unwanted appliances, furniture, equipment, etc.
- Ask your credit card companies for an increase in your available credit.
- Consider meeting with a credit counseling service if your credit rating is poor, or you have too much credit debt, to reduce your debt and arrange an affordable payment plan.
- Consider consolidating your credit debt into a single loan, or refinancing your home to lower your total debt/monthly payment amount.
- Apply to your bank or credit union for a short-term loan.
- Inquire about your retirement account or other tax-sheltered account, to find out about penalties for early withdrawal of funds or increase in monthly dividends.
- Temporarily reduce the amount of your paycheck going to employer contribution/retirement accounts if you are currently employed.
- Evaluating your monthly budget can be useful - cutting “extras” like cable television fees, eating out, etc. can add up quickly. Make a list of essential needs; then temporarily cancel all extra expenditures.
- Sell unwanted items of value on an internet auction site.
- If you are employed, consider using a cash-advance service. Please be aware that some of these agencies charge outrageous interest rates, so be cautious using these types of services.
- If you are unemployed, contact your local Employment Development Department to see if you qualify for benefits, including unemployment insurance, disability benefits, and employment assistance. Many EDD offices also offer paid training in a variety of fields which may help you to find both training and employment in a new field.
- Check online employment sites for new job openings and opportunities. Updating your resume and gathering letters of recommendation from previous employers and associates will help you in your job search.
- Call businesses in your area to inquire about any positions which may be open. Networking with your friends and family may also help you to find out about employment opportunities.
- If you have to move or find an apartment with your dog, advice from Barbara Corcoran on getting approved: http://barbaracorcoran.com/tips-on-making-the-big-move-with-your-dog
Emergency Assistance Resources & Health Care Services
- Women, Infants & Children: WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic
- Food Stamps: Food Stamps help low-income people buy food. Although it is a federal government program, it is run by state or local agencies. For information about applying, click here: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10101.html
- Avoiding Foreclosure: Federal programs which help with assistance in avoiding foreclosure:
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/avoiding_foreclosure - National School Lunch Program: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch
- Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF): http://www.welfareinfo.org
- Medicare/Medicaid Eligibility Information: http://www.medicare.gov/default.aspx
- The Salvation Army offers programs to help with utilities and housing nationwide: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org
- Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are two Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities: http://www.ssa.gov/disability
Fundraising Resources
- Set up a fundraising page for your animal using an online donation service. Some examples of these online organizations are:
- www.gofundme.com
- www.crowdrise.com
- www.giveforward.com
- www.youcaring.com
Planning for the Future
- Consider meeting with a financial planning firm, credit counseling agency, insurance broker, or retirement planning service to design realistic budgets and goals for the future which will enable you to become financially independent.
- Set up a savings account to plan for all future emergencies, including veterinary care. Ideally you should be able to save at least 10% of your monthly budget for this account.
- Consider veterinary insurance – There are several pet insurance programs available nationally. Some of these plans are helpful for a variety of medical issues. However, coverage is limited and these programs will not substitute for having a savings account in place. Be sure to read the fine print about medical problems which are considered pre-existing or which are not covered by your policy.
- Budget a monthly allowance for preventative veterinary care. Regular "well-pet" checkups and good preventative care practices will help avoid medical crises for your pet in future.
Scratch Pay
Scratch Pay offers simple and affordable payment plans for large veterinary bills. Apply for Scratch Pay and check your interest rate any time without affecting your credit score. Completing the application and accepting the loan terms takes just a couple of minutes and can be done from your cell phone or computer. Scratch Pay can help get your pet the care they need. If your vet has not yet signed up for Scratch Pay, ask your vet to join Scratch for free.
For information about Scratch Pay click here:
HSUS - Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States - The following HSUS link provides links for pet assistance organizations in each state, including spay and neuter and basic care resources:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html
ADSA - Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program
California Department of Social Services Assistance Dog Special Allowance (ADSA) Program. The Assistance Dog Special Allowance (ADSA) Program provides a monthly payment of $50 to eligible persons who use a guide, signal, or service dog to help them with needs related to their physical disabilities. The allowance is to help pay the costs of food, grooming, and health care for the dogs. This program, available to residents of California, will provide these funds monthly toward the care of registered service dogs.
Phone: (916) 657-2628
http://www.cdss.ca.gov/Assistance-Dogs
Assistance Dog United Campaign
The Assistance Dog United Campaign. Operated in association with The Assistance Dog Institute, this nonprofit helps people with disabilities find funding to purchase service dogs.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Healthwell Foundation
The nonprofit Healthwell Foundation provides help with medical insurance payments and medical expenses not covered by insurance (for human medical debt only, not for veterinary bills). For information, click here:
RIP Medical Debt
The nonprofit RIP Medical Debt provides a debt registry where they may be able to assist with paying off medical debt (for human medical debt only, not for veterinary bills). For information about the registry, click here:
Medicare & Medicaid - 2005
Navigating Medicare and Medicaid, 2005 - A Resource Guide for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates, February 2005. An invaluable resource guide for persons with disabilities covering all aspects of Medicare and Medicaid. Reprinted with permission of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
http://kff.org/medicaid/report/navigating-medicare-and-medicaid-2005-a-resource
Keeping Medicare and Medicaid 2005 when you work
Keeping Medicare and Medicaid When You Work, 2005 - A Resource Guide for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates, February 2005. A companion resource guide to Navigating Medicare and Medicaid 2005. A critical tool for persons or families who need information about guidelines for Medicare and Medicaid while maintaining employment. Reprinted with permission of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
http://kff.org/medicaid/report/keeping-medicare-and-medicaid-when-you-work
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs. For veterans who have service dogs, Title 38, Section 1714 enables veterans to ask their caseworkers to file VA form 10-2641 in order to receive financial assistance for veterinary care of service dogs.
Link to Dept. of Veterans Affairs FAQ page on service dogs:
http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/psas/Guide_And_Service_Dogs_Frequently_Asked_Questions_FAQS.asp#FAQ4
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