ARF Backgrounder

Affording quality veterinary care for your pet in difficult financial times

Taking care of your dog is costly, especially when your pet gets hurt and needs to see a vet.  Most dog owners know that vet bills are quite expensive and in today’s economy, that might mean you can’t always afford the bill.

While some families abandon their animals or have them put down, there are alternatives available to help families take care of their animals for a reasonable price.

Payment Plans
If finances are short, many vets are willing to work out a payment plan with you in order for you to afford your pet’s surgery.

Ellena Perez of Sanger, Calif., said, “We’ve used a payment plan system to afford expensive surgery for our dogs before.”

Joe Perez, her older brother, also added, “We also share the costs for surgery among the family.  By sharing our dogs, we can afford to take care of them even if money is short.”

There is a program called CareCredit, which works like health insurance for animals.  Veterinarians generally accept this credit program.  However, not all veterinarians will offer payment plans.  “The local vet had to stop offering payment plans because people would never come back,” said Joe.

Find a Family Veterinarian
Besides payment plans, it also helps to stay with a family veterinarian.  If you have an established relationship with a veterinarian, you can usually get discounted rates and services.

“When my family used to raise and breed dogs, we had a vet that we always went to,” said Sarah Knepper, who used to raise dogs for dog shows.  “We trusted the vet and always took our dogs to him.”

Distinguish Between Necessary Surgery and Elective Surgery
Despite being able to find affordable medical care for your dog, there are many veterinarians who will also suggest unnecessary and superficial surgery for your dog.  “We’ve been offered superficial surgery for our dogs,” said Joe Perez. “They usually tell you that it’s optional.”

Not all characteristics of a dog require medical attention, such as bent ears and other physical abnormalities.  “We had our dog’s ears propped up,” said Ellena Perez, “but it wasn’t necessary to do so.  We just wanted them to look normal.”

Cheap and Affordable Care
Whether you work out a payment plan, or simply cannot afford a crucial medical procedure for your dog, there are places that offer cheap and affordable medical care for pet owners.

The Central California SPCA offers low-rate medical support for pets of low-income families.  The low-income support comes from the “Gennuso Spaying and Neutering Trust Fund”.  The fund was established by Rose Gennuso, a Fresno, Calif. resident, who created a trust fund designed to reduce overpopulation and animal abuse through providing free spaying and neutering to qualifying low-income families.

With the economy being in the shape that it is, many animal shelters are willing to help struggling families by ensuring that any donated animals already have all their shots, as well as any crucial surgeries that they may have needed.

Animal Rescue Foundation of Fresno offers these very services for all donated pets, including microchipping, a new way for animals to be electronically identified.

Share Costs with Family
Joe and Ellena Perez share the cost of medical charges because they have established joint-ownership of their dogs.  Ellena Perez said, “I have one and a half dogs, and so does my brother, Joe.”  By doing so, they never have to worry about costly medical bills and payment plans because they can always find a way to make the payment.

“It works for us, since we all have our own dogs,” said Joe Perez.  “It’s a family effort.”

There’s Always a Solution
There are many ways to afford quality healthcare for your pet during times of financial strain.  By applying the different suggestions to your own situation, there is certainly a way for you to afford to take care of your pet.

“I think it all comes down to how much you care for your pet,” said Ellena Perez.  “If you care about them, you will find a way to get them the medical treatment they need.”
If nothing else, many veterinary clinics take credit cards.

There are many alternatives to abandoning your pets to a life of pain or worse, and animal clinics and shelters would rather find a middle ground than allow your pet to suffer.  Remember, they care about your pet’s health and well-being as much as you do.