BEST FRIENDS Financial Resources
The financial respirces page on the Best Friends site. Has links to numerous organizations, not all listed
onthe VAScats page.
CARE CREDIT
CareCredit, offers no fee, interest free loan plans (for periods up to 36 months) with a low monthly payment
for Veterinary Medicine. These plans can be very helpful and are much lower in costs than credit cards, bank loans, etc. They
also offer loans for longer periods at a rate of 9.9% interest.
NEW YORK SAVE
NY S.A.V.E, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to the aid and assistance of low-income pet owners
residing in one of the five boroughs of New York City, whose pet is in need of emergency veterinary care.
PDSA (Great Britain and Northern Island)
The PDSA provides free veterinary care to anyone in the UK who is receiving financial help for housing from
the Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. You must live close to one of their practices and not all costs are covered. Read
more at this link and either call or use their email enquiry form to receive more information.
RED ROVER
Aids companion animals in times of life-threatening emergencies when their caregivers, with low or
no incomes, are unable to afford the entire cost of treatment.
SAVE U.S. PETS FOUNDATION
Dedicated to providing financial assistance for pets to receive lifesaving medical treatments when
their human companions are unable to afford professional care.
SHAKESPEARE ANIMAL FUND
SAF offers assistance primarily to those of fixed incomes or with annual incomes below $35,000.
Exceptions are made depending on circumstances. It is always a one-time grant.
STAR RELIEF AND PET ASSISTANCE
STAR's long term vision is to ensure that no Connecticut per guardian will ever have to abandon their pet due
to economic hardship, and to enfure that all companion anilals are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.
THE PET FUND
The Pet Fund helps with non-basic, non-urgent care such as cancer treatment... We typically have a wait list...
Eligible pet owners can apply for a one-time grant...
The SIMPLE DOLLAR
TheSimpleDollar's "The Ultimate Guide To Financial Assistance For Pets" has a state-by-state listing
of sources of financial assistance..
VACCINE MANUFACTURERS Vaccine manufacturers sometimes provide
financial assistance for VAS treatment. The companies have been very inconsistent in their willingness to help, and have seldom
offered full reimbursement for VAS treatment expenses. You should ask your vet to contact the company, make an adverse reaction
report, and ask about possible financial assistance for treatment. If your vet won't help, you can contact the company yourself.
While it's more likely that the company will help if they are contacted by a vet, especially one who is their customer, many
individuals have obtained some assistance on their own.
Although it's probably never really so
simple, the presumption is that VAS was triggered by the most recent vaccination in or near the place where the tumor appeared.
It should be possible to determine from your cat's medical records which company manufactured that vaccine, and that's the
company to approach for assistance. A definitive diagnosis of VAS is not necessary, as any cancer in a location where a vaccine
is administered is usually considered to be VAS.
For further information about financial assistance
from a vaccine manufacturer, please join the VAS Support Group. Members who have been through this process will be happy to
advise and assist you. The VAS Support Group can be found here:
Programs and organizations like these frequently spring up and sadly disappear.
A search of the web may find additional respources that we don't know about. If you find any promising new financial
assistance sources, or if you find that any we have listed are no longer operating, please let us know.