Pet Talk

By Cathy Davis
    I would like to talk to you a little bit about resources. So many times I see comments on Facebook or have people come up to me in a store and tell me that their little Rover or Fluffy seems to be having a medical problem, but they can’t afford to go to the Vet. As a woman who has spent $1,000 for one shot on a cat who didn’t appreciate my efforts at all (she screamed through the entire visit to the emergency clinic), I can empathize.
    A friend of mine spent thousands when her dog dislocated a hip. Another practically had to mortgage her house when her dog came down with a mysterious ailment and underwent test after test after test and finally surgery to correct a very rare condition. They call him the $20,000 dog.
    There is nothing more heartbreaking than to have to make a decision about providing medical treatment based only on your ability to pay. So here are some helpful hints to keep in the back of your mind in case you are ever faced with this situation.
    You can purchase pet insurance. Through a variety of vendors and companies, it is relatively inexpensive to purchase a policy to cover your pet if you do it when they are young (just like people, us old folks pay a lot more than you young whipper snappers). 
    As an example, I went to  www.aspcapetinsurance.com and did a quote for my dog Scruffy who is a four year old mixed breed. The premium was $13.87 a month for $2,500 coverage per “episode” with 90 percent coverage up to as much as $63.80 a month for $7,000 coverage per “episode”  and adding coverage for things like congenital problems.  Coverage is for sickness and accident.
    There are many companies that offer this, you can check out www.petinsurance.com or www.healthypawspetinsurance.com or many others, just Google  “pet insurance” and off you go.
    There are also foundations that award grants, after the fact, such as Rose’s Fund for Animals.  Your Veterinarian can actually go directly to this foundation after your other resources are exhausted and you’ve applied for a Care Card. Check out their website for additional information.
    There is the American Animal Hospital Association program that will provide veterinary care for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship.  Go to www.aahahelpingpets.org for more information.
    Angels 4 Animals is another that provides services ranging from financial aid to complete treatment.  Check www.angels4animals.org.
    Care Credit is a credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedures up to as much as $25,000, they offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit into almost every budget.  Check out  www.carecredit.com.
    Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP) will help seniors, people with disabilities, people who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten, any of these folks who need financial assistance to save a companion cat. 
    God’s Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help. Check them out at www.all-creatures.org.
    Another is www.handicappedpets.com, which tries to help a caretaker of handicapped pets that need some attention and a little extra help. 
    While www.help-a-pet.org focuses on serving the elderly, disabled, and working poor who need assistance with Veterinary bills.
    Now please keep in mind that these foundations and many others are there mostly for the emergency type of situation, not the routine rabies shot or spay surgery but if your dog is critically ill, injured, perhaps has cancer and needs ongoing treatment, these could be good resources for you. There are some who sadly decide to euthanize a pet because they cannot afford thousands of dollars to treat them.  These foundations work hard to make sure you never have to make that agonizing decision.
    And never hesitate to ask your Veterinarian if they offer a payment plan.  Some do, some don’t, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.   If you have a pet, you should have a long-term relationship with a good Veterinarian. If you have never had your dog to the Vet and show up one day with a dog with a broken leg, don’t ask for a payment plan.   I’m not a mind reader but I would be willing to bet that this request would be denied.
    I hope this information is helpful, but I hope you never need to use it.