Financial help for low-income pet owners
The cost of owning a pet has risen sharply in recent years, meaning low-income pet owners are now feeling the pinch more than ever before. The inflated prices for pet food and accessories are bad enough, but the lack of affordable vet care has become a real strain for thousands of Canadians.
Routine checkups can now cost between $100 and $150, a dramatic rise in comparison to recent years. However, not all hope is lost, as there is help out there for low-income pet owners needing financial support with vet bills.
In this article, we share the top 10 ways Canadian pet owners can get financial help, while also exploring the benefits of crowdfunding.
The rising cost of owning a pet
Sure, owning a pet can be hugely rewarding and enhance your life, but for many the associated costs have meant it’s no longer feasible. Here, we take a look at the average annual cost of owning a dog in Canada:
- Food – $1,200
- Insurance – $1,160
- Dental cleaning – $743
- Parasite prevention – $247
- Exams with vaccines – $183
- Wellness profile – $151
- Annual heartworm/Lyme test – $108
- Toys – $75
- Fecal exams – $57
- Collar – $50
- Annual license – $25
Source: Statista
For many pet owners, the costs we’ve listed above can be eye-watering. Also, these figures don’t account for any additional vet bills you may need to pay across the year, let alone if you own multiple pets.
10 ways to get financial help as a pet owner
If you’re a low-income owner but don’t want to be priced out of owning a pet, there are some options available to you. A lot of the initiatives we’ve listed here are only available to low-income families, which is determined by the size of your family and where you live.
For example, in 2021, the low-income cut-off after tax for a family of four living in a rural area was $28,200, while the cut-off for a family of the same size living somewhere with a population between 100,000 and 499,999 people was $36,459.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at the different options available to low-income families who need financial support to own a pet.
1. Vet Subsidy Programs
Many veterinary services offer subsidy programs for low-income pet owners. When a crisis strikes and your pet needs emergency care, subsidy programs are in place to assist pet owners experiencing temporary financial difficulties. There are countless programs across Canada, so make sure you check with your local vet to see if they offer one or alternatively see which vets in your local area do.
For example, the Animal Hospital of Manitoba offers a Veterinary Service Subsidy Program, where they’ll subsidize 50% of the veterinary services your pet requires (up to a $250 discount). The owner is then responsible for paying the full examination fee and the remaining 50% of the fees.
2. Pet Help Finder
Pet Help Finder supports organizations that offer “financially friendly” services, including veterinary care, spay and neuter clinics, vaccines, pet supplies, pet food assistance, and more. The following all qualify as financially friendly if they meet their criteria:
- Private veterinary practices.
- Non-profit organizations.
- Social service agencies.
- Specialty funds.
- Corporate veterinary providers qualify.
This is hugely beneficial to low-income pet owners, as it means they have access to organizations that offer discounted or specialty price offerings. Users of Pet Help Finder are advised to recognize that conditions may apply and they should always discuss individual entity offerings directly with the service provider.
3. Petcard
Petcard by iFinance has been offering quick and hassle-free loans for over 25 years. The program allows you to benefit from reliable, comprehensive, and affordable financing for veterinary services across Canada, so everyone has the opportunity to access affordable vet care.
They offer personal loans ranging from $500 to $25,000 that cover the following:
- Veterinary surgery.
- Spaying/neutering.
- Dental cleaning.
- Radiography.
- Laboratory tests.
- Euthanasia.
Their service ensures you get instant approval, that your credit score won’t be affected by applying, and that you enjoy flexible payment terms which allow you to manage your monthly payments.
4. GoFundMe
Are you a low-income earner who needs help covering vet bills? GoFundMe is here to help. You can quickly raise money for your pet’s surgery with pet fundraising, so your beloved pet can receive the veterinary care it needs.
Our network is more than 50 million strong, meaning members of our huge community and your friends and family have an opportunity to give back to a good cause.
There is even a category of fundraisers dedicated to pet care and animal welfare, including fundraisers for nonprofit organizations serving pets and other animals.
5. Progressive Animal Welfare Services (PAWS)
PAWS is a registered charity helping pets who would otherwise not get vet care. Their programs support urgent treatment and preventive care, such as vaccinations, blood tests, treatment for infections, minor surgery, and so much more.
They aim to help families keep pets healthy and reduce the number of unwanted pets on the street. Programs include:
- Subsidies for vet care.
- Education focused on prevention.
- Guidance for pet-friendly community agencies.
Pet owners are eligible if they’re struggling with low income, are unhoused or displaced, or fleeing violence. They currently only operate in Southwest Ontario, serving the counties of Middlesex, Brant, Hamilton, and Waterloo.
6. Paws for Hope Animal Foundation
Paws for Hope supports pet owners with inadequate access to veterinary care in British Columbia. Its Better Together veterinary funding program is a one health system that aligns the resources of social service agencies, veterinary service providers, and community funding.
Paws for Hope aims to improve access to affordable vet care for under-served families and enable social service and animal care professionals to better meet their goals.
The support they offer includes:
- Veterinary care.
- Help with pet food and supplies.
- Pet licensing support.
- Support through end-of-life decisions.
- Connections to social services and public health services.
7. McVitie Veterinary Assistance Program
The McVitie Veterinary Assistance Program aims to assist low-income individuals with essential health care issues. This is defined as treatment without which the ill or injured animal will die or require humane euthanasia. To qualify for vet bill assistance, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be able to provide evidence of low-income status.
- Be a resident of British Columbia.
- Submit an application before treatment.
- Provide a history and photos of the pet.
- Only request financial assistance once in a year for up to two pets per household, and twice in the lifetime of each pet.
- Agree to follow the directions of the veterinarian regarding aftercare.
8. The Farley Foundation
Since opening in 2002, the Farley Foundation has assisted more than 13,765 pets with owners who struggle to pay for veterinary care. To apply for funding, you must fall into one of the below categories:
- Seniors receiving the Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS).
- Disabled individuals receiving the Ontario Disability Support Payment (ODSP) or the Canada Pension Plan Disability Payment (CPP Disability).
- Individuals receiving assistance through the Ontario Works Program.
- Persons with an annual household income of less than $25,000.
- Supportive housing for seniors, retirement homes, or long-term care facilities with live-in pets.
So far they have raised more than $6 million to help low-income pet owners with their vet bills.
9. BC SPCA Low Income Assistance
The BC SPCA Animal Hospital offers low-income pet owners discounts on in-house services including surgeries, x-rays, and hospitalization. By qualifying for financial aid, you’ll receive cover for up to 33% of the cost of services provided at the clinic (it does not provide financial aid for procedures done at other vet clinics).
Financial assistance does not apply to examinations, medication, lab work, vaccinations, or food/product purchases.
10. Alberta Helping Animals Society (AHAS)
The Alberta Helping Animals Society is a non-profit society, incorporated in Alberta and registered as a charity with the Canadian Revenue Agency. Their mission is to create opportunities for vulnerable people to access no-cost veterinary care and other services for their companion animals. This includes:
- Wellness exams.
- Spay and neuter surgery.
- Diagnosis and care for chronic illness.
- Dentistry.
- Palliative care.
- End-of-life support.
To qualify, you need to be a low-income earner in Edmonton and submit a Notice of Assessment for every adult family member living in your household. Whether you’re determined to be a low-income earner depends on how many people live in your house. For example, if you live alone the cut-off is $27,514, but for a family of four, it’s $51,128.
How crowdfunding can help with the cost of pet ownership
For thousands of low-income families across Canada, crowdfunding helps dreams come true by ensuring they can afford a pet if an emergency were to occur and vet bill assistance was required.
While you might be daunted by the prospect of money being raised on your behalf, the benefits of crowdfunding make it all worthwhile, as you realise just how accepting and generous people can be. Crowdfunding advantages include:
- Simple to set up.
- Easy to share your story with the wider community.
- Not purely reliant on large donations.
- Crowdfund for any cause.
- Safe and secure.
Here are some examples of where crowdfunding through GoFundMe has helped low-income families pay for vet bills, making a huge difference to their lives and their adoring pets.
Help Rufus get a better chance at life!
Rufus was neglected in a cage amidst filth and neglect, enduring unimaginable suffering. He also faced relentless attacks from other canines, further worsening his condition. Bruised and battered, the dog bore the scars of physical abuse, with skin and blood-borne infections, dental issues, and severe malnourishment.
Kathy started a fundraiser to help Rufus on his long journey to recovery, with donations going towards medicine, tests, and more.
Esteban’s Life-Saving Oral Surgery
Karly started a fundraiser for her dog Esteban’s life-saving oral tumour surgery. The cost estimate for the surgery was between $8,300 and $11,000. With the surgery set to go ahead on February 2nd 2024, Karly needed to raise funds quickly. Without the surgery, they would have to say goodbye to Esteban.
Fortunately, the fundraiser ensured Esteban was able to have the surgery. An update was shared on his fundraising page to say he was doing well in recovery.
Eevee’s Liver Shunt Surgery
Sydney started a fundraiser for her seven-month-old corgi puppy, Eevee. Eevee was a rescue and had a rough start in life, having been discarded from a puppy mill after being attacked by another dog. Just after she was adopted, Eevee’s health worsened and it was later discovered she had pneumonia which turned into sepsis. The vet also found she had a liver shunt.
The ICU bill was $10,000 and the pet insurance company refused to cover it, plus, the surgery would cost another $10,000. Therefore, Sydney created a fundraiser to help cover the costs.