Pet Fundraising Guide: How to Raise Money for Your Pet’s Needs

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| 11 min read Fundraising Strategy

If you’re like the majority of Americans, you probably own a pet that you consider a member of your family. Your pet’s presence is truly woven into the fabric of your everyday life. That’s why when your pet goes missing, falls ill, or needs emergency surgery, it can shake your foundation and leave you feeling anxious about the future. Crowdfunding for pet expenses can ease financial burdens and allow you to get your pal the help they need, right when they need it. Whether you own a cat, dog, guinea pig, bullfrog—or any animal in between—this pet fundraising guide offers fundraising tips for animals that will boost donations for your pet fundraiser.

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Pet insurance: Everything you need to know

Before we jump into pet fundraising, our team has gathered top things to know about pet insurance which can offer additional support. Pet insurance is a great way to make sure you are able to cover unexpected pet emergencies, but it can be quite costly. It’s important to know that even with pet insurance, pet expenses can still be enormous. Below are the basics about pet insurance, including costs and what it covers.

What is pet insurance?

Pet insurance is a policy with a monthly premium that reimburses you for select medical expenses. Pet insurance plans and levels of coverage vary like human health insurance. Where you live, the pet insurance plan you choose, and your pet’s age, species, and breed all determine your insurance rates.

How much is pet insurance?

Pet insurance rates rage between $9 to over $100 per month. Moreover, the average cost of pet insurance for accidents and illness coverage is 65% more expensive for dogs compared to cats, and older and larger animals with health issues experience higher pet insurance rates. For context, the breakdown of average pet premiums in the US in 2023 were as follows:

Accident and illness pet coverage

  • The monthly cost of pet insurance for dogs was $56.30 and $31.94 for cats.
  • The annual cost of pet insurance for dogs was $675.61 and $383.30 for cats.

Accident-only pet coverage

  • The monthly cost of pet insurance for dogs was $17.01 and $9.68 for cats.
  • The annual cost of pet insurance for dogs was $204.16 and $116.11 for cats.

Accident-only pet insurance is less expensive since it only covers injuries. A plan that covers both accidents and illnesses will offer more comprehensive coverage.

What does pet insurance cover?

In general, there are three types of pet insurance plans that each differ on what’s covered and what’s excluded:

  • Accident-only plans cover emergency care for accidents. Breed-specific concerns, illnesses, and pre-existing conditions are usually not covered.
  • Accident and illness plans cover tests and treatments for accidents and illnesses. Pre-existing conditions and routine care are generally not covered.
  • Accident and illness plans with a wellness add-on cover all expected or unexpected treatments. Pre-existing conditions are generally not covered. A wellness add-on covers routine care, checkups, and yearly vaccines. Although this type of plan is the most expensive, it offers the highest level of coverage.

4 ways pet fundraising can make a difference

Aside from pet insurance, consider crowdfunding to help cover pet expenses. People raise money on GoFundMe every day for their pets to help with things such as vet bills, pet surgery costs, and animal rescue efforts. Crowdfunding is an especially helpful option if you’re experiencing a pet emergency and you don’t have cash on hand to cover the experience. Asking friends and family to donate to help your pet recover is a quick and easy way to generate the funding you need. Take a look at four ways that crowdfunding can help you and your pet.

1. Fundraise for pet emergencies and accidents

Americans spent $147 billion on their pets in 2023, according to the American Pet Products Association. This is no surprise when considering that emergency vet services can run into the thousands. It would be ideal to have money earmarked for our furry friends, but we’re often caught financially unprepared in emergency situations. This is where starting a GoFundMe for vet bills can help offset the costs so you can focus on your pet’s health and wellness.

Sir Thomas Trueheart, a brave feline, is just one kitty who experienced an emergency and needed some serious help. Sir Thomas was found wandering around blind with severe injuries after a cruel human doused the fluffy cat’s face in acid.

A good Samaritan took him to the vet where he stayed for over a month, receiving pricey pain meds, surgeries, and skin grafts. To help offset the enormous vet bills, his rescuer created a pet fundraiser on GoFundMe and raised over $13,000. In the end, Sir Thomas lost an eye and will have lifelong medical issues, but he made an incredible recovery from the traumatic event and now lives peacefully with people who love him.

2. Fundraise for pet travel expenses

Airfare isn’t only expensive for humans; airlines still charge a pretty penny if your pet has to be checked as cargo. Maybe you’re moving and need to get your dog from point A to point B, or maybe you need to buy a plane ticket for yourself so you can reach your newly adopted buddy. Starting an online fundraiser can help you offset these travel expenses.

That’s exactly what Amelia did when her dad needed to be reunited with his ‘therapy’ dog, Jude. After 35 years, Amelia and her family made the decision to move to the UK. This was an especially major move for her dad, a retired firefighter, and his dog. Since the journey to England would be a challenging one, Amelia started a fundraiser to help fund the overseas trip for her dad and Jude.

3. Fundraise for euthanasia and cremation costs

It’s certainly not something you want to think about, but you may be at the point where ending your best friend’s suffering is the right thing to do. Sadly, animal euthanasia at an emergency vet hospital can cost as much as $200, according to an article by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, a private cremation can run anywhere from $175 to as high as $250 on average.

Starting a fundraiser for these costs allows you to send your pet off in dignity as soon as it’s needed. That’s what Sabrina felt she had to do when her dog was diagnosed with terminal cancer and became very ill. Sabrina’s fundraiser has helped her to pay for euthanasia, cremation, and other vet costs.

4. Start a pet fundraiser to support your favorite animal charities

If you’re part of a nonprofit doing good for animals far and wide, you can attest to the amount of money it takes to run an organization. Or perhaps you just need funding to get your organization off the ground. Pet fundraising helps you raise the money you need to get your 501(c)(3) Certified Charity status and pay for any startup costs that arise while launching your charity.

Jason relied on GoFundMe to help him start his very own nonprofit called Gunnar’s Wheels. The organization’s name pays tribute to Gunnar, his black labrador that was hit by a truck and left paraplegic. Gunnar’s Wheels provides injured or disabled pups with wheelchair carts that their owners can’t afford. When Jason discovered that the carts cost between $125 and $700, he knew some extra money was needed to make his dream a reality. Thankfully, he was able to raise over $200,000 through GoFundMe to help other doggos get around and live their best lives.

For more inspiration, read Fundraising Ideas for Animal Charities. Looking for other ways you can help pups in need? Check out the best dog charities to donate to on GoFundMe.

5 powerful tips to help your pet fundraiser reach more donors

When starting a fundraiser from scratch, it can be tough to know exactly what information to include and how to get your cause out there to the masses. Not to worry—in this pet fundraising guide, we’ve got five tips to get you off to a purrrrrfect start.

1. Tell your pet’s story

Who doesn’t love being immersed in a riveting tale? And when the protagonist is an adorable pet in need, animal lovers won’t be able to resist.

To engage your potential supporters, you’ll want to write a fundraiser story that truly explains what your pet means to you and why you need help. You’ll want to include multiple photos of your pet since everyone knows that nothing brings in new donors like adorable animal pics.

Read the story of Brookie, a sweet dog rescued off the side of a road, for a wonderful example of what a compelling story looks like.

2. Step up your social media game

When your fundraiser starts to gain traction on social media, new donations usually follow. You may think that sharing your fundraiser link on Facebook is the only way to get your fundraiser in the public eye, but we’ve got a few more ideas to help. Caitlin’s GoFundMe for her animal rescue farm is a great example of how a strong social media presence can lead to fundraising success.

Utilize Facebook

It’s important to post your fundraiser link on your Facebook feed, but why not also use Facebook Messenger? You can send individualized messages to your close friends and family members via Facebook Messenger and make a more personal connection. Our blog post on Facebook fundraising offers plenty of other tips.

Try out Instagram

Instagram was practically invented for sharing cute animal photos. Screenshot a photo of your fundraiser page or your pet’s best headshot, and then share this on your Instagram feed and Instagram Stories with a short message explaining your cause. Don’t forget to also include the link to your fundraiser in your Instagram bio so you can tell people, “Click the GoFundMe link in my bio to donate!”

Post on Nextdoor

Ask those locally in your neighborhood for support for your beloved pet. Upload a cute photo of your animal, and be sure to include the link to your fundraiser in your post. You never know who will take notice.

3. Be transparent with your needs

Knowing how to quickly raise money for your pet’s surgery can be daunting. If you have some seriously large vet bills to pay, you may want to share pictures of those on your fundraiser page. Not only will this help your fundraiser gain legitimacy, but it will also give your supporters a clearer understanding of your exact needs. If you post a photo of any bills, be sure to cover up any sensitive information, such as your address or payment information.

Troy’s fundraiser for his beautiful white husky pup named Blue is just one example of how to be transparent when fundraising.

4. Rely on your offline community

The internet has no shortage of cute animal content posted and viewed by a thriving community of animal lovers. If you’ve already found support online, why not try sharing offline for maximum results? Online fundraising without social media can be very effective when done well. Here are just a few ways to check in with people in real life.

Make it personal

When asking for donations, reach out to your friends and family members via text message, email, and phone. You’d be surprised what a difference a personal message can make. Fundraising email templates can give you a helpful general framework for your personalized messages.

Print fundraiser flyers

Rallying the support of your community is one offline fundraising strategy. Print QR code fliers for your fundraiser and hit the pavement to pass them out. You can even post them in your favorite shops—especially pet shops.

Connect with the animal community

Find animal groups in your community, and meet up with them to get the word out about your cause. Nextdoor and Facebook are good places to start looking.

5. Post frequent fundraiser updates

Once your friends and family members contribute to your fundraiser, they’ll likely be asking themselves, “Well, what happened?” Don’t leave your supporters hanging. Be sure to post frequent updates to keep people in the loop. You can also use fundraising updates as a way to thank your donors or let everyone know you need continued support.

Progress photos, as well as progress videos, are a wonderful way for your supporters to feel connected to your fundraiser, and people will be more likely to donate again or share your fundraiser with others.

Ready to start your pet fundraiser?

Whether it’s a rattlesnake bite, a food mishap, or a long-term illness, we understand that life with a pet isn’t always easy. Regardless, it’s important that you’re able to provide your pet with the love and financial care they need, when they need it. If you’re running short on funds, then GoFundMe is here to help. Learn more about how GoFundMe works and see answers to the most common fundraising questions. When you’re ready, take the first step by starting a fundraiser for your furry friend today.

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Written by GoFundMe