The Pet Fund

Home Mission Statement For Applicants For Veterinarians Preventative Care Financial Assistance Resources Product Information Resources Donations Donor Resources Corporate Sponsorship Advice for Nonprofits Our Special Friends Memorial Recommended Reading Articles Links Clinical Studies For Shelter Directors Working with Breeders and Rescues About Us	Financial Assistance Resources The Pet Fund wishes to provide our applicants for funding with every possible resource with which to develop financial independence. The Pet Fund is not responsible for the outcome of any involvement with any financial service associated with our website, but we do welcome you to make responsible decisions about which services might be appropriate for your individual financial situation. While the staff of The Pet Fund is unable to advise you regarding financial matters, we do encourage you to explore positive solutions to avoid future fiscal crises. The following are services which may be helpful to you to develop your financial resources. The following resources may be helpful solutions for financial difficulties: Ask your veterinarian about setting up a payment plan for the needed medical treatment. Register with a local temporary agency to obtain employment on a “temp” basis, or to pick up a part-time or second job to generate additional income. Exchange services with family, friends or neighbors—for example, doing home repair, babysitting, or cleaning in exchange for payment for needed veterinary care. Hold a garage sale to get rid of unused or unwanted appliances, furniture, equipment, etc. Ask your credit card companies for an increase in your available credit. Consider meeting with a credit counseling service if your credit rating is poor, or you have too much credit debt, to reduce your debt and arrange an affordable payment plan. Consider consolidating your credit debt into a single loan, or refinancing your home to lower your total debt/monthly payment amount. Apply to your bank or credit union for a short-term loan. Inquire about your retirement account or other tax-sheltered account, to find out about penalties for early withdrawal of funds or increase in monthly dividends. Temporarily reduce the amount of your paycheck going to employer contribution/retirement accounts if you are currently employed. Evaluating your monthly budget can be useful - cutting “extras” like cable television fees, eating out, etc. can add up quickly. Make a list of essential needs; then temporarily cancel all extra expenditures. Sell unwanted items of value on an internet auction site. If you are employed, consider using a cash-advance service. Please be aware that some of these agencies charge outrageous interest rates, so be cautious using these types of services. If you are unemployed, contact your local Employment Development Department to see if you qualify for benefits, including unemployment insurance, disability benefits, and employment assistance. Many EDD offices also offer paid training in a variety of fields which may help you to find both training and employment in a new field. Check online employment sites for new job openings and opportunities. Updating your resume and gathering letters of recommendation from previous employers and associates will help you in your job search. Call businesses in your area to inquire about any positions which may be open. Networking with your friends and family may also help you to find out about employment opportunities. Finally, the following are resources which may be helpful both to deal with financial crises and to plan for the future. Consider meeting with a financial planning firm, credit counseling agency, insurance broker, or retirement planning service to design realistic budgets and goals for the future which will enable you to become financially independent. Set up a savings account to plan for all future emergencies, including veterinary care. Ideally you should be able to save at least 10% of your monthly budget for this account. Consider veterinary insurance – there are several pet insurance programs available nationally. Many of these plans are very affordable and will enable you to avoid future financial crises involving veterinary care. However, coverage is limited and these programs will not substitute for having a savings account in place. Budget a monthly allowance for preventative veterinary care. Regular “well-pet” checkups and good preventative care practices will help avoid medical crises for your pet in future.
	The following links may be useful resources for emergency financial assistance and access to health care services. 1. Women, Infants & Children: WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic 2. Food Stamps: Food Stamps help low-income people buy food. Although it is a federal government program, it is run by state or local agencies. For information about applying, click here: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10101.html 3. Avoiding Foreclosure: Federal programs which help with assistance in avoiding foreclosure: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/topics/avoiding_foreclosure 4. National School Lunch Program: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch 5. Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF): http://www.welfareinfo.org 6. Medicare/Medicaid Eligibility Information: http://www.medicare.gov/default.aspx http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11306.pdf 7. The Salvation Army offers programs to help with utilities and housing nationwide: http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-dynamic-arrays/ACEBE360E86E201A8525784C006FE670?openDocument&charset=utf-8 8. Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are two Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities: http://www.ssa.gov/disability/
	CareCredit - CareCredit is the nation’s leading patient client plan. With CareCredit you can finance 100% of your vet care and there are no upfront costs, no annual fees, and no pre-payment penalties. So, you can begin treatment today and conveniently pay with low, monthly payments. CareCredit offers several payment plans so you can find one that works best for you. With the popular No Interest Payment Plans* there are no interest charges if you pay your balance in full within the specified time period. Monthly payments can be as low as 3% of your balance. For treatment plans from $1,500 to $25,000, CareCredit offers 24, 36, and 48 month plan options with low monthly payments available. CareCredit can be used for pet supplies, ongoing, or emergency treatment without having to reapply. And by using CareCredit for your pet's health, you can save your other credit cards for household or unplanned expenses. It only takes a few minutes to apply for CareCredit and you'll receive an online decision in seconds. Apply Now www.carecredit.com
	LendUp - LendUp Instant Loans is a trusted San Francisco-based lender dedicated to helping Californians meet their short and long term financial needs. At LendUp we understand that a pet’s immediate medical needs come first, which is why we offer instant decisioning on loans of up to $250 for 30 days, and offer proven borrowers up to $1,000. In the long term, LendUp helps its customers build credit so that they can better weather future financial emergencies. Applying for a LendUp Instant Loan is a simple, safe, and fast process. You find out instantly if you are approved for a loan, and we have a California-based customer service team standing by should you have questions along the way. LendUp has been featured in publications such as CNN, TIME, NPR, and is a trusted lender to thousands of Californians just like you. Find out more or apply now at: www.LendUp.com
	The Humane Society of the United States - The following HSUS link provides links for pet assistance organizations in each state, including spay and neuter and basic care resources: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html
	Navigating Medicare and Medicaid, 2005 - A Resource Guide for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates, February 2005. An invaluable resource guide for persons with disabilities covering all aspects of Medicare and Medicaid. Reprinted with permission of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. www.kff.org/medicare/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=50946
	Keeping Medicare and Medicaid When You Work, 2005 - A Resource Guide for People with Disabilities, Their Families, and Their Advocates, February 2005. A companion resource guide to Navigating Medicare and Medicaid 2005. A critical tool for persons or families who need information about guidelines for Medicare and Medicaid while maintaining employment. Reprinted with permission of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. www.kff.org/medicare/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=50943
	California Department of Social Services Assistance Dog Special Allowance (ADSA) Program. The Assistance Dog Special Allowance (ADSA) Program provides a monthly payment of $50 to eligible persons who use a guide, signal, or service dog to help them with needs related to their physical disabilities. The allowance is to help pay the costs of food, grooming, and health care for the dogs. This program, available to residents of California, will provide these funds monthly toward the care of registered service dogs. Phone: (916) 657-2628 www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/PG82.htm
	The Assistance Dog United Campaign. Operated in association with The Assistance Dog Institute, this nonprofit helps people with disabilities find funding to purchase service dogs. info@assistancedogunitedcampaign.org
	State Farm Insurance - State Farm offers a renters policy that covers damage caused by pets. The renters policy includes 100K in liability along with personal property coverage. For information contact Rich Williams in California at: Phone: (916) 447-8560. http://www.statefarm.com/agent/US/CA/Sacramento/Rich-Williams-W5NR5304000