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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.
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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.
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Purchase 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.
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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.
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.htmll
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.pdff
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/
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Quick Care Pet Insurance Programs - You can't predict the future of your pet's health, but you can prepare for it. Accident and illness coverage for your dog or cat. Financial protection for you.
QuickCare Pet Insurance Programs eliminate the financial stress of providing unexpected medical attention. We understand that if your pet is ill or has an accident, the last thing you want to think about is money. How much will it cost for medical attention? QuickCare Pet Insurance Programs give you peace-of-mind. We're meeting the real-life needs of today's cats, dogs and owners.
Pet insurance is a critical resource for all pet owners. Since all companion animals need a lifetime of well-pet services and medical care, planning ahead for veterinary expenses is the best and most cost-effective plan for ensuring your pets' access to needed care. Pet insurance is an essential means of protecting your pets' health and well-being as well as your financial future.
www.quickcarepetinsurance.com
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Pets Best Pet Insurance -
Pet Insurance That Really Pays! The
plans at Pets Best Insurance were created to provide peace of mind and
financial relief for pet owners. Pets Best Insurance provides pet
insurance based on consumer cost savings and enabling access to
veterinary care.
Pet health insurance is a simple, affordable solution for those who love their pets but are concerned about the financial hardship of high-quality pet care.
With Pets Best you receive:
- Extensive Coverage – Get more for your premiums and more coverage for your pet than is currently available in the market.
- Best Value – There is no benefit schedule or complicated reimbursement. It’s up to your pet’s veterinarian and you to determine the best care for your pets.
- Choice of Veterinarian – We know choosing your own veterinarian is very important to you. We don’t set fees or procedures, which means you and your veterinarian determine your pet’s care, even for referrals and specialists.
Visit Pets Best Insurance at www.petsbest.com
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CareCredit - As a service to our clients, we are pleased to offer
CareCredit, 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
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Wells Fargo - Hands on Banking - Wells Fargo has developed an exciting new financial literacy program which teaches money management skills needed in every stage of life. This series is free of charge and available to anyone online or on CD-ROM. Designed for 4th grade through adult levels and available in both English and Spanish, this commercial-free series covers important money management topics like savings, investments, home purchase, small business planning, and both establishing and keeping good credit among other essential skills. In addition, it includes extensive resources, a bilingual dictionary, and numerous worksheets for financial planning. Hands on Banking is an innovative tool which will help members of every community to achieve financial success.
www.handsonbanking.org
www.elfuturoentusmanos.org
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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: www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/trouble_affording_your_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
- 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. Phone: 800 284-DOGS (3647)