Millions of people have pets. They bring us so much joy, comfort, and in some cases, safety. They can be costly to care for though, which may lead some people to struggle to care for them. Seniors are vulnerable to this happening, because they live on a fixed income, which makes it more difficult for them to pay for all of their expenses. The good news is that there are places to get financial assistance for seniors’ pets.
Reaching out to places that provide financial assistance for the pets of seniors will help those who need it. They will ensure that the basic needs of the pet are being met, and they won’t feel they have to surrender them due to not being able to afford them. Making sure that everyone’s needs are being met, both pets and people is everyone’s goal.
Taking care of a pet can be costly, whether having a dog, cat, bird, horse, or something else. Not only is there the weekly expense of ensuring they have enough food to eat, but there are also periodic bills for taking the animal to the vet, and there may be the occasional emergency that leads to additional expenses. Getting financial assistance to take care of the pets is necessary for many seniors.
Places Offering Financial Assistance for Pets of Seniors
Contact the places below to see if you can get financial assistance to help take care of your pets. You may find that some places only help with providing food, while others will help with veterinary care, and some may provide a combination of the two. Contact as many of the places below that you feel may be of assistance for your situation so that you get the help that is needed to provide adequate care for the pets.
Local Humane Society or Shelter – Contact your local humane society to see if they can provide help or a referral to a local place that will provide financial assistance for the pets of seniors. When some people feel they cannot take care of their pets anymore, they drop them off at the humane society or local animal shelter. They don’t want to have to take in all of the surrendered animals, so they will often provide people with the help they need to care for their pets.
Food Pantries – While most people think of food pantries for the food that humans eat, most of them also stock up on pet foods. They provide the free pet food for those who need the assistance. Contact the food pantries and food banks in your area to see if they have any pet food that they can provide to you. To find food pantries in your area, click here.
Churches – With thousands of churches around the country, most people live near several of them. Churches are a great place to get help with things, including financial assistance. Contact the churches in your area to see if they can help you with what you need for your pets. Whether it is food, veterinary care, or something else, there is a good chance that the churches will be able to provide you with some assistance. They may ask members of their congregation to chip in to help with your situation. You don’t have to be a member of the church to get assistance from them.
Local Organizations – Contact the non-profit organizations in your area that aim to help people. Find the ones that provide free food, clothing, and other types of assistance, and reach out to them to see if they provide help with caring for pets. If they don’t help you directly, they may be able to provide you with a referral to a local place that does.
Veterinary Offices – Contact the veterinary offices in your area to see if any can provide help. If your pet needs veterinary care you can inquire about if they offer pro bono, or free, services for those who are struggling financially. Some of them may provide care for free or provide you with other options to explore.
211 – This is a number that seniors and others can call if they need financial assistance with anything. Provided by the United Way organization, this is a free referral service that is available to everyone in the country. To get more information about the program, click here.
Salvation Army – This organization has locations around the country. They provide helpful services to those in need. They do provide people with free food and may be able to help with financial assistance for providing pet care. They may also be able to give pet food to help seniors struggling to feed their animals. To get more information and find a location near you, click here.
Senior Centers – Most cities have a senior center that provides various types of support for the seniors living in the area. Contact your local senior center to see if they have recommendations about where you can get help to care for your pets. They also may maintain a list of places that they refer people to who need assistance. Senior centers are also called aging centers.
Pet Food Banks – Increasingly, there are pet food banks where people can get the food they need to feed their animals. Search around to see if there is a pet food bank in your local area. You can contact them to get the food you need for your pet, as well as get additional information about helpful free pet services in your area.
Additional Resources
Many communities have local resources that will provide help with caring for the pets of seniors. Some of the organizations specialize in helping people with their pets by providing free pet food and assisting people with medical care that the pets may need. Search around in your local area to see if there are organizations that have this mission. They are found in communities around the country and exist to help provide assistance to people who need help caring for their pets.