Ask Frog Princess: Does FBRN Pay for Pet Owners' ER Care?

Helene asks, "Does the French Bulldog Rescue Network ever help french bulldog owners who can't pay for medical emergency care for their pet Frenchie?"

Hello, Helene!

The short answer to your question is "No."  From time to time someone writes the website and asks for information on organizations that offer help to families in need and we send out this list that one of our volunteers found awhile ago now. We don't know if it is current.  Given the current economy, we hope that there are additional, possibly local, venues for assistance.

Adorable iMax looking for the right home.
 

The following was posted by the Arizona Animal Rescue Coalition

American Animal Hospital Association http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/ home/

"The heartbreak happens all too often a pet owner is unable to afford treatment and their sick or injured companion animal pays the price. If the owner is elderly, disabled or on a fixed income, the cost of care may be too much of a stretch for their pocketbook. Perhaps they have been victimized by crime, property loss or a job layoff and are experiencing a temporary financial hardship making it too difficult to afford pet care. And some animals, brought to clinics by Good Samaritans, don't have an owner to pay for treatment. Whatever the situation, the fact remains the same: When sick or injured animals are unable to receive veterinary care, they suffer. Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship."

Ouzo cuddles with a friend.

 Angels 4 Animals www.Angels4Animals. org

 "Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services, has a mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. At Angels4Animals we believe that animal owners should not have to say goodbye to the animals that they love. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the country, eager to assist as many animals, and their owners, as possible. Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need."
 

 Care Credit www.carecredit.com

 A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. "CareCredit, the leader in patient/client financing, has helped more than 3 million patients/clients get the treatment or procedures they needed and wanted. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget."

Brinks and a boy.

 Help-A-Pet http://www.help- a-pet.org/ home.html "Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor. For lonely seniors, physically/mentally challenged individuals and children of working parents, pets represent much more than a diversion."
 

 IMOM http://www.imom. org "Mission Statement: Helping people help pets. To better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged."

 The Pet Fund http://thepetfund. com/ "The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or emergency vet visits. Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund isto work towards a future where decisions about companion animalmedical care need never be made on the basis of cost."

Albee finds a sunbeam.

 

United Animal Nations http://www.uan. org/lifeline/ index.html "The mission of LifeLine is to help homeless or recently rescued animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. We strive to serve Good Samaritans and rescue groups who take in sick or injuredanimals. In certain cases, LifeLine can also assist senior citizens and low-income families pay for immediate emergency veterinary care."

 Injury Specific:

HandicappedPets. com

http://www.handicap pedpets.com/ Articles/ help/
 
 Brand new boy Bucho

"From time to time, HandicappedPets. com recognizes a caretaker of handicapped pets that need some special attention, and a little extra help. There are those who are so selflessly dedicated to their animal families that they give up a little more than they can afford."
 

And that is the list we found a while ago on the Internet.  Of course, there may be local support organizations for people who are in economic straits, and the more determined to find them you are, the more likely it is that you'll find them.  
Earlier this week, ASPCA announced that with other animal welfare groups, The Gulf Coast Companion Animal Relief Program has been launched to help families whose lives have been crushed by the BP oil catastrophe to keep their pets.  This program covers routine health care for pets, including spay/neuter.

Madelyn Rose working the camera!

One option mentioned above for emergency care is the CareCredit card.  Some of our volunteers have used this credit card--which is very handy, because if you pay on time, the first year is interest-free--but they warn that a late payment can result in a high interest rate being applied to the remainder of the loan's payoff period.   It may make as much sense to use a standard credit card depending on your situation and ability to pay, but of course you should weigh the risks and benefits.

The Frog Princess