Hands to Paws, Inc. is a small, local licensed rescue and non-profit that tries to assist pet owners in the community when our funds allow us to do so.
In order to qualify for assistance, there are things you need to do prior to contacting us unless it is an urgent, life-threatening situation for your pet.
Please read below and follow the suggestions before contacting us.
In order to qualify for assistance, there are things you need to do prior to contacting us unless it is an urgent, life-threatening situation for your pet.
Please read below and follow the suggestions before contacting us.
- For assistance with spay or neuter, we recommend you contact That's What Friends Are For, Inc.
- Make a visit to your regular veterinarian to obtain a diagnosis and quote of estimated cost for treatment and/or procedure for your pet.
- Scan or take a picture of these documents as you will need to upload them at the time of request submission. You will also need these documents for any of the local, national and regional assistance programs and if you choose to use any of the online platforms to raise funds on your own these docs might be required. They will also improve your fundraising when you can show the public the need and legitimacy.
- Apply for Care Credit and/or Scratch Pay .
- See "Crowd Funding and Payment Plans for Pets" below.
- We can no longer fully fund any requests. The pet owner must come up with a portion of the estimated costs before veterinarian treatment / procedures are scheduled.
- Ask your veterinarian if they have some sort of angel fund that can help with the cost of the procedure/treatment for your pet.
- Search out additional community resources.
- Contact Zeus' Crusaders (Lost/Found, Rescue, Indigent Care) on Facebook. They are another group in the CSRA that can assist. Please let these groups know that you are looking into additional funding options and that you are getting together a portion of the funds on your own. They will want to know this information.
- If you are a member of a church you can reach out to see if they have some sort of assistance that they can provide.
- Contact family/friends to see what assistance they can provide. Even $10-$25 here and there can help.
- You can start a Go Fund Me fundraiser
- Review national and regional financial resource options below that might be able to assist.
Temporary/emergency placement / medical assistance for pets
- Oscar's Cause - Offers help with temporary placement and works with facilities who can care for a pet until the owner is able to assume the responsibility. Also assist with transportation if a pet owner is moving, financial assistance to pet owners with dental treatments, vaccinations, toys, pet carriers, blankets, temporary food, assistance, 24-hour emergency help.
- Pact for Animals - This is a 501c, nationwide, nonprofit organization whose mission is to help keep people and their pets companion pets together by finding temporary foster care when they temporarily cannot care for their pets. PACT offers services to those serving in the military and military support personnel during deployment, training, or permanent change of station. Also assists pet owners who are experiencing a medical emergency and require long term hospitalization and recovery time. They help infants to senior citizens and partner with many major hospitals across the country.
- 911 Foster Pets - Their mission is to help save pets by seamlessly connecting animal animal shelters, rescue groups, and individual pet owners with local homes willing to foster a pet in need.
- STARelief - Provides emergency boarding/foster care up to a 60 day period. Also provides emergency medical care, routine medical care, spay.neuter, microchip, etc. Grants are between $100.00 to $500.00. Grants are given directly to the service provider, never to the grant recipient.
- Phinney's - A group of volunteers who help people and their pets from their own homes. They help people get needed pet supplies, assist with vet care and boarding by paying the bill directly to the clinic or boarding facility.
- Borrow My Doggy - Connects dog owners with trusted local people who would love to look after their dog for walks, weekends, and holidays. It could also be a good way to find someone to help in a situation where someone needs someone to look after their dog temporarily in an emergency situation.
- MayHew - Provide shelter and care for pets of people in crisis for short periods of time.
funding for temporary pet boarding for domestic violence situations
- Red Rover - The Red Rover Safe Escape grant program helps families with pets safely escape domestic violence together. Funding is mainly provided to help with the cost of temporary pet boarding while a client is in a domestic violence shelter though other costs associated with boarding like vaccinations can be considered. Applications must be submitted by a domestic violence advocate. advocate.
- Banfield Foundation Safer Together Grants - Assisting pets and their people affected by domestic violence. Funding can be awarded to a nonprofit housing the pets which has a formal established relationship with at least one nonprofit domestic violence shelter.The March application is on hold as we are currently supporting other strategic Safer Together projects. Please check back before the September application cycle for any additional updates.
temporary boarding / financial assistance for pet owners in military
- Dogs on Deployment - A 5013c non profit which provides an online network for service members to search for volunteers who are willing to board their pets during their owner's service commitments. They also advocate for military pet owner's rights, providing educational resources and granting financial assistance for military pet owners during times of emergency.
- SPCA's International Operation Military Pets - The mission is to keep military families together by providing financial assistance for pet relocation costs. All branches of the military can qualify for grants. Whether being relocated within the United States or anywhere in the world, SPCA International’s Operation Military Pets is here to keep pets with the ones they love.
- Pact for Animals - This is a 501c, nationwide, nonprofit organization whose mission is to help keep people and their pets companion pets together by finding temporary foster care when they temporarily cannot care for their pets. PACT offers services to those serving in the military and military support personnel during deployment, training, or permanent change of station. Also assists pet owners who are experiencing a medical emergency and require long term hospitalization and recovery time. They help infants to senior citizens and partner with many major hospitals across the country.
- Guardian Angel for Soldier's Pet - Assist with finding temporary foster homes within their network. Short term can be up to fourteen days and longer periods can be between two and twelve months of temporary pet foster care.
- Military Pet Assistance Fund - Assists homeless veterans with veterinary care and temporary boarding expenses.
life saving emergency veterinary care for pets
- Frankie's Friends - Provides financial assistance grants to family owned pets in need of lifesaving emergency or specialty veterinary care whose caregivers cannot afford the full cost of treatment and where the pet would otherwise suffer, be euthanized, or relinquished without proper medical care. Grants will not exceed $2,000 per household.
- Saving Gracie - Financial assistance to pet owners whose pet has been diagnosed with a life threatening emergency and the owner has already paid for the exam and diagnosis. Financial assistance is given directly to the veterinarian.
- Dylan's Hearts - Non profit organization helping families struggling financially to help pay for veterinary care for companion animals.
- Pet Assistance, Inc. - Offers grants to pet owners and are based on urgency, need, and diagnosis. They assist long time pet owners. Funds aren't available to new pet owners.
- Friends & Vets - Funds treatments for curable (lifesaving, not life-prolong) diseases such as tumors, broken bones, ambulatory care, expensive medication, or post-surgical prosthetics such as a K-9 cart.
- For the Love of Alex - Funds for emergency and life threatening situations. Payment goes directly to the veterinarian caring for the pet.
- Brown Dog Foundation - Provides funding for families who find themselves with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment but due to unforeseen circumstances, there is not enough money to afford the care.
financial assistance for non-emergency veterinary care
- The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation - Provides grants to families that are unable to afford necessary veterinary care and are in need of financial assistance to keep their dog healthy and in their home.
- Help a Pet - Provides financial assistance to pet owners who are unable to afford the cost of veterinary services, medicine, or medical supplies for a sick or injured pet. To qualify annual income must be below $20,000 for an individual or $40,000 for a family.
- The Onyx & Breezy Foundation - Assists pet owners with medical treatments, medications, food, etc.
- Molly's Hope - provides financial assistance to pets ($300 - $400.00) that are in need of medical treatment.
- Hope Mending Hearts - offers grants to pet owners that have a pet in need of veterinary care. Must have a diagnosis by a veterinarian. Up to $200.00.
- The Pet Lifeline Program - Pet News Daily. Basic medical care (regular checkups/exams, spay and neuter procedures, dental, vaccinations, etc.) Non-basic, non-urgent medical care (cancer treatment, heart disease; chronic conditions, endocrine diseases, diabetes, eye diseases, IBD, etc.)Urgent medical care (diagnostic testing, broken limbs, torn ligaments, internal bleeding, etc. Emergency medical care (life-threatening conditions, injuries or illnesses).
assistance to help senior citizens keep their pets
- Meals on Wheels Senior Pet Support - Helps seniors with pets keep their pets by providing pet food and other assistance.
financial / medical assistance for cats and kittens
- Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance - nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life‐threatening illness or injury strikes
- Diabetic Cats in Need - Our One-Time Assistance Program provides a glucose testing kit and a few months’ supply of insulin (or reimbursement of up to $150–receipt required for reimbursement) to those who may not qualify as low-income, but who have been hit by the shock of a new diagnosis and need some time to save up for the long term costs.
financial assistance for pets with ophthalmic conditions
- Bond's Fund - Financial assistance used specifically for the treatment of ophthalmic conditions. Does not cover primary or preventative care, diagnostic testing, the initial exam, or ongoing monthly medications.
financial assistance for pets diagnosed with cancer
- The Magic Bullet - They help raise funds for surgery and chemotherapy treatment. This is not a grant and pet owners have to assist with the fundraising process.
- Land of Pure Gold - Provides assistance to full time working dogs diagnosed with cancer.
- Live Like Roo offers three different programs for financial assistance:
- Maggie's Fund - Assists cats through cancer diagnosis.
- The Booker Fund - Assists pets in hospice.
- The Cappy Fund - Assists animals in rescue or foster homes to heal from cancer.
- Maggie's Fund - Assists cats through cancer diagnosis.
assistance for handicapped pets
- Handicapped Pets Foundation - Dedicated to the health and well being of elderly, disabled, and injured pets. They donate new or reconditioned wheelchairs to pets in need.
- Rescue Rollers - is a registered 501c3 non profit, volunteer based and offers assistance to shelters, animal rescues, and individuals taking care of special needs pets.
financial assistance for dogs with cushing's syndrome
- Tipper & Squirt's Care for Cushing's Fund - Assists people at or below poverty level but will consider special circumstances and hardships people may be facing when determining eligibility. Funds are granted for testing and treatment performed and prescribed by a licensed Veterinarian.
crowd funding and payment plans for pets
- Care Credit - You can use this card to pay for your pet's procedures or routine medical care, then set up a payment plan so you don't need to cover all of your costs up front. Some financial assistance programs will require that you apply for Care Credit first before applying for aid, so it's a good idea to do some research and apply if you suspect you may need some assistance.
- Plumfund - This general crowdfunding site is a great option for creating a campaign for your pet. They have options that are one hundred percent free with low transaction fees. And they will also help you raise money through offline payments at no cost to you.
- Wag! - This popular dog walking app now offers a service to help you crowdfund emergency medical services of over $2,000.00 for your pet. If selected, Wag! will agree to donate a certain dollar amount for each walk that happens through the app on a given day while promoting your crowdfunding campaign. You'll need to have a crowdfunding campaign already set up in order to qualify, but the funds raised may be sent directly to your veterinarian of your crowdfunding campaign.
- Scratch Pay - Allows you to find a payment plan for immediate pet care at thousands of clinics. You can apply on their site and once they accept a payment option your clinic receives a confirmation email.
- Free Animal Doctor - This method of crowdfunding is as close as you can get to donating directly to the animal in need. Your donation is to a specific animal, not to a general fund. Funds go directly to the veterinarian or other medical service provider such as a non-profit animal rescue. No fees. We ask donors to voluntarily add a ten percent add-on to their donation to help us cover costs but this is completely optional. We take no fee out of the donated amount and we don't charge credit card processing fees. One hundred percent of your donation is applied to the animal's account!
- CoFund Me - Free online fundraising campaign. Get help from family, friends, and your community to take care of your pet's needs.
- Vet Billing - An online platform that lets you create customized in-house payment solutions within minutes. Our goal is to expand financial access to veterinary care so more pets get the care they need.
- Waggle - We're the first and only pet dedicated crowdfunding platform devoted to raising funds for pets in medical crisis. Waggle partners with celebrities, social influencers, and nonprofits to help pets in need. Your pet could be chosen for a grant or sponsorship and your pet may qualify for some extra attention, a matching grant or sponsorship.