Financial Hardship Veterinary Services

DAMC offers the best veterinary care in the area, by employing the best staff and providing them the best equipment available in the industry. Of course, all of this doesn’t come cheap. Therefore, if you’re facing some financial hardship and cannot afford our veterinary services, we have some solutions that may benefit you.

1. 1. Humane Society of Pinellas County – The Humane Society of Pinellas is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been caring for animals and our community since 1949. They are dedicated to providing individualized care for every animal that comes their way and ensure that every treatable animal is treated. As Pinellas County’s largest no-kill animal shelter, they do NOT receive any State or Federal tax dollars, or funding from any national animal organizations including the Humane Society of the United States or the ASPCA.
   2. Red Rover – The RedRover Relief program provides financial assistance, resources, training, and support to individuals and organizations.
   3. Humane Society’s Pets Fur People – The Humane Society’s Pets Fur People offers affordable vaccinations (except Rabies), basic testing, worming and nail trims for dogs and cats. They have no veterinarian on staff and staff will not diagnose health issues.
   4. Brown Dog Foundation – The typical process for aid approval takes anywhere from 2-5 business days, depending upon the requirements of treatment and, most importantly, the cooperation of the pet owner and doctor. 
   5. Care Credit – The CareCredit credit card can be used for routine veterinary appointments, grooming services, emergency pet care, or a variety of surgeries and treatments your pet may need. It gives pet owners the peace of mind needed to care for pets big and small.
   6. Cats in Crisis – Cats in Crisis Inc is a small nonprofit rescue owned and run by volunteers. They are not a shelter. All kittens and cats are cared for in foster homes where they are fed quality food, regularly parasite treated, loved and integrated with families. 

Many people consider their pets to be part of the family, but when times are tough, getting quality vet care for your pet can be difficult. Low-cost vet care clinics provide an essential service for pet owners who might not otherwise be able to afford medical treatment for their fur babies.

Sometimes you don’t need best-in-class pet care.

A degree in veterinary medicine can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is a huge block for those who wish to become veterinarians.  Therefore, for the few that achieve the education and credentials, that dream results in a huge financial burden in the way of student-loan debt. The societal end-result is a huge shortage of veterans and more expensive veterinary care.

To make veterinary care more affordable, there are a few “discount" veterinarians who might use older equipment, employ fewer professional staff (doing most of the work themselves), administer expired medication, and even make sacrifices in their own personal lifestyles. 

Keeping your pets safe and healthy will cost money. 

Preventative care is much more affordable than emergency care, and the best way to avoid emergency vet care is to focus on prevention. This means regular checkups, vaccinations, and sometimes routine blood work or other tests. Preventive care can catch problems early before they become serious (and more expensive) health issues.

Pets still need treatment.

When a pet is sick or injured, their owners want to do whatever it takes to make them better. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford the high cost of specialty surgical procedures and other treatments that might be required. This is where low-cost vet care comes in; by providing affordable medical treatment, these clinics ensure that more pets can get the treatment they need regardless of their owner’s financial situation.

Low-Cost Vet Care Helps to Prevent Euthanasia

When faced with a sick or injured pet and a tight budget, some pet owners may feel that their only option is to have their beloved animal euthanized because they can’t afford veterinary care. This is a heartbreaking decision that no one should have to make, but sadly it happens all too often. Low-cost vet care clinics help to prevent this tragedy by offering affordable medical treatment options for pet owners in need.

While DAMC provides pet care at competitive rates, our rates are based on services that require the best doctors, veterinary technicians and state-of-the-art veterinary technology.

Low-cost vet care is vital for many pet owners who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford medical treatment for their furry friends. We provide the list of resources above for people who can’t afford our services. We suggest that all pet owners invest in preventative care for the life of their pet, to avoid surprises later that necessitate higher-cost emergency services. By providing affordable preventive care, these clinics help to keep more pets healthy and improve the quality of life for both pets and their owners.