four month old puppy with no options!!!!

[Jason]

Hi my name is Jason and i own 2 pit bulls one a 3 yr old female and a 4 month old male. just monday the dogs were outside (they are house dogs) when i heard my 4 month old yelp and cry. I went to check on him to find he could not put any weight on his right front leg. I brought him in and called his vet that set an appt up for the following day. When i went they took xrays and siad he sustained a Medial Epicondular Fracture and surgery to fix it would be 1300 dollars and he risks lameness and limb amputation without it. Cost really isnt a problem but being the first of the month all my bill had just got paid and I get paid every 2 weeks leaving me with no option but a payment plan that my vet and every Vet in a 25 mile radius don't facilitate. My question is first any suggestions? My next check will be appx. 900 but i wont get for 2 weeks, still leaving a balance and will it be repairable after that length of time anyway? I have applied for care credit, wells fargo, and visa with no luck yet because of lack of credit history.Second does anyone know of a vet that could help me out in this situation? And third how does a vet that took a sworn oath to help out sick and injured animals first and foremost turn away a amimal and puppy in this case because simply lack of fund at this current time?That to me could be animal cruelty and neglect in itself. I know there are people and vets out there that do give and donate their time, knowledge, skills and everything else to pets in need I just havent found one yet. This has been a tragic and eye opening experience for me and my puppy i never thought that something seemingly so simple could do so much damage physicaly and emotionally. Please any help orr suggestions are greatllllllly appreciated

[Angelina Joseph]

were you live any were you live try to find humane society if there is one near you called them and tell them that your puppy really need help and you have a problems with the money and you need help if they ask you on helping around like your time then you can discus with them but they will help you I have 18 Cats and 3 dogs and the 13 Cats and the dogs are out door and 4 of them cats are in door and I lost my Job on 2008 and could not find a job now but when I took each one of them got hurt one day we did not have the money and the vets did not help us on anything not even payment plan and one of my indoor cats were FIV positive and they wants us to put him to sleep so he won't affect there rest of all our pets but they want us to pay to put him to sleep and one of my indoor cats he have a tumor in his ear and embedded to his brain so I look around and find one humane society a bout 100 miles away from our home and called them tell them everything they told us to bring all the sick animals and they will treated them and they did and they told us to help out when ever we can afford it or help out in so we did and I'm helping from home by calling them on online and called them when ever I see animals cruelty so try the humane society they might help you out peace to you and Good luck to you my prayer to the puppy and to you peace:):)

[Helen Bradberry]

Jason -- I agree with you 100%. I have been through the same thing. I did find a Vet in South Carolina who would work with me. I simply gave them post dated checks -- they even let me divide my fee into 4 payments which helped me tremendously. If this is a vet who you have used before, he should work with you in this regard. Vets are a little hesitant to do this if you are a "new" patient. Then, check to see if your particular state has an ASPCA. There are also some people out there that works with pitt bull rescue - you may be able to get some help that way. And last but not least, to all of those people who received t his email I know there is something we all can do to help Jason out - any takers

[Belles]

Helen, the only place where the ASPCA is at is in New York City. States don't have ASPCA's.. only SPCA's. Completely different organizations.

Otherwise, all good suggestions and good luck Jason!

[SibeLady]

I justed post the list of Financial aid sites on the group page. I will open a discussion with it too and have some more to add. But here you go:In Memory of Magic (IMOM) is dedicated to insuring that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged.
http://www.imom.org
IMOM, Inc
PO Box 282
Cheltenham, MD 20623
Phone [phone] Fax [phone]


United Animal Nations established the LifeLine fund in 1997 to aid companion animals in times of life-threatening emergencies when their caregivers, with low or no incomes, are unable to afford the entire cost of treatment.
http://uan.org/lifeline/index.html
United Animal Nations
P.O. Box 188890
Sacramento, California 95818
Telephone: [phone] fax: [phone]
LifeLine Fund - http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28


Help-A-Pet is a nonprofit organization, which provides financial assistance for the medical care of pets whose guardians are unable to afford the expense
http://www.help-a-pet.org/home..html
Help-A-Pet
P. O. Box 244
Hinsdale, Illinois 60521
Telephone: [phone] fax: [phone]


Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Programs provides financial assistance for emergency medical care for cats.
http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/
FVEAP
1641 Elizabeth Lane
Yuba City, CA 95993
Fax: [phone]


DISEASE-SPECIFIC


Cancer


http://www.helpy ourdogfightcancer.com/financial.html
http://www.caninecancerawarene ss.org/
http://www.themagicbulletfund .org/
http://www.codysclub.bravehost.com/


Diabetes


IMOM Diabetic Pet Fund
http://www.imom.org/diabetic-pets


Diabetic Pet Fund:
http://www.petdiabetes.net/fund/


Special Needs cats


Cats in Crisis:
http://www.catsincrisis.org/crisisFund.html


Blind Dogs


IMOM Blind Dogs Fund:
http://www.imom.org/fa/contact.htm


Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)


IMOM Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) Kitties Fund
http://www.imom.org/funds/crf.htm


Cats in Crisis Mesa Fund
http://www.catsincrisis.org/mesaFund.html


Cats - Heart and Thyroid


Cats in Crisis Stripes Fund
http://www.catsincrisis.org/stripesFund.html


Cats - Neurological conditions and mobility impairments


Cats in Crisis Gillie Fund
http://www.catsincrisis.org/gillieFund.html


ASSISTANCE DOGS


Assistance Dog Partners
http://www.iaadp.org/VCP.html


BREED-SPECIFIC


If you have a specific breed of dog, contact the national club for that breed. In some cases, these clubs offer a veterinary financial assistance fund. Here are a few websites for groups that provide financial assistance for specific breeds:


Bernese Mountain Dog
http://www.behaf.org/help.html


Corgi
http://www.corgiaid. org/


Doberman (special needs)
http://www.doberman911.org/


Great Pyrenees
http://www.angelfire.com/bc2/pyramedic/summary.html


L abrador Retriever
http://www.labmed.org
http://www.labradorlifeline.org/


Pit Bull/Staffordshire Terrier
http://www.pbrc.net/fund/financial.html


Westies
http: //www.westiemed.com/


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."


Angels 4 Animals
http://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
http://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."


Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP)
http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/
"The NEED & The HELP: Seniors, People with disabilities, People who
have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten - any
of these folks may need financial assistance to save a beloved
companion."


The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a 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.


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."






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 is
to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal
medical care need never be made on the basis of cost."






UK Assistance with Veterinary Bills
http://www.petloversonline.co.uk/financial.htm
"Most of us can cope with the financial commitment involved in the
day to day care of our pets. However, how many of us come out in a
cold sweat when our pet is ill or injured and we know we have to take
it to the vet? Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford
it but, some of us who love our animals dearly cannot. Unfortunately
we do not have a PDSA or a RSPCA Centre within our area, but there
are a few charities who may be able to help."


Other Groups Who are Breed or Injury Specific:


Corgi Aid
http://www.corgiaid.org/


Dachshunds Needing IVDD surgery
http://members.rushmore.com/~dds/applyforhelp.htm




HandicappedPets.com
http://www.handicappedpets.com/Articles/help/
"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."


Labrador Lifeline
http://www.labradorlifeline.org/success/2005-abbey.htm


LabMed: Rx For Rescued Labs
http://www.labmed.org/aid_main.html

[SibeLady]

More Financial aid listings:ASPCA List of sites:IMOM Inc., www.help-a-pet.org
* The Pet Fund, www.thepetfund.com
* Good Sam Fund, www.goodsamfund.org
* United Animal Nations LifeLine Fund, www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28

* Angels for Animals, www.angels4animals.org
* Brown Dog Foundation, http://www.browndogfoundation.org/home
* Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program, www.fveap.org
* Feline Outreach, www.felineoutreach.org
* Cats In Crisis http://www.catsincrisis.org* Orthodogs' Silver Lining Foundation (Orthopedic Cases and Service Dogs), www.oslf.org
* Canine Cancer Awareness, www.caninecancerawareness.org
* Cody's Club (Radiation treatments) http://codysclub.bravehost.com/* Diabetic Pets Fund http://www.petdiabetes.net/fund/
* The Mosby Foundation, http://www.themosbyfoundation.org

[Lea]

I would add that there may be an Emergency Animal Hospital near you that offers programs or funding for a situation like this.

I love animal lovers; they are some of the best people that I know!

God Bless You and your boy...

[Lea]

Please note that Help-A-Pet will assist Senior Citizens, disabled pet parents, and children of low-income working families.

[Deborah Cottrell DVM]

Hi, Jason. I'm a veterinarian and I've been involved in animal rescue for years. I run a free spay/neuter program for Pits from my hospital. I'd like to offer a little explanation. I understand your frustration, but here's the problem:

One out of five clients says they don't have the money for treatment. Veterinarians are small businesses--we don't get money from the county, the government, donations, or anywhere other than payment for the work we do. Imagine if you ran a mom & pop grocery store, and every day people would come in and demand food that they promised to pay for later. If you don't do it, then they say you're a cruel and heartless person because people have to eat. Vets are in the same boat.

Every owner in your situation says the same thing, but I can tell you I nearly went broke after allowing people to set up in-hospital payment plans. I tried it for five years. Only about 25% of the people actually pay. Everyone means what they say about making payments when they say it, but when it comes down to it, the vet is the last one to get paid. That comes after dinners out and movies for most people. I was close to having to declare bankruptcy.

It's not possible to protect animals and help them if we're not in business. We have to pay bills and earn a salary, too. It's unfortunate for people who DO pay their bills, but too many people ruin it for the honest ones.

Have you tried Care Credit? We use them a lot, and it works well for many people. I also will work with the client to find less expensive options. For a puppy that young, a cast or splint may be a viable option, since puppies heal so much better than adults.

Sincerely,

Debbie Cottrell DVM
westendanimal.com