FAQ's
Why Should We Support Pet Owners Who Can't Afford Their Pet's Care?
It is simplistic to say that people should not have pets unless they can afford them. People fall on hard times and pets can be a huge comfort and a great source of companionship for people of all ages and income levels. Unfortunately many pet owners are unprepared for the costs involved in a medical emergency for their pet and there are few options out there to help them besides euthanasia.
Why Are Vets So Expensive?
All medical care costs money, however in Australia the costs are often hidden due to Medicare. Veterinarians are typically running small businesses with HUGE overheads. Medical care for animals is comparatively much cheaper than human medical care and the level of care available for animals has certainly progressed over the past 20 years. Take a look at your average medical or surgical bill (without Medicare) and all of a sudden veterinary expenses seem very small!
Most veterinary clinics operate as a 'one stop shop' and are able to provide consultation, diagnostic and surgical facilities all under one roof. and just like any business that equipment is always breaking and needing to be replaced and upgraded. The better the standard of care becomes for our pets, the more money it will cost. Our pets are living longer and unfortunately we are selectively breeding dogs and cats for diseases that did not exist 30 years ago.
In the past, medical treatment for animals was extremely basic and many were euthanased as soon as the slightest thing went wrong with them. It was rare for a cat to live until 18-20 years of age and dogs rarely made it past 12 years of age. Nowadays most pet owners consider their pets part of their family, not just workers and accordingly, vets are able to treat more diseases than ever. Vet clinics need to pay staff, rent, equipment costs and many other bills to keep the lights on at a practice. Just as you would not expect your mechanic to discount the cost of repairing your car, your veterinarian should not be expected to subsidise your pet's care.
My Pet Needs a Dental, Can you Help?
We have in the past covered dental treatments, however we soon realised that the problem is too big for our little fund! It is estimated that 85% of pets over 3 years of age have untreated dental disease. Many of the dogs and cats we are breeding nowadays are genetically predisposed to dental disease from a young age. your pet has smelly breath, the sooner he/she receives help, the better (and cheaper) it will be in the long-run. Even older pets are safely anaesthetised for dental treatment and often gain a new lease on life after their teeth are cleaned up. Many clinics will offer free dental checks, which will allow you to get an idea of the costs involved in treatment and the extent of the problem. You can be referred to the RSPCA for dental treatment at a reduced rate by ACT Pet Crisis Fund if you are unable to afford dentistry at your regular vet. Please send us an email for further information.
Can Pet Owners Apply to the Fund Directly?
At this stage the fund is entirely volunteer-run and much of our time and resources are spent on fundraising. Many of us work as well as volunteer. It is therefore not possible for us to process applications directly. Your first step is to visit a veterinarian so they can work out what treatment your pet needs. Your vet can then apply to the fund on your behalf if you have no other options to pay for care. Our group of volunteers will then consider your vet's application and notify them if they are successful. It can also be useful to mention ACT Pet Crisis Fund when you are visiting your veterinarian, so they know to apply for the cost of your consultation fee as well.
My Vet Does not Know About the Fund and How to Apply
If your vet is not aware of ACT Pet Crisis Fund, please direct them to this website. For pet owners who cannot afford a consultation fee (usually around $70 at a regular clinic or $250 at an afterhours clinic), we can cover this fee in order to ensure that pets are assessed as quickly as possible.
What Other Options are Available to Help with Vet Bills?
Do you have any family and friends who could give you a loan? Some rescue groups are also able to help with either rehoming or support if you have a change of circumstances. Check your home insurance policy to see if pet illness is covered under your policy. If you are on Centrelink benefits you may be able to get an interest-free loan of between $500-1000. Some veterinarians will also offer Centrepay. Veterinarians are required to offer first aid in a medical emergency, so if your pet is unwell please call or visit your local vet for emergency advice. Good Shepherd can also provide interest free loans for those in financial difficulty. The RSPCA is also available in a limited fashion to provide dental care and desexing for your pet. More details of organisation that can help are available here.
Why Should We Support Pet Owners Who Can't Afford Their Pet's Care?
It is simplistic to say that people should not have pets unless they can afford them. People fall on hard times and pets can be a huge comfort and a great source of companionship for people of all ages and income levels. Unfortunately many pet owners are unprepared for the costs involved in a medical emergency for their pet and there are few options out there to help them besides euthanasia.
Why Are Vets So Expensive?
All medical care costs money, however in Australia the costs are often hidden due to Medicare. Veterinarians are typically running small businesses with HUGE overheads. Medical care for animals is comparatively much cheaper than human medical care and the level of care available for animals has certainly progressed over the past 20 years. Take a look at your average medical or surgical bill (without Medicare) and all of a sudden veterinary expenses seem very small!
Most veterinary clinics operate as a 'one stop shop' and are able to provide consultation, diagnostic and surgical facilities all under one roof. and just like any business that equipment is always breaking and needing to be replaced and upgraded. The better the standard of care becomes for our pets, the more money it will cost. Our pets are living longer and unfortunately we are selectively breeding dogs and cats for diseases that did not exist 30 years ago.
In the past, medical treatment for animals was extremely basic and many were euthanased as soon as the slightest thing went wrong with them. It was rare for a cat to live until 18-20 years of age and dogs rarely made it past 12 years of age. Nowadays most pet owners consider their pets part of their family, not just workers and accordingly, vets are able to treat more diseases than ever. Vet clinics need to pay staff, rent, equipment costs and many other bills to keep the lights on at a practice. Just as you would not expect your mechanic to discount the cost of repairing your car, your veterinarian should not be expected to subsidise your pet's care.
My Pet Needs a Dental, Can you Help?
We have in the past covered dental treatments, however we soon realised that the problem is too big for our little fund! It is estimated that 85% of pets over 3 years of age have untreated dental disease. Many of the dogs and cats we are breeding nowadays are genetically predisposed to dental disease from a young age. your pet has smelly breath, the sooner he/she receives help, the better (and cheaper) it will be in the long-run. Even older pets are safely anaesthetised for dental treatment and often gain a new lease on life after their teeth are cleaned up. Many clinics will offer free dental checks, which will allow you to get an idea of the costs involved in treatment and the extent of the problem. You can be referred to the RSPCA for dental treatment at a reduced rate by ACT Pet Crisis Fund if you are unable to afford dentistry at your regular vet. Please send us an email for further information.
Can Pet Owners Apply to the Fund Directly?
At this stage the fund is entirely volunteer-run and much of our time and resources are spent on fundraising. Many of us work as well as volunteer. It is therefore not possible for us to process applications directly. Your first step is to visit a veterinarian so they can work out what treatment your pet needs. Your vet can then apply to the fund on your behalf if you have no other options to pay for care. Our group of volunteers will then consider your vet's application and notify them if they are successful. It can also be useful to mention ACT Pet Crisis Fund when you are visiting your veterinarian, so they know to apply for the cost of your consultation fee as well.
My Vet Does not Know About the Fund and How to Apply
If your vet is not aware of ACT Pet Crisis Fund, please direct them to this website. For pet owners who cannot afford a consultation fee (usually around $70 at a regular clinic or $250 at an afterhours clinic), we can cover this fee in order to ensure that pets are assessed as quickly as possible.
What Other Options are Available to Help with Vet Bills?
Do you have any family and friends who could give you a loan? Some rescue groups are also able to help with either rehoming or support if you have a change of circumstances. Check your home insurance policy to see if pet illness is covered under your policy. If you are on Centrelink benefits you may be able to get an interest-free loan of between $500-1000. Some veterinarians will also offer Centrepay. Veterinarians are required to offer first aid in a medical emergency, so if your pet is unwell please call or visit your local vet for emergency advice. Good Shepherd can also provide interest free loans for those in financial difficulty. The RSPCA is also available in a limited fashion to provide dental care and desexing for your pet. More details of organisation that can help are available here.