Providing monetary grants for veterinary care
Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe does not have a full-service veterinary hospital, and we are unable to provide emergency, after hours or weekend care. This service is not intended for, nor do we have the ability to provide financial aid during an active medical emergency. Please see below, under OTHER FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES for resources that may be of assistance under those circumstances.
Purpose
The Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe believes it is in an animal’s best interest to stay in their loving home rather than enter the shelter system, whenever possible. To help guardians keep their companion animals through difficult times, we offer assistance to qualifying residents of Truckee, Sierra County, Eastern Placer County, Eastern Nevada County, Incline Village and the City of South Lake Tahoe, with the cost of necessary, yet financially unattainable, veterinary care.
The goal is to fill a small gap in funding to limited-income, senior and disabled pet caretakers that is keeping an animal from receiving necessary/urgent care. The average grant is under $350, and is awarded based upon several factors, including: (1) medical urgency, (2) financial need, (3) available funding, and (4) eligibility. Larger grants may occasionally be awarded based on available funding.
NOTICE TO PET GUARDIANS: You cannot delay the appropriate and necessary care of your pet while waiting for processing of your application for assistance. You must be able to finance care to stabilize your pet while the grant application is processed.
Guidelines and how to qualify
- Must reside in Truckee, Sierra County, Eastern El Dorado County, Eastern Placer County (Donner Summit-Lake Tahoe), Eastern Nevada County (Donner Summit – Floriston) Incline Village or South Lake Tahoe (Glenbrook to Myers)
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Must demonstrate financial need by completing an application.
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Household income must be at or below the U.S. Department of Housing and Development’s (HUD) definition of very low income limits.
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Upon request, you must provide documentation including proof of residency (DL, State ID, or utility bill), household income (tax return, social security statement) and proof that you are the pet’s guardian.
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The pet owner must first apply for help through Care Credit or ScratchPay and use all available funds if approved. If denied, provide proof of denial.
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The animal must have an injury or illness that requires care in the immediate future with a prognosis indicating a positive recovery after treatment.
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The pet owner must obtain initial evaluation, treatment plan and cost estimate from your veterinarian.
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The veterinarian or veterinary clinic must agree to accept a verbal financial pledge from HSTT and bill us when the procedure or treatment is completed.
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Once your application and veterinary care estimate (and other documentation if requested) are received, we will determine the level of support we can give.
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We aim for evaluation and review within 48 hours of receipt of a complete application. In urgent cases we will make an effort to expedite review.
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You will be notified if you are approved within 72 hours of receiving the required documentation.
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If approved, HSTT will notify the treating veterinarian and make arrangements for payment.
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HSTT will only make payments directly to the veterinarian. We will not pay the pet owner directly under any circumstances.
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All pets must be spayed or neutered. If this is not yet done, you must agree to work with HSTT to coordinate altering your pet as soon as possible if deemed appropriate by a veterinarian.
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All applications will be reviewed without bias or consideration of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, national origin, age or marital status.
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You allow permission for HSTT to use pictures of your pet and a summary of your pet’s care and support for the purposes of promotion, grants and fundraising for this service.
Available funding*
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Support typically averages under $350 depending on circumstances.
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Monetary support can’t exceed $800.
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This is a one-time process and once an individual has been approved for funding, they will not be eligible to apply for funding again.
*Funding for this program is limited and may not always be available
Exclusions
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Treatment of a cosmetic nature or diseases of a chronic nature, requiring ongoing care or management will not be funded.
- It is required that animals receiving treatment are spayed or neutered, if they are medically able. If the pet is not already altered, the owner must agree to have their pet sterilized and provide proof of sterilization as soon as possible, preferably at the time of treatment or within four months if deemed appropriate by the Veterinarian.
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We will not provide reimbursements for veterinary expenses already incurred by the pet owner.
Other Financial Aid Resources
The inclusion of services, organizations or programs listed below is not an endorsement or recommendation. It is the pet guardian’s responsibility to make their own assessment.
Care Credit (866) 893-7864 – A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, offering plans and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget
ScratchPay – Providing pet parents with simple, transparent payment plans
