PoshPaws

03/21/2026

03/14/2026

Veterinary Bill Assistance Resources
Helpful organizations and resources for pet parents facing unexpected veterinary expenses.

Please feel free to share this incredible resource that I have gathered over the past 30 years. It is truly invaluable and is up to date.

When a pet needs medical care, the costs can feel overwhelming very quickly. If you are facing a large veterinary bill, the organizations below may be able to help, depending on your pet’s condition, your financial situation, and the type of care needed. 

Where to start

For urgent or emergency care, start with:
FACE Foundation, RedRover, Frankie’s Friends, Paws 4 A Cure, and Pet Assistance. 

For non-urgent or chronic care, try:
The Pet Fund 

For homelessness-related support, start with:
Pets of the Homeless and Project Street Vet 

For financing options, consider:
CareCredit 

For more programs and broader directories, visit:
Best Friends Animal Society and Humane World for Animals 

Regional Resources: San Diego County

FACE Foundation
Website: https://face4pets.org/
Apply: https://face4pets.org/apply
Locations / Contact: https://face4pets.org/locations
Phone: 858-450-3223
Address: 10505 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite 175, San Diego, CA 92121 

Veterinary Specialty Hospital – Sorrento Valley
Specialty hospital and 24/7 ER that works with FACE Foundation.
Website: https://www.vshsd.com/
Phone: 858-875-7500
Address: 10435 Sorrento Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92121 

Rancho Coastal Humane Society – Veterinary Care Program for Seniors
Website: https://rchumanesociety.org/senior-vet-care-program/
Senior Programs: https://rchumanesociety.org/senior-programs/
Phone: 760-579-2426
Main Office: 760-753-6413 

SNAP San Diego / Neuter Scooter
Website: https://www.snap-sandiego.org/
Services: https://www.snap-sandiego.org/services/
Appointments: https://www.snap-sandiego.org/appointments/
Phone: 866-SPAY-BUS or 866-772-9287
Email: [email protected] 

Helen Woodward Animal Center – Pets Without Walls
Website: https://animalcenter.org/programs-services/pets-without-walls/
Phone: 858-756-4117 x339
Email: [email protected] 

Foundation for the Care of Indigent Animals (FCIA)
Website: https://www.fcianimals.org/
About: https://www.fcianimals.org/about.html
Phone: 619-466-9137
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2574, Spring Valley, CA 91979 

State Resources: California

SpayCalifornia
Website: https://spaycalifornia.org/
County List: https://spaycalifornia.org/countylist.htm
How to Search: https://spaycalifornia.org/spaycalifornia_howtosearch.htm
Phone: 1-866-PET-SPAY 

Pet Assistance Foundation
Website: https://www.petassistancefoundation.org/
About: https://www.petassistancefoundation.org/about-us/
Contact: https://www.petassistancefoundation.org/contact/
Phone: 1-877-SPAY-PET or 1-877-772-9738
San Diego County Line: 1-855-738-7349 

National Resources

RedRover Relief – Urgent Care Grants
Website: https://redrover.org/relief/urgent-care-grants/
Pre-Application: https://redrover.org/relief/urgent-care-grants/urgent-care-pre-application/
Application: https://redrover.org/relief/urgent-care-grants/urgent-care-application/
Phone: 916-429-2457
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: PO Box 188890, Sacramento, CA 95818 

Frankie’s Friends
Website: https://www.frankiesfriends.org/
National Fund: https://www.frankiesfriends.org/national-frankies-friends-fund
Apply: https://www.frankiesfriends.org/apply-for-assistance-1
Contact: https://www.frankiesfriends.org/national-contact-information
Phone: 888-465-7387
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: PO Box 272028, Tampa, FL 33688 

Paws 4 A Cure
Website: https://www.paws4acure.org/
Ask for Help: https://www.paws4acure.org/askforhelp.php
Requirements: https://www.paws4acure.org/requirements.php
FAQ: https://www.paws4acure.org/faq.php
Contact: https://www.paws4acure.org/contact.php
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1821, Wakefield, MA 01880 

Pet Assistance, Inc.
Website: https://www.petassistanceinc.org/
Financial Aid: https://www.petassistanceinc.org/financialaid
Application: https://www.petassistanceinc.org/application-1
Contact: https://www.petassistanceinc.org/grants
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: Box 2015, New Preston, CT 06777-0015 

The Pet Fund
Website: https://www.thepetfund.com/
Pet Owner Info: https://www.thepetfund.com/for-pet-owners
Application Instructions: https://www.thepetfund.com/for-pet-owners/the-pet-fund-application
Phone: 916-443-6007
Additional Phone: 916-503-0550
Email: [email protected] 

Brown Dog Foundation
Website: https://www.browndogfoundation.org/about
Status: Ceased operations effective November 1, 2025 

Pets of the Homeless
Website: https://petsofthehomeless.org/
Get Help: https://petsofthehomeless.org/get-help/
Emergency Veterinary Care: https://petsofthehomeless.org/emergency-veterinary-care/
Find Locations: https://petsofthehomeless.org/get-help/find-locations/
Phone: 775-841-7463
Email: [email protected]
General Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: 710 West Washington Street, Carson City, NV 89703-4221 

Project Street Vet
Website: https://www.projectstreetvet.org/
What They Do: https://www.projectstreetvet.org/what-we-do
Locations: https://www.projectstreetvet.org/locations
San Diego: https://www.projectstreetvet.org/locations/san-diego 

CareCredit
Website: https://www.carecredit.com/vetmed/
Apply: https://www.carecredit.com/apply/
Contact: https://www.carecredit.com/contactus/
Phone: 800-677-0718 

Best Friends Animal Society – Financial Assistance Guide
Guide: https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/cant-afford-vet-bills-100-financial-assistance-programs-pet-owners
Resource Hub: https://bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/issues/pet-financial-assistance 

Humane World for Animals – Affording Your Pet Resource Page
Guide: https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/having-trouble-affording-your-pet
Access-to-Care Hub: https://www.humaneworld.org/en/issue/access-care-pets 

A gentle note:
If your pet’s need is urgent, it is often best to apply to several organizations right away rather than one at a time. Starting with FACE Foundation, RedRover, Frankie’s Friends, Paws 4 A Cure, and Pet Assistance can be especially helpful for emergency situations. 

I hope this list offers a meaningful starting point and a bit of support during what can be a very stressful time.

With care,
PoshPaws

The deep connection between people and pets is universal, but access to animal care resources is not. Humane World for Animals works to keep pets happy and healthy, and in their homes.

11/23/2025

11/22/2025

Gramma, a Galápagos tortoise that the San Diego Zoo called “a quiet and constant presence” for nearly a century at the Zoo, has died.

Though her exact birth date remains unknown, experts estimate Gramma may have lived for up to 141 years, making her the oldest inhabitant of the zoo. She arrived in San Diego between 1928–1931 as part of the first group of Galápagos tortoises to come to the zoo soon after its formal opening in 1923.

The zoo did the math, calling Gramma “a witness to history” whose lifetime included the tenures of 20 U.S. presidents, two World Wars and two pandemics.

📝: Jennifer Vigil
Read more at https://timesofsandiego.com/life/2025/11/21/queen-gramma-tortoise-dies-san-diego-zoo/

11/08/2025

10/20/2025

10/02/2025

10/01/2025

As a follow-up to my post about my dear Otis’s passing, I want to share the cause of illness that ultimately took Otis (16), Milo (16), Mayhem (19), and Schatzie (14).

I’m heartbroken to say it was pancreatitis. It’s important for all Dachshund and small-breed owners to know: Dachshunds—and many other small breeds, including mini schnauzers, mini doodles, and others—are predisposed to this disease.
What many don’t realize is that the newer subscription and boutique foods—such as The Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, Dr. Marty’s, and various dehydrated diets—can trigger pancreatitis in these breeds.

Tragically, we lost four of our Dachshunds to this illness. These were otherwise healthy, lean, and well-cared-for dogs. The food wasn’t even part of their regular diet—it was given only occasionally, maybe once or twice a week off and on, as a teaspoon-sized topper or treat.

Over the past 30 years, we’ve loved and cared for nearly 20 Dachshunds, most of whom lived to 18 years or longer. Until March 2024, we had never even heard of pancreatitis. Since then, we’ve endured unimaginable losses:

• Schatzie, our beautiful 14-year-old mini wirehair, in March 2024
• Mayhem, our 19-year-old black and tan, in January 2025
• Milo, 16 years old, in March 2025
• Otis, Milo’s littermate and a three-time IVDD surgery survivor, in September 2025

Our last two wieners, Ginger and Spaghetti, are both living with pancreatitis, and we’re doing everything possible to keep them stable and comfortable. We had never dealt with IVDD before or since Milo and Otis, so I truly believe it must have been in their genetics. Losing them to pancreatitis—after all they had already survived—has been devastating.

Please, for the sake of your pups, avoid these foods and always check fat content carefully. My fears were even confirmed in a conversation with an employee of The Farmer’s Dog.

And one more thing every pet owner should know: the pet food industry is NOT regulated. Please do your research, ask questions, and be extra cautious—our dogs’ lives depend on it.