Thursday, January 3, 2008

Do You Need Financial Assistance To Help Take Care Of Your Pet?

When an unexpected personal disaster affects a family, there is an organization that can supply grants which can provide for financial assistance to help families provide for their pets' immediate needs.

Personal disasters may include:


  • House fire


  • Domestic violence situation

  • Unexpected death of a family member.

  • Large-scale disasters such as hurricanes or wildfires



Grants may be provided for the following needs:

  • Transportation of the animal to safety

  • Veterinary care to treat injury or illness caused by the disaster


  • Temporary boarding


Grants usually range between $100 and $400. Funding decisions are based upon several factors, including:

  1. urgency
  2. financial need
  3. available funding
  4. eligibility



Eligibility Guidelines


The applicant (person/family applying for a grant) must:


  • Live in the United States.


  • Submit an application within one week of the disaster giving rise to the need for aid.


  • Have a plan for how the animal's needs can be met. For example, provide the name of a specific boarding kennel, a veterinary estimate for the cost of treatment, and/or an estimate for the cost of food and medications.



If approved, the applicant must provide photos and updates.


The animal(s) must:

  • Be spayed/neutered (grant may include spay/neuter costs).


  • Be a companion animal who was directly injured or displaced by personal, natural or manmade disaster


    OR


    Be any animal involved in the rescue and recovery efforts during a natural or manmade disaster (e.g, search and rescue dogs).



The vendor or clinic must:


  • Be aware of the disaster affecting the client and the client's financial need.


  • Provide us with a written estimate at our request.


  • Accept a check from our organization


Unfortunately our organization cannot help if any of the following apply:


  • The animal's care needs are not a direct result of a personal or large-scale disaster.


    (For assistance with non-disaster-related emergency veterinary care, please see our other Grant Programs.)


  • The treatment, boarding or other care has already been completed and you need assistance paying the bill.



How To Apply

You must read the statement and eligibility requirements carefully before applying.


New applications will be accepted starting January 2, 2008.

You can view other assistance programs and fundraising suggestions at our website!




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This organization is happy to have issued $300 to $2,500 grants to deserving grassroots animal welfare organizations who have jumped in to assist with an animal emergency involving a group of animals.


Examples of recent grant recipients are described briefly below.


  • Transport of two tiger cubs saved from a corrupted "sanctuary" to their new home at a sanctuary.


  • Relocation of 250 feral goats from an overpopulated island.


  • Veterinary treatment for thirty-seven parrots seized in an animal cruelty case.


  • Airfare for a veterinarian who volunteered to assist with neutering 130 rescued pot bellied pigs.

  • Veterinary medical assistance for 90 dogs abandoned in the desert.


  • Veterinary medical assistance for 105 cats taken in from an animal hoarding case.



While this organization recognizes the importance and immediacy of all work with animals, please carefully review your situation to determine if it falls within their guidelines.


Purpose - The grants are intended to serve a specific, known group of animals (more than one animal) in an emergency situation , where immediate intervention is necessary. The grants enable grassroots or rescue groups to access money they need to act quickly and ensure safe and loving lifetime care for the animals involved.

Grants are offered nationwide!



The ideal project will also receive funding from other sources (e.g., grant will be combined with funding from other organizations or individuals to make the project successful). Grants range from $300 to $2,500, with an average grant of $1,000.


Organization Eligibility. - Applicants must be recognized by the IRS as 501(c)(3) organizations. The IRS determination letter must be sent with an application for funding. If your organization does not have 501(c)(3) status, please encourage a 501(c)(3) group in your area to collaborate with you on the project.


If your organization operates an animal sanctuary, you must provide proof of accreditation from the right association organization.

Organizations must have an annual budget of $500,000 or less.


Grants are given to projects that are one-time in nature. Grants will not be issued to cover routine operating costs or ongoing efforts. Funds cannot be used to purchase animals. We do not fund spay/neuter projects. (However there are other grant programs that do pay for this)


Approval Process - The organization may request an invoice for payment if the grant is to pay for medical care or a vendor other than the applicant organization. The organization will mail a check for the approved amount within a week of approval, assuming invoices have been received and reviewed. Successful applicants are required to submit clear, high-quality photographs of impacted animals and may be asked to write about their project for the organization's publication.


Grants will not be awarded for

  • ongoing programs/efforts
  • general operating costs
  • capital costs
  • salaries
  • lobbying efforts
  • scholarships
  • facility improvements



There are no deadlines for proposals; they are reviewed as they are received, but funding is limited each quarter. Every attempt is made to respond to funding requests within two weeks of receiving a completed application.


If you think your project may be eligible and you are a 501(c)(3) organization, please download the application (PDF) from our website and submit with the requested materials via the organization's fax # or via e-mail.




We need your help to find eligible applicants who need this kind of grant funding for their animals and pets. When you hear of an unsolved situation that could be eligible, please spread the word!

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