Financial Support
HELP Initiative
Financial hardships can be overwhelming, but they shouldn't stand between your pet and the care they need. Our HELP Initiative is designed to provide support for non-emergency veterinary care, so you can focus on what matters most: your pet's health and happiness.
What We Offer
Our HELP Initiative provides support for veterinary care that can significantly improve your pet’s health and quality of life. This program is available to pets of families who reside in Clark, Cowltiz, and Skamania counties who meet certain income guidelines. In addition to urgent medical treatments, we also help with spay/neuter services for dogs and cats, as well as essential preventative care (including vaccines, flea and tick treatments, deworming, microchipping, and more).
More Information
The HELP Initiative does not cover emergency treatments. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, please contact your local emergency veterinary hospital immediately.
What is Covered
Examples of eligible treatments include, but are not limited to:
- Spay and Neuter
- Preventative Care – Vaccines, flea/tick treatment, deworming, microchips
- Fractures and broken bones
- Surgical procedures
- Treatment for some skin or ear conditions
What Isn’t Covered
Our support is focused on specific urgent needs and does not extend to:
- Cancer treatments
- Ongoing therapies for chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, chronic kidney disease, seizures)
- Regular dental care
- Existing bills or past-due balances
The HELP Initiative is available only for families who meet income qualifications and reside in Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties.
| Household Size | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Income Limit | 24,800 | 28,350 | 31,900 | 35,400 | 38,250 | 41,960 |
Requesting Support
How to Get Started
If you believe your pet’s condition qualifies for our HELP Initiative, please email [email protected] with specific information about your pet and their needs.
You may also explore the additional resources and links below for more information on how to access other financial support programs available in our community.
Additional Resources
HELP Initiative funding is limited and applies to specific conditions. To learn more about other programs and services that may be able to provide financial support, please review the links below.
Oregon Humane Society Community Veterinary Clinic
Oregon Humane Society’s Community Veterinary Hospital is dedicated to offering accessible full-service veterinary care to clients and their pets. Services will be offered on a sliding scale to minimize the financial barriers faced by those who are low-income or on government assistance. Available services include preventative care, urgent care, dentistry, surgery, and diagnostics.
oregonhumane.org/care
503.802.6800
Portland Animal Welfare (PAW) Team
PAW Team provides free and low-cost veterinary services for cats and dogs of families experiencing houselessness or those living below the federal poverty line. Services that can be provided include acute care for minor wounds, infection, or injury (non-emergency); Treatment of some chronic conditions such as thyroid, kidney, or heart disease, as well as skin allergies; diagnostics. PAW Team does not provide emergency or urgent care services.
pawteam.org
503.206.6033
Bow Wow Buddies Foundation
The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation provides grants to families that are unable to afford necessary veterinary care and need financial assistance to keep their dog healthy and in their home. Funds are meant to cover necessary medical treatments for certain serious conditions and emergency services. Grants are not available for spay or neuter surgeries, dental work, preventative care, ongoing treatments, or end-of-life care.
Frankie's Friend
Frankie’s Friends Fund provides financial assistance grants to family-owned pets in need of lifesaving emergency or specialty veterinary care whose caregivers cannot afford the full cost of treatment. This program is designed to help with the treatment of emergency and specialty medical conditions where the pet would otherwise suffer, be euthanized, or relinquished without proper veterinary care. Before applying, you must have an estimate of the cost of care from a veterinarian that has already seen your pet, a clear diagnosis, and a specific treatment plan with a “good” prognosis.
Additional Resources
This list is not intended to be a full listing of all services available in our community. Availability is not guaranteed; to verify service availability, please contact the listed service organization. For more information, click to view National Veterinary Assistance Grant Programs.
