Can a vet legally hold a pet if owner can't pay the bill? - Page 2

What an awesome idea. I'm going to see if this is something any vet in my area would be interested in.

AC

That's wonderful! Great idea!


There.is.something. called the Farley Foundation for situations like this. But a.vet has a $1000 yearly limit. I'm not sure how.it.works but it helps pay for those who can't afford it. But something like your angel fund is a fantastic idea!

I love the idea of an angel fund, I wonder if we can get something like that going at my vet.

The Farley Fund is pretty limited in who they'll help. Over a year ago, Sadie needed a surgery that was over $1000 on her bladder. The longer we put it off, the more pain she was in, and the more expensive it got. We didn't have that much money set aside for emergencies, so we checked into some of the programs that will help with vet bills. Most are only for seniors. I believe the Farley Fund is only for seniors and women in shelters, or at least that's how it was when we looked into it. We strongly considered having our vet change all of Sadie's information to my parents names (they're seniors) so that we could try to get it paid for through them, but thankfully my mom was able to scrap together what we needed, some friends that I had donated money to when their dogs were in trouble donated some back, and with the bit that we had saved up, we were able to pay for the surgery. We also talked about flying Sadie down to a friend of mine in Indiana to have the surgery and then fly her back (would have been $300 cheaper!), but we didn't want her going through all that stress and being alone, I couldn't take the time off work to go with her.

I don't know a lot about the Farley Foundation but yes it is limited. I didn't say it was the best solution. But at least it exists for seniors and women in shelters - I honestly (and probably shamefully) am not aware that it is for these groups or not but at least it does exist.

Oh I didn't mean to offend you or anything, I was just giving more info on the farley fund from my experience.

The sad situation is that there really isn't anything (at least in Canada) for people that are employed, or really anyone that isn't a senior or in a shelter, when they fall on hard times. Which is unfortunate.

There is Care Credit here, but it's very limited in who will take it. I know that the Emergency Clinic here will, but other than that, there are very few clinics.

I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer this this problem. Situations like this should be view on a case by case basis. I'm sure that the clinic did what they thought was best for the cat. Personal, I would spend every last dime I had and morgage everything I own if any of my cats needed it. But I am very aware that some people don't feel that way.

Well, the solution on human care is do away with medical insurance and go socialized, but that is neither here nor there.

 

As far as a vet holding a cat for payment, I don't think they can.

You can't compare human care to vet care.

 

Yes they are our fur babies, but at the end of the day- they are a cat - an animal and considered a luxury. I am under the belief if someone can't afford a pet, they should not have one.. period.

 

I know that I am disabled, on a fixed income and it would be hard for me to come up with $180 on the spot (to pay out, no problem) but on the spot- not happening.

 

I could make payments and would probably take a few months to pay it out- but it would be paid eventually. Luckily, I have a vet that works with us- anything we need they do it, and they let us pay it

out.

 

Also, how do we/they know the care was the absolute basic needed for survival? Extra tests and stuff shouldn't happen. When I worked on the ambulance and in the ER as a paramedic, and we had a kiddo come in without a parent, then consent was only implied for "NECESSARY LIFE STABILIZING TREATMENT" . Example - shocking a heart rhythm back to normal, but not doing optional cardiac tests- only what was necessary for life stabilization. The same should somehow apply to stray pets. We have something called the EMTALA- You re probably familiar with it, Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act" - "It is the law, If you are having a life threatening emergency or are in labor, this hospital will treat you and provide necessary treatment for stabilization, regardless of your ability to pay" signs hang in hospitals everywhere.

 

Unfortunately, there are no vet similar things that I am aware of.

 

If it ever got to a point where there was no way on earth I could pay vet bills, the cats would go to a new home - and as hard as it would be, that would be the best thing for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They need some basic English skills. All an H1 visa is a work permit visa, and I wish they were easy to get- hubby can't legally work because his visa only covers him to go to school--- sigh sigh sigh :( so hard sometimes, but yea- even for a temporary visa he had to show English skills.

 

I used to really think harshly of illegal immigrants, and I feel differently now. I do think they needt o do it legally, but honestly-  the reason they come is for better jobs or money---

 

To get my husband over here legally, it was over a year wait and over $2000 cash, PLUS the $12,000 dad had to "show" to look good as his sponsor for school.

Most people don't have sponsors, let alone the fee for visas, medical exams, etc... And even at 1 year, $14,000 its only temporary! Temporary and he has to leave in 2013 in lieu of getting an employment H1 sponsorship :(

 

The solution: High walls, wide gates- easy to be legal- hard to be illegal

Edited by Nebula - 11/7/11 at 1:44pm

My vet sometimes takes in strays and finds homes if the owner can't be found. Generally either a client brings them in or sometimes someone in the neighborhood brings them in or a few times someone walking by came and told them about a stray animal running around. They bring the animal in and get them fixed up, test for diseases and find new homes.

I don't know what they would do in a situation like the on in the OP but I do know my vet has a fund set up for people who need help in paying for their pets medical care.  They have signs in the lobby and all the rooms about it, so people can contribute if they want. Recently they had a bake sale at the clinic to raise money for one of their clients whose dog needed surgery. I also know people donate their pets medications back to the clinic, and the vet will give them to people who can't afford meds or sometimes for a rescued pet they are caring for. I know because my vet has given me donated meds before when I was low on funds (such as when I had a lot of unexpected vet bills adding up in a very short period) or when I had rescued strays myself, and I have also donated meds back to her when my dogs passed away... My vet also will do payment plans for people although this might be only for clients she knows well enough, and she will do discounts for some clients too (such as people who do rescue or have a lot of pets).