Pet Health Resources
We know that pet ownership has it's challenges, especially when your pet becomes sick or injured. To try and help reduce the number of surrendered sick and injured pets with guardians facing financial hardships, we have compiled this guide of resources and advice on how to get your pet the care it needs.
Local Veterinary Clinics
We do not have an in-house veterinary clinic here at the Bow Valley SPCA - rather we utilize the three local vet clinics. These clinics are Canmore Veterinary Hospital, Bow River Veterinary Centre, and Mountain Animal Hospital and Mobile Veterinary Care. Having a regular veterinarian is an important part of responsible pet ownership. Annual exams can seem like an unnecessary expense, but not only is preventative healthcare important, these regular check-ups allow you to build a rapport with your veterinarian. If your veterinarian has a relationship with you and your pet, if an emergency arises, they are better able to provide options to get your pet the care it needs. If you are facing a medical emergency with your pet, we always recommend reaching out to these clinics and chatting with the staff about what options may be available.
Financial Subsidy Programs
We recommend the following services to help offset the costs of veterinary care. We are not affiliated with any of these programs. Detailed information can be found by visiting their websites or calling your vet clinic.
Scratchpay - This financing solution may be helpful if you cannot afford the upfront costs of veterinary care, but are able to repay on a payment plan, with some plans being interest-free.
Petcard - Similar to the above, Petcard is another option for financing plans for pet care, to help you avoid paying large upfront costs that are causing you to delay treatment for your pet.
Tails of Help - Approved by the ABVMA and endorsed by the Alberta SPCA, Tails of Help provides financial assistance for essential health care for ill or injured pets. Applications are made by participating veterinarians and are determined by available funds and meeting the program criteria for financial and medical need. If the application is approved, funds are disbursed directly to the treating clinic. Reach out to your regular vet to discuss how to apply.
Parachutes for Pets - Pet Advocacy Group in Calgary providing numerous services for vulnerable Calgarian pet owners, including vaccine and wellness clinics, pet food bank, emergency support services.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance, just like human health insurance, is a health care policy for your pet that reimburses you for certain medical expenses. In the event of a surprise accident or illness, having a pet insurance plan can protect your finances. We are not affiliated with any of these companies but recommend the following. It is also worthwhile to check with your veterinarian to see what companies they are set up to direct bill to.
24PetWatch - This is the microchipping company we use (all our adoptable animals are microchipped), so if you have adopted a pet from us, 24PetWatch will offer a discount on their insurance program within a certain window following adoption.
Trupanion - Designed by veterinarians, this is a popular pet insurance company with numerous plan options to choose from.
AMA - AMA recently launched a pet insurance program, and existing AMA members save 12%
Make sure to carefully review the pet insurance plans available to you, to see if it will be a good fit for you and your pet. If you choose not to purchase pet insurance, putting aside a certain amount monthly into an emergency fund for your pet is a great idea.