Last Updated on August 21, 2023 by Hannah Stevens
You can also take a look at the pet grants from all the other states.
Animal caregivers shouldn’t ever be forced to choose between pet and self-care.
Do you need affordable medical care for your cat or dog? ARF Emergency Medical Fund(r) may be able provide affordable, non-urgent veterinary care for your pet at the Walnut Creek, California clinic if you’re a Contra Costa County resident in serious financial trouble. EMF has been an emergency medical fund since 1995. However, it cannot be used to for routine, exploratory, elective, preventative, or specialty veterinary care. The word “emergency” in EMF refers to a financial emergency in which a guardian is unable to afford veterinary care.
Criteria to Qualify for EMF
- You and your pet(s) must be living in Contra Costa County, California.
- The income of a household must not be at or below the U.S. Department of Housing and Development’s (HUD) definition of very low-income limits.
- You need to provide proof that you are the animal’s regular caretaker, household income, and residency.
- All pets must be spayed or neutered. There is an offer for discounted spay/neuter services for pets that are not spayed/neutered if they qualify.
Apply for Assistance
Recent applicants have been increasing in number to our EMF program. Therefore, they have limited the availability and are currently booked up to six weeks ahead. Appointments are scheduled based on medical necessity and urgency.
If you meet all the above requirements, you submit a request to apply for discounted veterinary treatment. Please view additional financial assistance options or look into the list of resources below.
A representative will contact you within five days once your application and qualifying materials are submitted. If you have been approved for services through the EMF program, a $30 deposit fee will be charged at the time of your pet’s appointment. This fee will be applied to the cost of your pet’s appointment.
History of EMF
ARF volunteers Dorothy Bullard, Bev Greenbaum, Elvira Clark, Enid Schlichtman, and Dolores McCoskey (also known as the EMF ladies) got inspired by the calls they received from the community. So, they started selling and making crafts to raise funds to assist those who couldn’t afford vet care. In 1995, the ARF Emergency Medical Fund(r), which is now funded by the ARF Thrift Shop and generous public donations, was created.
Additional Resources
Nobody wants families and pets to be apart from each other. If you require assistance, these additional resources offer low-cost, affordable veterinary care may be useful for you:
- Low-cost spay and neuter clinic and additional low-cost spay and neuter resources.
- Guide to financial assistance programs for veterinary care.
- Pets and Vets program offers free vaccinations and veterinary wellness clinics for Veterans’ pets.
- Bay Area vaccine and wellness clinics.
- Low-cost end-of-life services.Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation – Veterinary Assistance
Its also worth taking a look at The Acme Foundation and Actors and Others for Animals – Emergency Medical Assistance.
