Maria contacted us looking for free or cheap veterinary care for low income clients (such as veterinary vouchers and low income vet referrals) in the Sacramento area. If you’re in a similar situation in the Sacramento area, please check out our response below!
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Free and Low Cost Veterinary Care in California
Starfleet Canine Aid Foundation (SCAF)
California dogs who require medical treatment for an unforeseen illness or injury may be eligible to receive funds from SCAF. A diagnosis and good prognosis for survival are required.
Please note that SCAF will not help pay for the initial veterinary visit that provides the diagnosis. It only assists with treatment. You will need an itemized bill from a veterinarian.
Candidates can receive assistance from SCAF every 6 months.
Free and Low Cost Vet Care in the Sacramento Area
Acme Foundation (Lake County only)
Senior citizens and disabled owners of seriously ill cats and dogs can apply for assistance through the Acme Foundation. The funds will only be disbursed to Clearlake Veterinary Clinic, so treatment must be received there. To qualify, pets must be diagnosed as seriously ill, have a good prognosis of survival and belong to a low-income senior citizen or disabled owner.
Chester Foundation (Greater Sacramento Area)
The Chester Foundation provides funds directly to the veterinary hospital to cover the costs of emergency, life-threatening treatments. The funds cover the necessary materials and labor costs. Partner hospitals also offer discounts, helping owners even further.
To qualify, owners must be low income and reside in one of the following counties: Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba. Click here for the application.
Placer SPCA
Low income Placer County pet owners can receive assistance through Placer SPCA. They offer up to $500 to help with rental pet deposits and veterinary treatment!
In order to receive help, you will need to prove that you have a history of responsible pet ownership. Funds are not available for chronic conditions, cosmetic procedures, or for animals with a history of behavior or temperament problems. A good prognosis of recovery is required and pets must be spayed/neutered at time of treatment.
VCA Hospital
Fill out this form to receive a coupon for a free exam at a neighborhood VCA animal hospital!
Spay/Neuter & Vaccinations in the Sacramento Area
ASN Non-Profit Clinic
Contact ASN at (916) 368-7314 to schedule a low or no-cost appointment. They have locations in Sacramento and Auburn!
City of Sacramento Front Street Shelter (Sacramento CITY only)
A FREE vaccination clinic is available regularly to pets of low-income Sacramento residents. Microchips are also available for just $10 per pet (cash only).
To qualify, owners must provide proof of residency within the city of Sacramento and proof of low-income status.
Click here to find the current schedule for vaccination clinics.
They also have hold a Pet Food Bank on Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm.
SacCity Pets (Sacramento CITY only)
If you’re a low income pet owner in Sacramento City, you can have your pets spayed, neutered and/or vaccinated at a very low cost. For boundaries and financial limits, check their website.
SSPCA
Get free or low-cost spay/neuter surgery from SSPCA! See their low-cost fee schedule by clicking here.
Amber Coyne
Wednesday 21st of February 2024
Hi please help. My little cha'wheenie is sick. He tends to put anything and everything in his mouth. About a few weeks ago it seemed he had something stuck in his intestines and had some blood in his stool. I gave him a little coconut oil and I thought he passed. Everything went back to normal. But now he's pooping dark water for about 2days. Last night I found blood in it. I am afraid something is stuck. But I'm low income as heck. What can I do
Catherine Marucci
Wednesday 21st of February 2024
Hi Amber. If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth calling 211 or contacting your local Humane Society to see if they know of any programs that can cover the costs, or any low-cost or sliding-scale veterinarians. I hope you find something!
R castillo
Monday 2nd of October 2023
It would be a wonderful help for those of us in desperate situations, if the listed organizations would actually respond. Since September 6 2023 I personally have contacted over 80 yes I said 80 charities. Relief assistance programs, grant programs, animal welfare organizations and that does not include every vet clinic, hospital and vet med programs I reached out to for help. Only to be told dogs only, location specific, illness specific, don't cover that issue, don't qualify for credit, permanently closed, no funds available and so many other reasons we don't meet requirements. Set up two crowdfunding pages still nothing. Definition of emergency is when it's life threatening or needing immediate medical attention. Which my cat meets and exceeds that definition.. needing his eye removed due to extreme pressure building behind his eye causing to bulge from the socket. Causing him untold levels of constant pain, he can't even close his eye. Yet for all the phone calls, emails , applications, pre applications to qualify to apply I get no call backs, no responses, no applications sent out, nothing! So he suffers. I can't even afford the vet visit for recheck. So how is it they are here for low income individuals with pets in crisis when they arent even making contact to tell somebody no? Just leave them waiting and wondering if help is available.
LaShunda Jones
Saturday 30th of September 2023
my sick dog he has a fever this is a emergency life threatening I think she's going to die I'm trying to get him into a free vet hospital today or in the morning to get him checked up on I can't pay the cost for an exam I'm already low income I don't have that type of money for that so I'm trying to find a free one if that's possible help
Catherine Marucci
Monday 2nd of October 2023
If the above resources haven't been helpful, it may be be worth calling 211 or your local Humane Society to see if there are any programs or low-cost options that they can suggest.
Beverly Martin
Thursday 16th of March 2023
Please help me and my family 🐕 she’s very sick with urine infection, hernia in her groin area. Please help us out I’m a single mom.😢😩🙏🏽
Catherine Marucci
Friday 17th of March 2023
Hi Beverly. If none of the resources listed above have been helpful in your case, then it may be worth calling 211 or your local Humane Society to see if they know of any programs to help with the cost of veterinary care in your area.
Catherine Marucci
Sunday 16th of October 2022
Hi Yolanda. If the vets listed above can't help, it may be worth calling your local Humane Society to see if they know of any programs to help with the cost of veterinary care. In a lot of cases, they do.