We all want the best for our pets, but sometimes unexpected vet expenses can feel overwhelming. If you’re a Connecticut pet owner looking for affordable care options, don’t worry – help is available. In this post, we’ll share a list of low cost vet clinics in CT, along with other resources to make pet care more manageable.
Spay/Neuter Services
Spaying and neutering is an important part of pet and community health, but the surgeries can be very expensive. Connecticut residents can take advantage of free and low cost vet clinics to help with the expense.
State of Connecticut Animal Population Control Program (Statewide)
The state of Connecticut offers a spay/neuter voucher to Connecticut residents with financial need. The voucher is available to participants of state and federal public assistance programs. The vouchers cover $80-$120 for cats and $180-$200 for dogs. If the service cost exceeds the voucher, the pet owner is responsible for the remaining cost. Please note, when the program reaches capacity the application will close.
Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic (Stratford)
Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic is a nonprofit in Stratford that offers reduced cost spay/neuter services to anyone regardless of residency or income. Their services range from $100-$125 for cats and $275-$450 for dogs depending on gender and weight. They also offer discounted vaccines packages that can be added on to the operation. Appointments can be booked on Nutmeg Clinic’s website.
Team Mobile Feline Unit (Statewide)
The TEAM Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic travels to communities across Connecticut. Their services cost $195 for the spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, nail trim, and ear mite treatment. For more information, please visit TEAM’s website.
POA Spay! (East Hartford)
POA Spay! is the spay/neuter clinic of Protectors of Animals. They offer reduced cost spay/neuter services to all pet owners in Connecticut. Their services range from $160 for cats to $275-$400 for dogs. The price of their services also include, rabies & distemper vaccines, nail trim, medication, and an e-collar (also ear mite treatment for cats). Appointments are required and can be made on POA Spay’s website.
Danbury Animal Welfare Society (Newtown)
Danbury Animal Welfare Society offers low cost spay/neuter services to anyone regardless of residency or income. Their services range from $135-$160 for cats and $235-$385 for dogs depending on gender and weight. Appointments are required and can be made by emailing or calling their office. Their contact information can be found on Danbury Animal Welfare Society’s website.
Greater New Haven Cat Project Inc. (New Haven)
The Greater New Haven Cat Project offers low cost spay/neuter services to pet or feral cats. Prices are not available online, but interested pet owners are encouraged to complete an online form to receive additional information.
Vaccines and Routine Care
Spaying and neutering is unfortunately just the beginning. Pets require vaccines and routine care to stay healthy. Below are the free and low cost vet clinics in CT that can help reduce the cost of vaccines and routine care.
Connecticut Humane Society’s Fox Memorial Clinic (Newington)
The Fox Memorial Clinic is apart of the Connecticut Humane Society. They provide preventative healthcare, diagnostics, and treatment services at a reduced rate. Prices are not listed on their website, but they state their services are 20-30% lower than neighboring clinics. Additionally, the Connecticut Humane Society regularly offers free and lost cost vaccine clinics. Please visit Connecticut Humane Society’s website for more information.
Because 4 Paws (New Milford)
Because 4 Paws is a low cost clinic in New Milford. Each exam is $45 and vaccines range from $25-$35 each. They also offer microchipping, declawing, hernia repairs, and some tests. You can request services by completing their online form.
Nutmeg Spay/Neuter Clinic (Stratford)
Nutmeg Clinic also offers low cost vaccine and wellness services. They offer discounted bundled packages for both cats and dogs that include an examination, two vaccines, and a heartworm test (for dogs only). They offer additional vaccines and services as well. All prices can be found on Nutmeg Clinic’s website.
Team Mobile Feline Unit (Statewide)
TEAM offers low cost vaccines, exams, and treatments in addition to their spay/neuter services. Their vaccine and ear mite treatment packages range from $30-$50. Appointments are required and can be made by calling 888-367-8326.
The Little Guild (Torrington)
The Little Guild is a nonprofit animal shelter that also offers a yearly free vaccine and examination clinic. The clinic usually takes place each August in Coe Park in Torrington, CT. For more information, please visit Little Guild’s website or call them at the number provided online.
Veterinary Care Grants
Sometimes our pets become sick and require additional medical attention. These unexpected costs often force pet owners to surrender their beloved pets. Thankfully, there are multiple Connecticut organizations with the mission of keeping pets in their families. The following resources could help cover the cost of your pet’s unexpected medical care.
STARelief Home for Life Grant Application (Statewide)
If your pet needs medical care, you may be eligible for a grant from STARelief. This program offers grants of up to $500 to those who qualify. The funds are given directly to the service provider, not the grant recipient. Applications can be submitted online and interested pet owners will need to provide a detailed cost estimate, proof of financial difficulty and more. Please visit STARelief’s website for more information and to apply.
Additionally, STARelief may be able to offer emergency boarding or foster care for up to 60 days. You will need to provide the agency with weekly updates about your situation and agree to pick up your pet within 60 days. For more information and to apply, please visit their website.
No Animal Left Unfed (Statewide)
No Animal Left Unfed’s Neighbor Fund provides grants to pet owners who need help affording routine or emergency pet care or other pet expenses. Connecticut residents who receives some type of state/federal assistance are eligible to apply. For more information and to apply, please visit No Animal Left Unfed’s website.
Pet Assistance Inc. (Statewide)
Pet Assistance Inc. offers emergency grants to pet owners in Connecticut. Please note, only long term pet owners are eligible to apply. Applications are prioritized by urgency, financial need, and predicted outcome of medical service. The amount of possible assistance is not listed, but their website states that pet owners are expected to also contribute to the treatment or surgery. An application can be found on Pet Assistance Inc.’s website. Please note, application must be downloaded and attached to an email to be submitted.
Pieper Foundation (Statewide)
The Pieper Foundation is a foundation of Pieper Veterinary. The foundation was created to assist families who are unable to afford life saving medical care for their pets. To qualify, your pet must have a life threatening diagnosis with a good chance of a recovering. Additionally, your pet must be spayed/neutered and up to date on vaccines. Residency and income qualifications are not listed, but their website mentions proving residency and financial hardship. For more information, please visit Pieper Veterinary’s website.
Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation (CVMF) (Statewide)
CVMF’s goal is to ease the burden of pet care expenses for low income pet owners. CVMF provides $125 vouchers that can be used at participating veterinarians for any pet care service. Only pet owners who receive some form of public assistance are eligible to apply. Eligible pet owners may be able to receive yearly vouchers for up to two pets. Please note, vouchers must be used within six months of receiving them. For more information and to apply, please visit CVMF’s website.
With Love From Lily (Statewide)
With Love From Lily offers grants to pet owners who need help paying for medical expenses. Their assistance is only available to pet owners who meet certain criteria and have applied for CareCredit and were denied. Please visit With Love From Lily’s website for the full list of criteria, rules, and application steps.
Nationwide Vet Care Grants
There are even more veterinary care grants available from nationwide organizations! Don’t forget to contact the providers in our nationwide pet care grants directory as well.
Pet Food
The cost of pet food easily adds up and can become a stressor. This is a problem many people face, and many organizations address. If you’re looking for low cost vet clinics in CT, you may also be interested in these programs!
Aid-a-Pet (Hartford)
Aid-a-Pet hosts a monthly event in Hartford that offers free pet food and other pet supplies. The event is hosted at the Holy Trinity Church one Saturday each month. For more information, including dates of their events, please visit Aid-a-Pet’s facebook.
Connecticut Humane Society’s Pet Food Pantry (Newington, Waterford, Westport)
This program provides dog and cat food to pet owners once per month. The program is designed to help pets stay with their families and out of shelters, even when families are experiencing a temporary financial hardship. Applications are required, and if approved pet owners can receive assistance for three months. When the three months are over, participants are eligible to apply again. For more information and to apply, please visit Connecticut Humane Society’s website.
Windsor Animal Shelter (Windsor)
Windsor Animal Shelter provides pet food assistance to residents of Windsor. Pet owners can visit the pet food pantry every second Saturday of the month from 11am-1pm and every fourth Wednesday of the month from 11am-noon. Please visit Windsor Animal Shelter’s website for more information.
STARelief Pet Food Pantry (Stamford)
STARelief also provides temporary pet food and supplies assistance. To qualify, pet owners must be experiencing financial hardship, unemployed, or disabled. Please note, assistance is only available to companion animals that have been spayed/neutered and live inside. Applications are required. Interested pet owners can apply on STARelief’s website
Friendly Hands Food Bank (Torrington)
Friendly Hands Food Bank is a traditional food bank, that also has a pet food pantry. Residents of Northwest Connecticut can receive pet food assistance once a month during their scheduled distributions. Please visit Friendly Hands Food Bank’s website for more information.
Avon Pet Pantry (Avon)
The Town of Avon’s Animal Control Department operates a pet food pantry out of their shelter. The pet food pantry is open the first Tuesday of every month from 11am-1pm. Please visit their facebook for more information.
The Little Guild (Litchfield County)
The Little Guild offers a few options for pet food assistance. They host a pet food pantry in their shelter that can be visited during their business hours. Additionally, they have a mobile pet food pantry. Dates and locations for their mobile pet food pantry can be found on Little Guild’s events page.
K9 & Kritters Safe at Home (Bloomfield)
K9 offers temporary pet food assistance to pet owners in need. Applications are required and can be printed out and brought to the pantry, or completed at the pantry. Please call or email K9 for more information and to schedule an appointment. the pet food assistance application and contact information can be found on K9’s website.
No Animal Left Unfed (Hartford)
No Animal Left Unfed hosts a pet food pantry the 4th Saturday of each month from 10am-12pm. The distribution is held at Latter Rain Christian Fellowship Church in Hartford. Limited information is available online. For more information, please call or email them at the contact info provided on No Animal Left Unfed’s website.
Relief Recap
Pets add love and companionship to our lives, but taking care of them can also add financial stress. If you feel this way, you are not alone. Pet care expenses are burdensome to many. Luckily, there are many free and low cost vet clinics in CT that could reduce the burden. Contact the resources on this list for help.
Marie McCollum
Marie McCollum has a Masters of Social Work from the University of Georgia. She is currently the Director of Programs for a non-profit in Decatur, Georgia.