If you’re looking for low cost pet care in Washington State, look no further than this master list! We’ve found free pet boarding, free pet food banks and so much more to help low income pet owners in Washington State.
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Low Cost Pet Care in Western Washington
There are many resources for low cost pet care in Washington State, especially around the Puget Sound area. Check our list below to see what’s available in your area.
Budkis Fund for Emergency Pet Care
Low-income seniors who reside within the Puget Sound area (Lynnwood to Olympia) can receive emergency veterinary assistance, including medications, surgical procedures and euthanasia. Long-term care and life support are not eligible for assistance.
Veterinarians must contact the Fund to apply for funding, so make sure to pass this information along to your vet! Your vet can contact the fund at (206) 817-4299.
In order to be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:
- The pet owner must be at least 62 years old.
- The household must have an income that is $2,200 or less per individual (or $2,700 or less per couple).
This fund prioritizes seniors who do not have companionship other than their pets. This could be because the pet owner’s family has moved away or is deceased.
For more information, please visit the Budkis Fund website.
Concern for Animals
Low income pet owners who reside in Thurston, Lewis and Mason counties can contact Concern for Animals for assistance. Among other things, Concern for Animals offers:
- Pet food bank that provides food and supplies for pets. Appointments may be required, so please call ahead.
- Medical care voucher assistance program for students, military members and low-income families. The funding cannot be used for routine office visits, vaccines or rabies/leukemia testing. The voucher must be applied before services are rendered.
- Spay & neuter vouchers are also available for students, military members and low-income families. The voucher must be used at a clinic that partners wtih CFA.
- Trap rentals are also available.
Additional details are available on the Concern for Animals website.
Rainier Animal Fund
The Rainier Animal Fund is available to qualifying residents of Western Washington. If you’re looking for low cost pet care in Washington State, then you need to know about this.
RAF has a low-cost veterinary clinic that provides:
- Wellness exams
- Vaccinations
- Preventative care treatments
- Medication management
- Spay/Neuter services
In some circumstances, which are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, they may also be able to assist with:
- Dental care
- Emergency and critical care
- Surgical treatments of some injuries/conditions
RAF serves those who meet ANY of the following criteria:
- Public assistance recipients (including EBT and Medicaid)
- Low income households whose income is less than twice the Federal Poverty Level
- Seniors who meet one of the following criteria:
- Seniors who receive Social Security benefits.
- Seniors who are clients of supportive housing for seniors programs
- Seniors who live in retirement homes or long-term care facilities with live-in pets
- Disabled individuals who receive disability payments.
- Abuse survivors (and those at risk) who are entering a registered shelter
- Anyone who is unemployed or not working due to a global crisis (COVID-19, etc)
If you are eligible, you must provide a photo ID and sign a declaration of need. You can only receive support from the Rainier Animal Fund once every 12 months. Exceptions can be made for those who are referred to a RAF In-Service Clinic or get approval from the RAF Executive Director.
You can find additional resources on the Rainier Animal Fund website.
Pierce County
The Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County
The Humane Society of Tacoma & Pierce County offers many free and low cost pet care services that may be able to help you. They serve low-income households in Pierce County, Tacoma and the city of Federal Way.
Their services include:
- Spay and neuter program for cats, dogs, or rabbits
- Microchip services, which cost just $25 for national registration.
- Pet food pantry, which provides cat and dog food to those who need it.
- Barn cat program that charges just $20 to adopt unsocialized cats that have been spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and treated for parasites.
- End-of-life services like euthanasia and cremation
Kitsap County
Kitsap Humane Society
The Kitsap Humane Society offers several options for low cost pet care in Washington State.
- Pet food pantry is available every afternoon for those who need free pet food.
- Spay & Neuter services are available for pets that belong to low income households.
- Vaccine and microchip services are available at a low cost.
- End-of-life services like euthanasia and cremation are available at a low cost.
- Community Cats program provides low-cost spay and neuter services for unsocialized, feral or community cats. The service includes ear-tipping and rabies vaccinations.
PAWS of Bremerton
Low-income residents of Kitsap and North Mason Counties can receive basic veterinary care for a substantial discount from PAWS of Bremerton. They offer the following services:
- Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Vaccinations are available for low income, unemployed and military residents of Kitsap and north Mason Counties.
- Flea treatments are available for a small suggested donation. The flea treatments are offered to cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets.
For details, visit the PAWS of Bremerton website.
PAWS of Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap
Low income families living in North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island can receive low cost pet care from their local PAWS organization.
- Veterinary care assistance is available. Applications can be picked up at any of the pet food bank locations below.
- Free boarding is available for low income families in crisis situations. They offer free boarding for up to 30 days for cats and 72 hours for dogs.
- Spay/Neuter and Vaccine Assistance is available by application. Members of the Suquamish Tribe can get the full cost of the spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations covered.
- Pet Food Bank offers dry cat or dog food, canned cat food and cat litter for low income households. The locations are listed below.
- Pets and Loving Seniors (PALS) is a foster program for seniors who want the companionship of a pet but can’t handle the pet costs. This program allows seniors to foster a healthy, older dog or cat. PAWS retains ownership of the pet and pays for all food, litter and vet visits.
- Community Cats has two parts: a trap/neuter/release program for unowned and feral cats, and an In From the Wild foster program to tame feral kittens.
Applications for veterinary care assistance can be picked up at these pet food bank locations:
- North Kitsap Fishline (Poulsbo)
- ShareNet (Kingston)
- Central Kitsap Food Bank (Silverdale)
- Helpline House (Bainbridge Island)
- Port Gamble Sk’lallam Tribal Center (Kingston)
- Suquamish Tribal Center (Suquamish)
- Your local PAWS in Bainbridge Island or Kingston.
Jefferson County
Olympic Mountain Pet Pals
Jefferson County residents can receive assistance with veterinary costs from Olympic Mountain Pet Pals. They offer several services:
- Spay and Neuter program that provides affordable surgeries for pets that belong to low income households.
- Pets to People is a program that helps older citizens. This outreach program brings dogs to visits residents of extended care or assisted living facilities.
- Community Cats program provides a trap/neuter/return service for unowned pets.
Low Cost Pet Care in Eastern Washington
If you’re looking for low cost pet care in Washington State, you’ll be glad to know that we’ve also found a few options on the eastern side of the state.
WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital
The Good Samaritan Fund by WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital can help low income households afford lifesaving procedures for their companion pets.
In order to be eligible for the Good Samaritan Fund, you must meet these criteria:
- Your pet must be a common companion animal species.
- Your pet must need a life-saving procedure.
- Your pet must have a reasonable prognosis for good long-term recovery.
- You must be unable to pay for care due to circumstances beyond your control.
- You must be able to bring your pet to the College of Veterinary Medicine at WSU.
Ownerless pets are also eligible if they have a temperament that does not prevent future adoption
Hi my friend who is homeless needs care for his cat she jumped off a fence n hurt her paw it’s now twice the size n she can’t walk on it he has no money n the cat needs help but can’t find somebody now to help any suggestions I’ve already left a message with the humane place but haven’t heard back any place else I van try for him please let me know
My Yorkie has Periodontal disease and I have noticed tonight she has 2 lose teeth maybe more she doesn’t like her mouth touched I’m on ssi and no funds I was told her teeth need to be pulled I don’t know what to do she is all I have. Thank you.
Hi Gayle. If you call 211 they may know if there is anything available in your area to help with the costs.
My dog is 15 and recently became unable to walk. May be due to pain from tumor. Not eating. I need help with her departure but want to be present.
Hi. Hopefully, the resources above can help.
If not, it may be worth calling 211 to see if they know of anything else that may be available in your area.
Hi, My dog lucy needs to see her vet for shots and physicals, she is behind on her shots because i can not afford the vet bill. Is there anyone I can call to help me with her bill. She is my esa and 8 years old. We live in tacoma wa. Thank you
If the resources above are not helpful, it may be worth calling 211 or your local Humane Society to see if they know of any programs or low-cost options in your area.
My dog has a growing bulg on his stomach.
Are there any pop up clinics available in the future?
Hi Lilly. If you have already tried the resources above, it may be worth calling 211 or your local Humane Society to see if they know of any pop-up clinics or programs that can help with veterinary care for your pet.
My 14 year old dog has 3 cysts that need removal, one is breaking open & bleeding. I took him to our local vet who wants $1100 to remove 1 cyst. I can’t afford that I’m a very low income senior. If you know of any help I’m in Lewis County Washington
Hi Kimber. If you have already tried the resources listed above, it may be worth contacting 211 or your local Humane Society to see if they know of any affordable vets or programs that can help with veterinary care costs.
I have a black lab pit mix her name is Sage about 3 years old she started itching around her tail about a week ago not she is nibbling at it and started to bleed today I don’t have enough for the vet and need help in Tacoma area. I would hate to have to give her up to someone who is able to afford the vet bills.
Hi Chris. If the resources above are not helpful in this case, it may be worth reaching out to 211 or your local Humane Society. They usually know about programs to help with vet bills.
Hello I’m currently looking for a low cost vet clinic. For my kitten she’s all of a sudden not eating and is limping don’t know what to do and can’t afford a vet
Hi Amelia. If the above options aren’t useful in your case, it may be worth calling 211 or your local Humane Society to see if they know about any programs in your area that can help with paying for a vet.
I have an English Mastiff that I believe has dislocated her hip and she has a growth on the her side I have been out of work now for a year and a half and I hear that procedures like this to run me anywhere from $1500 to $8000. I love my dog but I can’t I can’t afford that is there any help here in Lewis County.
Hi Mistie. If none of the options above are helpful in your case, it may be worth calling your local Humane Society or 211 to see if there is anything else they can suggest.
Hi Tanya. It may be worth reaching out to your local Humane Society. They usually know about low-cost options in the area.
Our puppy needs surgery for a mass under his chin. Is there a low cost service for surgeon and hospital care. We took him to a Vet, and now we must take him to a surgeon…to have this removed…cost is very high ..we are on social security.. and barely making our house payment
Hi George. It may be worth calling your local Humane Society to see if they know of any affordable options.
There is no help in Pierce county, my do is dying!!!
Hi Elaine. That’s terrible to hear.
Here are some ways to get extra cash. Maybe they can help with getting enough to pay for vet care.
https://lowincomerelief.com/get-cash-now/