Joybound’s Community Solutions
We believe the best home for a pet is the one they are already in, with familiar surroundings and a family who loves them. No one should have to choose between self-care and pet care, but sometimes the cost of care seems insurmountable. We offer several assistance programs to help.
Resource Center
Learn about our Community Solutions (like FoodShare, Pet Safety Net, and Community Veterinary Care), plus additional resources in your area (pet food, vaccinations, veterinary assistance, and beyond). Our volunteers can offer help with pet-related issues including keeping or rehoming a pet, lost and found animals, low-cost services, and more.
Contact the Resource Center online or (925) 256-1273 ext. 450. Please allow up to five business days for a response.
Community Veterinary Care
If you are a Contra Costa County resident facing serious financial crises, Community Veterinary Care (formerly the ARF Emergency Medical Fund®) may be able to provide low-cost, non-urgent veterinary care for your pet at our clinic in Walnut Creek, California. Since 1995, Community Veterinary Care has been a lifeline for thousands of dogs and cats. Community Veterinary Care treatment cannot be used for routine, exploratory, elective, preventative, or specialty veterinary care.
Pet Safety Net
Joybound’s Pet Safety Net provides critical resources to prevent pets from being surrendered to shelters. If you are a Contra Costa County resident who, without intervention, would be forced to surrender your pet(s) due to financial crisis or personal crisis, we want to assist.
Resources for Pet Guardians
The following organizations offer low-cost veterinary care and financial assistance. The requirements for assistance vary, so please review the requirements for each individually. These businesses/programs were compiled as a courtesy and are neither endorsed, nor guaranteed, by Joybound People & Pets.
Local Programs
The following assistance programs operate primarily within the San Francisco Bay Area.
Joybound Community Veterinary Care • (925) 256-1273 ext 464
- Offers low-cost, non-emergency services at Joybound’s clinic.
- Serves qualifying Contra Costa County residents.
Joybound Pet Safety Net • (925) 256-1273 ext 464
- Offers critical resources to prevent pets from being surrendered.
- Serves qualifying Contra Costa County residents.
Affordable Vet Referral Services • (714) 206-4717
- Offers low-cost solutions to expensive pet treatments and surgeries.
- Please text (don’t call) the listed number.
Animal Fix Clinic • (510) 215-9300
- Offers spay/neuter surgeries and essential surgical care, at sliding-scale pricing.
East Bay SPCA Veterinary Assistance Program • (510) 563-4627
- Provides financial assistance for clients of East Bay SPCA’s full-service veterinary clinic in Oakland.
- Serves qualifying Contra Costa and Alameda County residents.
Humane Society of Alameda • (510) 337-9457
- Provides financial assistance to families who have been seen already at a partnering veterinary clinic and have been given an estimate for surgery/procedure.
The Pet Advocate • (209) 879-9367
- Offers affordable veterinary care, including affordable dental services.
- Provides financial assistance to families with companion animals in medical crisis.
- Serves qualifying Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma County residents.
San Francisco SPCA Financial Assistance • (415) 554-3030
- Provides financial assistance for emergency/urgent veterinary care.
- Serves qualifying, low-income San Francisco pet guardians.
- Provides financial assistance for life-saving veterinary treatments.
- Serves qualifying Calaveras, Contra Costa, Napa, Sacramento, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Yolo County residents.
Vets in Vans • (415) 439-0169
- Provides comprehensive clinic services to communities in the Bay Area via a mobile clinic vehicle.
Nationwide Programs
The following assistance programs operate on a national level.
CareCredit • (800) 677-0718
- Offers a line of credit for all types of health care assistance (including veterinary care).
Scratchpay • (855) 727-2395
- Offers online payment plans for veterinary bills.
- Provides crowdfunding options for pets in medical crisis.
Human Animal Support Services by American Pets Alive
- Curates free or low-cost pet services in a searchable database.
- Provides medical care funds to individuals/shelters struggling to cover their veterinary bills.
- Funding for dogs only.
- Provides financial assistance to bridge the gap between the cost of medical care and saving pets.
Frankie’s Friends Fund • (888) 465-PETS
- Provides grants for pets in need of lifesaving or specialty veterinary care.
Friends & Vets Helping Pets • (859) 309-2943
- Provides financial assistance for curable (lifesaving, not life-prolonging) pet diseases.
Hearts United for Animals 911 Emergency Assistance • (402) 274-3679
- Offers assistance with emergency medical cases.
- Provides grants for animals who need urgent veterinary care.
The Mosby Foundation • (540) 885-2260
- Provides financial support for critically sick, injured, abused, and neglected dogs.
- Provides financial assistance for necessary and unaffordable medications/treatment.
- Provides financial assistance to those who cannot afford veterinary care for their dog or cat.
- Offers funds to subsidize veterinary care for urgent or life-threatening emergencies.
- Provides financial assistance for non-basic, non-urgent veterinary care.
The Pet Lifeline Program by Pet News Daily
- Provides one-time financial assistance to pet guardians who cannot afford veterinary care.
- Curates free or low-cost pet services in a searchable database.
Pets of the Homeless • (775) 841-7463
- Offers resources to pet guardians experiencing homelessness.
Red Rover Urgent Care Grant • (916) 429-2457
- Provides financial assistance and resources for pets in life-threatening situations.
STARelief Home for Life Grant • (203) 636-0971
- Provides financial assistance and resources to pet caretakers experiencing financial hardship.
- Provides financial assistance for unexpected, acute medical issues that impact the pet’s quality of life.
Programs for Specific Medical Conditions
The following programs provide financial and/or medical assistance for animals afflicted with specific medical conditions.
- Provides financial assistance for the veterinary care of dogs and cats with heart disease.
Diabetic Cats in Need • (234) 738-3246
- Provides ongoing assistance with insulin, testing supplies, and limited veterinary care of cats with diabetes.
- Provides glucose testing supplies and insulin to guardians of newly-diagnosed cats.
Feline Veterinary Assistance Program
- Provides financial assistance for the veterinary care of cats with Vaccine Associated Sarcoma (VAS), also referred to as Injection Site Sarcoma (ISS).
- Provides financial assistance for the veterinary care of elderly, disabled, and special needs pets.
- Donates pet wheelchairs to animals in need.
- Provides financial assistance for the veterinary care of dogs and cats with cancer.
- Provides financial assistance for the veterinary care of dogs with cancer.
- Provides financial assistance for the veterinary care of dogs and cats with cancer.
Programs for Specific Breeds
Support from the following programs is isolated to a specific breed of dog/cat.
- Provides financial assistance toward non-routine medical expenses for West Highland White Terriers (Westies) or Westie-mixes.
Programs for Working/Assistance Dogs
The following programs provide financial support for dogs with jobs.
California Dept. of Social Services Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program • (916) 657-2628
- Offers monthly funds to qualifying persons who use a guide, signal, or service dog.
Land of PureGold Working Dog Cancer Treatment Grant • (410) 363-1434
- Offers grants for active, full-time working dogs with cancer.
More Resources for Pet Guardians
Pet Vaccinations
We offer free, monthly pet vaccination clinics, held at locations across Contra Costa County!
Pet Food
Nobody should have to choose between feeding their pet and feeding themselves.
Spay/Neuter Services
Our team safely sterilizes thousands of dogs and cats each year using the highest standards of care.
Pet Safety Net
We’re here to help keep pets out of municipal shelters, and with the family who loves them.
Community Veterinary Care
Need low-cost medical care for your dog or cat? Community Veterinary Care (CVC) may be able to help!
Rehoming Resources
Rehoming your pet yourself is usually a better option than bringing them to a shelter.
Community Cats
Trap-Neuter-Return is the only long-term strategy for humanely controlling the free-roaming cat population.
Financial Assistance
Here is a collection of resources (including Joybound’s) that can help assist with low-cost veterinary care.
Pet Loss & Grief Support
Pets are family — and losing a member of your family can be a painful and traumatic experience.
