Pet Care Assistance
for Massachusetts Pet Owners

• What types of pet care assistance are available?
• Spaying and neutering programs
• Rabies and other vaccinations
• Pet medical care financial assistance
• Pet food assistance
• Feral cat assistance

What types of pet care assistance are available?

Cat and dog owners who cannot afford medical care or other necessities for their pets can get help from nonprofit and local government programs. Pet care assistance programs include:

• spaying and neutering programs
• rabies and other vaccination clinics
• medical care for seriously ill or injured pets
• support for people taking care of stray feral cats
• food pantries that offer pet food and pet supplies
• support for pet owners who must surrender their pets or need pet care advice

Spaying and neutering programs

Animal welfare organizations throughout Massachusetts offer free or low cost spaying and neutering services to help reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned animals in the state.

Statewide program:

• MSPCA/MVMA Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP)

  The MSPCA/MVMA Spay/Neuter Assistance Program helps low-income pet owners pay for spay/neuter services for their pets. The program gives discount certificates that can be used at over 200 participating veterinary clinics throughout Massachusetts.

  Web site: MSPCA/MVMA Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP)
  Phone: 617-541-5007
  Service area: Massachusetts
  How to apply: Fill out the online SNAP Application or call the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program at 617-541-5007

Local programs:

• Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC): Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics in Massachusetts

  The Massachusetts Animal Coalition maintains a list of local spay/neuter programs throughout the state. Select your region to find links to spay/neuter programs in your area.

  Each program has its own rules regarding types of animals, costs, financial assistance, and schedules.

Rabies and other vaccinations

Massachusetts law requires all cats, dogs, and ferrets to be vaccinated against rabies. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) works with several nonprofit animal welfare groups to offer low-cost rabies vaccination clinics in cities and towns throughout the state.

Most clinics charge from $5 to $15 for the rabies vaccination. Microchipping, licenses, and other services are available at some clinics. Cats must be in carriers and dogs on a leash.

To find a rabies vaccination clinic near you, see:

Statewide listing of rabies clinics:

• Department of Agricultural Resources statewide listing: Rabies Vaccination Clinics

Local rabies clinics:

• Boston area: Boston Area Rabies Clinics - 2011
• North Brookfield: Second Chance rabies clinics (every Wednesday morning)
• Annual spring city/town rabies clinics: call your city/town Animal Control department
  (see Commonwealth Communities for contact information)

Pet medical care financial assistance

Several programs in Massachusetts help pet owners who cannot afford to pay for needed medical care for their pets:

• Scratch's Patch-Up Program

  Scratch's Patch-Up Program helps pet owners whose dogs or cats are facing a medical crisis and who do not have the money to pay for the care their pets need. Pet owners must meet income limits and other requirements. Approval may take up to two weeks, so the program cannot usually help in emergency situations.

  Web site: Scratch's Patch-Up Program
  Phone: 978-779-8287
  Service area: Central Massachusetts
  How to apply: Vet Service Request - Online Form or call 978-779-8287

• Metro Action Clinic

  The Metro Action Clinic provides affordable veterinary medical services to inner-city pet owners.

  Web site: Metro Action Clinic
  Phone: 617 - 268- 7800
  Service area: Boston inner city
  Cost: Metro Action Clinic Schedule of Fees
  How to apply: Call the Alliance for Animals at 617-268-7800

• Pet Care Assistance - MSPCA Angell

  MSPCA Angell Pet Care Assistance helps pet owners with limited incomes pay for medical care for their sick or injured pets at MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Centers.

  Web site: Pet Care Assistance
  Phone: 617-541-5028 or 5030
  Service area: animals treated at MSPCA Angell Boston or Nantucket
  How to apply: Call the MSPCA Angell Financial Office at 617-541-5028 or 5030

• The Sampson Fund for Veterinary Care

  The Sampson Fund helps pay for medical care for critically ill or injured cats and dogs when their owners cannot afford the cost of treatment.

  Web site: Sampson Fund
  Phone: 508-240-7387
  Service area: Cape Cod and the Islands
  How to apply: Call the Sampson Fund at 508-240-7387 or apply at a Member Hospital

The Humane Society of the United States has a list of national organizations that may be able to help you: Pet Financial Aid Organizations.

Pet food assistance

Many Massachusetts food pantries and animal welfare groups offer free pet food to pet owners in need. The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) maintains a list of pet food pantries by region.

Pet food pantries:

• MSPCA pet food pantry statewide list: Massachusetts Food Pantries: Companion Animals

In addition, other local food pantries may have pet food available or may be able to provide it if you ask. See Massachusetts food pantries.

Feral cat assistance

Animal welfare organizations and veterinary clinics provide assistance to Massachusetts residents working to reduce the feral cat population and improve the health of feral cats. Feral cats are untamed un-owned cats living in the wild. They usually run away from humans and must be humanely trapped in order to receive medical care. Special traps and instructions for "Trap-Neuter-Return - TNR" are available from most feral cat programs.

Feral cat assistance programs include:

• Commonwealth Cats: Cat Sterilization and Vaccination Program

  Commonwealth Cats provides sterilization, vaccination, ear-tipping, and outpatient medical treatment for feral cats trapped within Massachusetts. Services are free.

  Web site: Commonwealth Cats
  E-mail: Commonwealth Cats e-mail
  Service area: Clinics are held at various locations in Massachusetts
  Cost: Free

• Feral F.A.S.T. Program (Feline Alliance Sterilization Team)

  The Feral F.A.S.T. Program provides sterilization, vaccination, ear-tipping, and flea treatment services for feral cats. Traps are available. The program is run by Second Chance for Animals in North Brookfield.

  Web site: Feral F.A.S.T. Program
  Phone: 508-637-1333
  Service area: Massachusetts. Clinic location is North Brookfield, MA
  Cost: $30 per cat

• Sunday Clinics for Feral Cats - MRFRS

  The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (MRFRS) runs free spay/neuter clinics for feral cats on Sundays. Services include spay/neuter, vaccination, ear-tipping, and flea/ear mite treatment. An appointment is required.

  Web site: MRFRS Sunday Clinics for Feral Cats
  Phone: 978-462-0760
  E-mail: MRFRS clinic e-mail
  Service area: Clinics are held at the MSPCA Nevins Farm in Methuen, MA
  Cost: Free

• Feral Spay Sunday - DPVHS

  The Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society (DPVHS) runs free spay/neuter clinics for feral cats one Sunday each month at a volunteer hospital. Services include spay/neuter, vaccination, ear-tipping, and flea/ear mite treatment. An appointment is required.

  Web site: DPVHS Feral Spay Sunday
  Phone: 413-548-9898
  E-mail: MRFRS clinic e-mail
  Service area: Pioneer Valley
  Cost: Free

  Dakin also runs low-cost feral cat clinics during the week at their site in Springfield, MA. Call 413-781-4019 or see Dakin Feral Cats Clinic for more information.

Feral cat assistance may also be available at other spay/neuter clinics in Massachusetts. See Spaying and Neutering Programs to find a clinic near you, then call to see if they handle feral cats.