Veterinary Care for Albertans Facing Financial Hardship

The Cause

Tails of Help sees a future where essential health care for companion animals is accessible to all.
Our program facilitates access to essential veterinary care for Albertans facing financial hardship. We preserve the human-animal bond by keeping pets healthy and with their loving families, preventing unnecessary suffering or surrenders to shelters due to financial distress.
Tails of Help is a CRA registered charity that is supported by the veterinary community through the annual "Alberta Challenge" that is a major fundraiser for Tails of Help.
The program is open to all veterinary practices in Alberta. Pet owners access the program through their veterinarian who submit an application once a treatment plan has been established. The practice reviews the financial qualifying criteria and owners need to provide information for some financial means categories.
Treatment costs are often shared three ways between the owner contributing what they can afford, the veterinary practice offering pro bono or discounted services and the program providing funding support.
The following is an example case that received Tails of Help funding:
“Jessie”, an 8-year-old male Shihtzu dog, had just had a grooming in the summer when his owner noticed a lump on his leg. He immediately took Jessie to their veterinarian where they sampled the lump which came back as a type of cancer. Removal of the lump was recommended to prevent it from spreading elsewhere. Jessie’s owner was very concerned about the diagnosis of cancer. As a senior on guaranteed income supplement, he had limited funds. When one of the practice staff heard that the surgery might not be possible, the practice staff contacted Tails of Help and Jessie’s owner was eligible for partial funding. They also contacted the Animal Cancer Therapy Subsidization Society (ACTSS) and found the surgery could be funded partially there also.
Between the two charities, Jessie’s owner was able to have the surgery done on his dog. He said “(It) was easy to fill out the forms. The technologists helped me with it”. We asked how Jessie did with the surgery. “Great, no problem, can’t even see the scar on Jessie’s leg.”
The test results on the tumor removed from Jessie’s leg showed that the prognosis was good since there was complete removal of the tumor. Jessie’s owner was very happy that charities such as Tails of Help and ACTSS exist to help people like him. “Jessie is my best friend. I would be lost without him”. (photos uploaded)

Who Will it Benefit?

Animal owners all across Alberta with demonstrated financial need will have access to essential veterinary care for their pets and will not have to make the difficult decision to surrender or euthanize tehri family member.
With the current affordability crisis facing Albertans, many may be put in a position where they have to make difficult decisions when it comes to providing essential veterinary care for their companion animals. Animals that do not receive appropriate care will be considered as 'in distress', which raises concerns for animal welfare and may place owners at risk of action under Alberta's Animal Protection Act.
The program is designed to provide funding that benefits Albertans that meet certain defined financial qualifying criteria, as set out below under the section on how the money will be managed.
Companion animals will benefit from essential veterinary care, in many cases relieving distress for the animal and their owner. As an example, Tails of Help receives many applications for treatment of advanced dental disease, which can be a painful and debilitating condition for companion animals. Dental disease is the most common medical criteria for approved applications. Owners often report back that their pets receiving dental care through our program demonstrate a remarkable recovery and return to wellness.
Veterinary practice staff often face the moral distress of being able to treat animals but are unable to proceed due to financial limitations of the owners. While many veterinary practices and corporations provide pro bono and discounted services for selected cases, Tails of Help is another resource that veterinary practice staff can use to provide care to animals whose owners are otherwise unable to pay for essential veterinary care.
In cases where owners cannot access care, animals may be reported to animal welfare agencies or surrendered to a shelter or humane society. These animal welfare organizations (rescues) are currently at capacity. Rescues and shelter staff will benefit from reduced number of surrendered animals.
The program also addresses a societal moral belief that animal health and welfare must be safeguarded. There is also an expanding body of evidence of the benefit of the human animal bond on human health and wellbeing. Tails of Help maintains the human animal bond.