Photo by Luku Muffin on Unsplash
Life has a way of throwing us a curve ball, usually when we least expect it. Dealing with unexpected job loss, illness, or other challenges can change our lives substantially, causing stress over how we’ll stay afloat financially. Sometimes pet parents feel as if they have little choice but to surrender their beloved family member to a shelter or rescue. However, there are ways to continue to care for your pet, even when finances are tight.
Here are 14 ways to help ease the financial burden during difficult times.
1. Create a budget.
A budget will help you see how much money you typically bring in in a month, how much your overall bills and necessities cost, and where you can save money, if possible. When your car insurance renewal rolls around, start shopping around to see if you can find a better rate. Can you get a better deal on your cable or streaming services? How about internet? Shopping around can help you save money, too.
2. Start an emergency fund.
While it’s not always feasible, start an emergency fund, if you can, that includes your pet. That way, if you run into financial difficulties, you’ll have a bit of a cushion. Experts recommend saving between three to six months of your living expenses, although that might not always be possible.
3. Consider purchasing pet insurance.
Pet insurance can help defray the costs of veterinary care. Make sure, just like with health insurance, you shop around, especially if you have multiple pets or your pet has pre-existing conditions. While some companies do not cover pre-existing conditions, others may cover those pre-existing conditions that can be cured.
Not all pet insurance companies cover exotics – birds, chinchillas, ferrets, rabbits, and so on – so keep that in mind when you begin your search if you have an exotic pet(s).
Use your favorite search engine to find pet insurance companies. Here are a few to help you get started:
- Nationwide (offers plans for exotic pets)
- ASPCA Pet Health Insurance
- Lemonade
- Spot Pet Insurance
- Trupanion
- pumpkin
- Embrace Pet Insurance
- Liberty Mutual Pet Insurance
Before you purchase pet insurance, thoroughly read the terms of the plan, how much it costs and what it covers, and take some time to read reviews from users. Check with your vet, too, to see if they accept the type of pet insurance you want to buy.
4. Keep up with regular vet visits.
We might be tempted to hold off on regular vet visits until our finances improve, but that could ultimately cause more problems. Regular vet visits allow your pets to get necessary vaccines and to head off any developing health problems. Pet insurance may help cover the high cost of veterinary visits and medications.
5. Shop around.
One of the best ways to save money is to shop around, whether we’re looking for the best pet insurance, veterinarian, medication, or food and supplies. If you’re looking for pet food, for example, check out prices online, at your local shops (including mom and pops) and big box stores to find the best deals. Sometimes, if you place a regular order, you can receive a discount. If you sign up for autoship with Chewy, for example, you may save 35 percent on your first order (up to $20, as of January 2026) and five percent or more off of each subsequent autoship order.
6. Buy in bulk.
Buying in bulk can give you room to breathe and ensure your pets have enough food for an extended time. If you decide to buy in bulk, make sure you read the instructions on the packaging and store the food properly.
7. Buy medications online.
The cost of filling our pet’s prescription can sometimes be quite high. As with everything else, shop around to find the best prices and ask your vet if they can recommend an affordable, legitimate place to purchase your pets’ meds online. Some popular sites include:
Unfortunately, some online pet pharmacies only cater to dogs and cats, so you may have a bit more of a challenge if you have an exotic like a rabbit, bird, chinchilla, ferret, or guinea pig. Your veterinarian should be able to help.
Did you know you GoodRX for Pets offers discounts on some medications?
8. Look for supplies online.
Most neighborhoods have “buy now” groups on Facebook, where members list items they want to give away for free. Sign up for your local buy now group and see what people are offering. You might even have some items to get rid of that you can post.
9. Make homemade toys.
Have you ever noticed when you buy your pet – maybe a cat or a rabbit – a new toy, they sniff it and wander away, instead focusing their attention on the box in which it came? Most pets aren’t picky when it comes to toys. Cut back on costs by finding fun ways to make homemade toys for your pets. Use a knife or scissors to cut doors in a cardboard box, and your rabbit, chinchilla, or guinea pig will have the perfect place to hide (and chew).
10. Make homemade pet treats.
As prices keep rising on just about everything we buy, pet treats are no exception. If the treats are larger, you can cut them in half to make them last longer (although your pet may not let you get away with that). Or, if you really want to save money, go online and find treats you can make yourself. Just go to your favorite search engine and look for “homemade treats for” and the type of pet you have.
11. Go to a pet pantry.
Pet pantries, like food pantries, help those who need food and (sometimes) pet supplies. Many, like Ellie’s Pet Pantry of the Humane Animal Rescue in Pittsburgh, require that you fill out an application prior to receiving assistance for the first time. You may also have to meet other qualifications, such as being at least 18 years old.
When you’re looking for pet pantries, keep in mind that some may only offer dog and cat food while others, such as The Animal House Project in Pottstown provide food for other types of pets, too. Check before filling out an application.
12. Groom your pets at home.
A professional groomer can help your pet look and feel their best but, when times are tough financially, consider pausing those grooming sessions. Learning how to groom your pets will help you save money and it may even help make your bond with them grow stronger.
13. Start an Amazon wish list.
An Amazon wish list makes it easy for everyone, whether you need supplies or you’re purchasing them for someone else. To create an Amazon wish list, go to your Amazon account (or sign up for one if you don’t have one yet), and click “Account and Lists.” Scroll down to “Create a List,” where you’ll start by naming your wish list, and then you can add the items you need.
To make your wish list public:
- Find the three dots in the top right hand corner of your list.
- Click on the three dots.
- Click on “Manage List.”
- Look for the privacy tab, where you can set your list to be private, shared, or public. Click on public.
- Scroll a little further down, where you’ll see several boxes. Do you want the items to remain on the list after they’ve been purchased? If so, click the box next to “Keep purchased items on this list.”
14. Ask for help.
Most of us have had sleepless nights, where we worry whether everything is going to work out. Our minds might even wander, wondering if we can afford to keep our pets. The good news is help is available. Sometimes all we have to do is reach out to family, friends, and neighbors to ask for help. But, there are plenty of other resources available to pet parents, too, including:
- PetNet offers temporary emergency housing for pets.
- RedRover issues grants for emergency veterinary care.
- Sam’s Hope assists with funds for veterinary care for pet parents who are financially struggling in Bucks County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County.
- For the Love of Alex provides financial assistance for emergency veterinary care for individuals with low income.
- PAWS of NEPA offers one-time grants for “non-urgent medical conditions” to those applicants who qualify.
- Pay-What-You-Can Clinics, through Humane Pennsylvania, are held in Berks County (Reading) and Lancaster County on select days/evenings.
We all struggle in difficult times, but the heartening news is there is help available so we can continue to care for our pets. Making a plan, finding the best resources for your needs, and asking for help are all ways to survive difficult times.
