Grants and Assistance
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American Humane - Grants and awards
American Kennel Club - The rescue grant program provides financial assistance to canine rescue groups for significant expenses. Grants are used to help cover the costs of veterinary care, spaying and neutering, vital supplies, and more.
Animal Farm Foundation - Grants available for sustainable shelter programs to keep pets and people together. Many pets are relinquished to shelters due to financial and medical challenges. Shelters can receive up to $30,000 in funding for sustainable program proposals. The People and Pets Together Grant supports the development of sustainable services or policy changes to keep people and pets together with the aim of reducing barriers to pet retention.
ASPCA - Grant opportunities
ASPCApro - List of other animal welfare funders
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement - Grant database
Best Friends Animal Society - Save Them All Grants
HumanePro - Grant opportunities for animal welfare organizations
Ohio Animal Foundation - Statewide small grants program awarded to Ohio nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of animals.
Ohio Animal Health Foundation - Offers grants and funds projects that make a difference in the lives of animals and people in Ohio
Ohio Pet Fund - Spay/Neuter grants
Ohio Animal Welfare Federation - Grant opportunities
The Onyx & Breezy Foundation - Provides funding and support to shelters, rescues, foster groups and sanctuaries
Petco Love - Animal welfare grants
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American Humane - Pet disaster preparedness resources
American Red Cross - Pet disaster preparedness and learning how to prepare your pets for an emergency evacuation and help them recover afterward
American Veterinary Medical Association - Disaster preparedness for veterinarians and clients and “Pets and Disasters” resources
ASPCA - Disaster Preparedness for Pets Guide and downloadable Disaster Prep Checklist
Best Friends Animal Society - Emergency response resources
CalFire Wildland Fire Safety for Livestock and Pets - Guidance for safe and efficient evacuation of animals during wildfires
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Build a pet disaster preparedness kit and printable resources
CNET: Keep Your Pets Safe During Wildfire Evacuation - If you live in an area prone to any natural disaster, follow these key pet safety tips
FEMA - Are you “Petpared” for Disasters?
Home Advisor - Fire prevention, preparedness, and recovery for pet owners
HSUS - Guide to disaster preparedness for pets
Ohio State University Ohioline - Emergency Plans for Pets
RedRover - Pet disaster preparedness tips and essentials checklists
RedRover Responders - Providing vital emergency sheltering assistance for animals displaced by natural disasters or rescued from cruelty situations
Ready.gov - Prepare your pets for disasters
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If your animal requires emergency veterinary care and you can't afford treatment, one option is to contact nearby veterinary colleges to see if they have any emergency assistance programs. If you are unsure what qualifies as emergency veterinary care, call your veterinarian and describe the symptoms. Some animal shelter and community clinics will also provide emergency care on a limited basis.
Best Friends Animal Society - Pet financial assistance resources
Black and Orange Cat Foundation - Sterilizes feral cats in Madison and Union Counties in Ohio (bandocats@gmail.com).
Bo Paws-It-Forward - Provides grants for veterinary expenses such as vaccines, dental, microchips, spay/neuter, surgery, physical therapy, and professional veterinary behaviorist evaluations; bopawsitforward@gmail.com
Brown Dog Foundation - Helps with prescription medications and medical expenses.
Bummer Fund - Provides grants for medical crisis for Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties.
Ellie’s Rainy Day Fund - Funds emergency and specialty veterinary care for Miami Valley families and their pets.
Frankie’s Friends - Provides financial assistance grants to family owned pets in need of lifesaving emergency or specialty veterinary care such as cancer or specialty eye care.
Friends & Vets Helping Pets - Funds treatments for curable diseases such as tumors, broken bones, ambulatory care, expensive medication, or post-surgical prosthetics such as a K-9 cart; info@FriendsandVetsHelpingPets.org, (859) 309-2043
Frosted Faces Foundation - Provides veterinary care that is required to maintain and enhance the quality of life for senior animals. They can also help with food, supplies, training, grooming, pet deposits, fence repairs, and impound fees.
Hope Mending Hearts - Provides financial and resource assistance for urgent veterinary care.
Jake Brady Memorial Fund - Provides grants for surgical procedures, emergency treatment, preventive therapy, room and board, and medications statewide; (440) 937-4000
Land of PureGold Foundation - Provides $1,000 grants to working dogs diagnosed with cancer; foundation@landofpuregold.com
Lexi’s Legacy - Funds necessary medical treatments for certain serious conditions and emergency services; info@lexis-legacy.org
Live Like Roo Foundation Medical Application - Provides financial assistance to help cover healthcare costs related to cancer treatment.
Magic Bullet Fund - Provides assistance for cancer treatments, surgery, or chemotherapy.
MedVet Charitable Foundation - Central Ohio
Miranda’s People - Dedicated to assisting dogs with cancer, info@mirandaspeople.org
The Mosby Foundation - Assists in the care for critically sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs through financial support.
NAVS Sanctuary Fund - For animal rescues, shelters, and sanctuaries in desperate need of emergency assistance across the United States.
Ohio Paws with Purpose - Statewide program that assists with medical costs for animals with illness or in need of surgery as well as euthanasia costs; ohiopawswithpurpose@gmail.com
The Onyx & Breezy Foundation - Provides financial assistance for spay and neuter, rescue of animals from kill shelters, food, medicine, and supplies; info@onyxandbreezy.org
Paws for a Cure - Provides financial assistance throughout the United States for veterinary care for all illnesses and injury treatment which also includes medication, insulin, Heartworm positive treatment and medical equipment such as wheelchairs.
The Pet Fund - Provides financial assistance for non-basic, non-urgent care such as cancer treatment, heart disease, chronic conditions, endocrine diseases, eye diseases; info@thepetfund.com
Petfinder Foundation - Statewide program that assists Petfinder members caring for pets through medical, disaster, and enrichment grants.
RedRover - Statewide assistance for pets with life-threatening injuries or illnesses.
Valley Save-a-Pet - Provides statewide assistance for emergency veterinarian care statewide; (440) 232-9124
Violet’s Friends in Need - Offers financial assistance for urgent or critical veterinary care, surgeries, therapies or mobility solutions that are too costly for pet parents.
Waggle - Crowdfunding platform that acts as a trusted safety net individuals and organizations can turn to when they lack the funds to cover essential veterinary treatment.
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American Humane - What to do if you find a lost pet
ASPCA - Finding a lost pet
Best Friends Animal Society - How to find a lost dog, cat, or other pet
The Center for Lost Pets - Central location where people who have lost and found pets can connect
Humane Society of the United States - How to Find a Lost Dog and How to Find a Lost Cat
Missing Animal Response Network - A worldwide network of missing animal response specialists
PawBoost - Free platform and community dedicated to reuniting lost pets with their people. Users can instantly create a free alert on the website or by downloading the mobile app. Their Rescue Squad spreads the word quickly and helps increase the chances of finding lost pets.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - How to find your lost dog or cat
Petco Love Lost - Free national lost-and-found database for pets using image recognition technology to help families reunite with their missing pets via one photo. Additional lost pet tips here.
Pet FBI - Free database and information center for lost and found pets
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4 Principles of the Microsanctuary Movement - Sentient Media, January 19, 2023
Microsanctuary Resource Center - Grants and resources
The Open Sanctuary Project - Specific species care
The Sanctuary in Your Backyard: A New Model for Rescuing Farmed Animals - Our Hen House
What is a Microsanctuary? - Microsanctuary Resource Center
Video: “So You Want to Start a Sanctuary?” PEACE Rescue and Support, 2020
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For help with housing, food, paying bills and more, visit findhelp.org or 211.org.
American Humane - Foreclosure pets fact sheet
ASPCA - Cohousing as a solution for people with pets experiencing homelessness
Best Friends Animal Society - Pet assistance resources for economic hardship
Feeding Pets of the Homeless - Pet food donation sites, wellness clinics, emergency care program, pet crates, veteran pet support, and more. Resource list here.
Humane Society of the United States - Resources for families experiencing hardship
Pet Help Finder - Pet food pantries, low-cost veterinary services, and other resources
Petsmart Charities - The Preserving Families new funding initiative supports programs that keep people and pets together through times of crisis, such as domestic violence, homelessness and hospice situations.
The Street Dog Coalition - Provides free veterinary care and related services to pets of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
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Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement - Resources, education, and other supportive services
Best Friends Animal Society - Grieving the loss of a pet: resources for coping
The Cornell Pet Loss Support Hotline - Staffed by volunteer veterinary students who have undergone extensive training with professional grief counselors. Call 607-218-7457. Check website for hours and availability.
Doris Day Animal Foundation - Rainbow bridge memorials (add your story)
Grief Healing - Pet loss helplines and virtual support groups
Hoofbeats in Heaven - Horse loss support group
Human Animal Bond Trust - Free virtual pet loss support group that meets weekly via Zoom
Michigan State University Veterinary Medical Center - Free virtual pet loss support group that meets twice monthly via Zoom. Open to anyone who has lost a pet—your pet did not have to be a patient at MSU’s Veterinary Medical Center for you to attend the group.
Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center - Pet loss support and online resources
The Pet Loss Support Page - In-person and virtual support groups and individual counseling for those experiencing pet loss.
Lap of Love - Offers counseling, support groups, and a list of universities that offer counseling as well as explanations for some questions people may have about pet loss. Also provides end-of-life services in-home for pets.
Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement - Gives those experiencing pet loss an opportunity to enter chat or video support groups, recommends readings that may help process pet grief, and gives guides to things like anticipatory grief, euthanasia, and how to cope with grief.
Video - “Pet Loss Grief: The Pain, Explained,” TEDx, November 2022
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If you are experiencing abuse and need assistance, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233.
American Kennel Club - Women’s Shelters Grant supports domestic violence shelters that have safe havens for pets. Funds essential operations or capital improvements specifically for the pet safe havens.
Animal Welfare Institute - Safety Planning for Pets tool for survivors and their advocates
Don’t Forget the Pets - Provides support and resources to organizations throughout the country, giving them the tools they need to build programs for people and pets in crisis.
National Domestic Violence Hotline - Pet safety during domestic violence and safety planning with pets
OAA Statewide Resources - list of safe havens that allow pets in Ohio
Purina Purple Leash Project - Provides grants to help ensure domestic violence shelters offer pet-friendly services so no survivor has to choose between their own safety and the safety of their pet.
RedRover - Offers Safe Escape grants to help survivors and pets find safety from abuse, and Safe Housing grants to help shelters provide a safe space for pets. Additional domestic violence resources for individuals and organizations here.
Safe Havens For Pets - searchable directory for pets of those experiencing domestic violence, created and managed by the Animal Welfare Institute
Sheltering Animals and Families Together (SAF-T) - List of pet-friendly domestic violence shelters by state
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Assistance Dogs International - Worldwide coalition of non-profit programs that train and place Assistance Dogs
Assistance Dogs United Campaign - Operated in association with The Assistance Dog Institute, this nonprofit helps people with disabilities find funding to purchase service dogs.
International Association of Assistance Dog Partners (IAADP) - A program for IADDP members whose assistance dogs require emergency veterinary care. Only a veterinarian can make the request for a grant; contacting the program directly results being barred from grant eligibility.
International Guide Dog Federation - Information on Guide Dogs and where to find a provider
National Association of Guide Dog Users - Committed to enhancing the lives of guide dog users, addressing common challenges, and expanding opportunities for those who rely on guide dogs for independent travel.
US Department of Veterans Affairs - Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services, Service Dog Veterinary Health Insurance Benefit
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BioLEAP Classroom Grant - Awards up to $1,000 to offset the costs of purchasing non-animal dissection alternatives, as well as any necessary teacher training. Use your BioLEAP Classroom Grant to provide your students with a more innovative, and more effective, approach to learning the life sciences.
Classroom Pet Alternatives - HEART and TeachKind share several ways to teach about animals and responsibility without classroom pets, including story times, nature walks, animal “adoptions,” service learning, growing plants and gardens, and more.
OAA Humane Education Resources - We offer a comprehensive resource library of books, lesson plans, research, funding, and much more for educators looking to incorporate humane education in the classroom.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - Answers to a Humane Educator’s Frequently Asked Questions
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Ohio Paws with Purpose - Covers the adoption fee, up to $200, for one rescue/shelter companion dog or cat for veterans residents of Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Ashtabula Counties. Proof of service is required. Form DD214 would qualify as proof of service. Email ohiopawswithpurpose@gmail.com to apply for this program.
The Onyx & Breezy Foundation - Provides funding and support to help the dogs of veterans suffering from PTSD; info@onyxandbreezy.org
Operation We Are Here - Pet resources for military & veteran families
Pets for Patriots - Veteran benefits including adoption specials, veterinary care support, counseling, and a hardship program that helps veterans in crisis provide for their adopted pets
Pets for Vets Cleveland Chapter - Bonding veterans with trained working animals
US Department of Veterans Affairs - Rehabilitation and Prosthetic Services, Service Dog Veterinary Health Insurance Benefit
Veteran.com Community - How to adopt a military working dog
Veteran Companion Animal Services - Rescue dog placements and dog training programs in Ohio
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Best Friends Animal Society - Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Resources
Humane Society of the United States - How to tell if baby animals are orphaned, injured or perfectly fine—and what to do if they need your help
Ohio Department of Natural Resources - Orphaned and Injured Wildlife resources and downloadable maps, brochures, and posters (report wildlife crimes and poaching here)
Ohio Division of Wildlife - List of Permitted Wildlife Rehabilitators (2024-2025) and downloadable pamphlet
Ohio Wildlife Center - Have You Found an Animal? Online Tool
Ohio Wildlife Rehabilitators Association - What to do if you find an injured or orphaned animal
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - Wildlife Emergencies: How to Help and When Not to Interfere
“Don't be afraid to speak out about what you're passionate about because your voice matters and your voice can, at the end of the day, make a difference.”
— Lexi Underwood