Frequently Asked Question's
🐾 How can a pet owner access the charity?
Pet owners must first visit a veterinarian for assessment. If your pet needs urgent or life-saving treatment, the vet clinic can apply to us on your behalf.
Because ACT Pet Crisis Support is entirely volunteer run, we don’t have the capacity to process applications directly from pet owners. Once your vet submits the application, we usually provide a response within 1–3 hours.
Any vet in Canberra, Queanbeyan, or the surrounding region can apply for assistance. Please note that we cannot fund treatment that has already occurred, and your pet must be assessed by a vet first.
You can also visit our Tiny Vet Clinic for help with non-emergency or ongoing care.
🏥 What types of conditions can the charity help with?
We aim to assist with urgent, treatable medical conditions when funds are available. Examples include:
🚫 What conditions are not covered?
We’re unable to fund elective, routine, or ongoing treatments. Examples include:
💰 What is the maximum amount of assistance available?
We can contribute up to $1,000 per pet.
Before applying, vets are asked to ensure that all other funding options have been explored — such as GoFundMe, Care loans, Good Shepherd, or Centrelink loans.
🔁 What if the full $1,000 isn’t used?
If assistance is approved, it applies only to that specific treatment at the applying clinic.
It does not carry over to new visits or other vet clinics.
If the approved treatment involves multiple visits (e.g. post-op checks or bandage changes), we ask that clinics send one final invoice once the case is complete, rather than multiple smaller invoices.
📍 Do you help outside of Canberra?
Yes — we can assist pet owners in Canberra, Queanbeyan, and nearby regional areas.
Support for other locations (such as Bungendore, Yass, or Goulburn) is considered on a case-by-case basis.
💉 My pet needs vaccination or routine care
ACT Pet Crisis Support does not fund routine care through clinic applications.
However, pet owners can attend our Tiny Vet Clinic, or contact Pets in the Park, who offer monthly clinics for people experiencing homelessness or hardship.
Pets in the Park can assist with vaccination, microchipping, desexing, health checks, and parasite control. You’ll need a referral letter from your service provider (for example, the Early Morning Centre) to attend.
🦷 My pet needs dental treatment — can you help?
We used to help with dental care, but unfortunately, the need is far greater than our available funds. Around 85% of pets over three years old have untreated dental disease, and many breeds are prone to dental problems from a young age.
If your pet has bad breath or dental issues, it’s best to seek treatment early — it’s usually cheaper and can greatly improve quality of life.
Many clinics offer free dental checks so you can understand the costs involved. If you receive Centrelink benefits, your vet can refer you to RSPCA ACT for reduced-rate dental care, payable via Centrepay.
Please complete our Dentistry Assistance Form if you need help connecting with RSPCA ACT.
🙋♀️ Can pet owners apply directly to the charity?
No. Because we’re 100% volunteer-run, all applications must come from vet clinics.
Our volunteers focus on fundraising and case assessments, and we don’t have the capacity to process direct or phone applications.
Your first step is to visit a veterinarian, who can assess your pet and apply on your behalf once all other options have been explored.
🩺 My vet doesn’t know about ACT Pet Crisis Support
That’s okay!
Please direct them to our website for all the details and the application link.
✂️ Help with desexing costs
RSPCA ACT offers discounted desexing with the option to pay via Centrepay.
Please note there can be a waitlist, so we recommend booking at least six months in advance.
💸 Other options for vet bill assistance
There are a few other ways you might be able to get help with veterinary costs:
❤️ Why do we support pet owners who can’t afford care?
Hardship can happen to anyone. Illness, job loss, or life changes can make it difficult to afford vet care — but that doesn’t mean someone doesn’t love or deserve their pet.
Pets provide comfort, companionship, and stability, especially for those doing it tough. Without charities like ours, many would face economic euthanasia — putting their pet to sleep simply because of money.
Our mission is to make sure that doesn’t happen.
💵 Why does vet care cost so much?
Veterinary care can seem expensive because, unlike human medicine, there’s no Medicare for pets.
Vets are often small business owners with high overheads — rent, staff, medical supplies, and constantly updated equipment. Despite that, animal care is far cheaper than human medical care when you remove government subsidies.
Most clinics are one-stop medical centres offering consultation, diagnostics, and surgery under one roof. Advances in veterinary medicine mean pets now live longer and healthier lives — but with that progress comes higher costs.
Your vet’s fees reflect the cost of providing high-quality, professional care — the same way you’d expect to pay for a mechanic or tradesperson’s expertise.
🐾 How can a pet owner access the charity?
Pet owners must first visit a veterinarian for assessment. If your pet needs urgent or life-saving treatment, the vet clinic can apply to us on your behalf.
Because ACT Pet Crisis Support is entirely volunteer run, we don’t have the capacity to process applications directly from pet owners. Once your vet submits the application, we usually provide a response within 1–3 hours.
Any vet in Canberra, Queanbeyan, or the surrounding region can apply for assistance. Please note that we cannot fund treatment that has already occurred, and your pet must be assessed by a vet first.
You can also visit our Tiny Vet Clinic for help with non-emergency or ongoing care.
🏥 What types of conditions can the charity help with?
We aim to assist with urgent, treatable medical conditions when funds are available. Examples include:
- 🦴 Fracture repair or accidental injury
- 🐾 Dog or cat bite wounds
- ☠️ Toxicity treatment
- 🚻 Urinary obstruction
- 🐶 Foreign body obstruction
- 💉 Abscesses, wounds, or trauma (e.g. hit by car)
- 🐕🦺 Pyometra
🚫 What conditions are not covered?
We’re unable to fund elective, routine, or ongoing treatments. Examples include:
- Lump removals and non-urgent conditions
- Routine care such as vaccination, desexing, grooming, parasite control (unless contributing to illness), food, nail trims, or products like Feliway or Adaptil
- Parvovirus treatment
- Chronic conditions (kidney, liver, adrenal or thyroid disease, diabetes, arthritis, pancreatitis, skin issues) — these may be managed through the Tiny Vet Clinic if appropriate
- Caesarean sections or breeding-related conditions
- Chemotherapy or cancer treatment
- Dental procedures
- Gastrointestinal diagnostics
- Boarding fees
💰 What is the maximum amount of assistance available?
We can contribute up to $1,000 per pet.
Before applying, vets are asked to ensure that all other funding options have been explored — such as GoFundMe, Care loans, Good Shepherd, or Centrelink loans.
🔁 What if the full $1,000 isn’t used?
If assistance is approved, it applies only to that specific treatment at the applying clinic.
It does not carry over to new visits or other vet clinics.
If the approved treatment involves multiple visits (e.g. post-op checks or bandage changes), we ask that clinics send one final invoice once the case is complete, rather than multiple smaller invoices.
📍 Do you help outside of Canberra?
Yes — we can assist pet owners in Canberra, Queanbeyan, and nearby regional areas.
Support for other locations (such as Bungendore, Yass, or Goulburn) is considered on a case-by-case basis.
💉 My pet needs vaccination or routine care
ACT Pet Crisis Support does not fund routine care through clinic applications.
However, pet owners can attend our Tiny Vet Clinic, or contact Pets in the Park, who offer monthly clinics for people experiencing homelessness or hardship.
Pets in the Park can assist with vaccination, microchipping, desexing, health checks, and parasite control. You’ll need a referral letter from your service provider (for example, the Early Morning Centre) to attend.
🦷 My pet needs dental treatment — can you help?
We used to help with dental care, but unfortunately, the need is far greater than our available funds. Around 85% of pets over three years old have untreated dental disease, and many breeds are prone to dental problems from a young age.
If your pet has bad breath or dental issues, it’s best to seek treatment early — it’s usually cheaper and can greatly improve quality of life.
Many clinics offer free dental checks so you can understand the costs involved. If you receive Centrelink benefits, your vet can refer you to RSPCA ACT for reduced-rate dental care, payable via Centrepay.
Please complete our Dentistry Assistance Form if you need help connecting with RSPCA ACT.
🙋♀️ Can pet owners apply directly to the charity?
No. Because we’re 100% volunteer-run, all applications must come from vet clinics.
Our volunteers focus on fundraising and case assessments, and we don’t have the capacity to process direct or phone applications.
Your first step is to visit a veterinarian, who can assess your pet and apply on your behalf once all other options have been explored.
🩺 My vet doesn’t know about ACT Pet Crisis Support
That’s okay!
Please direct them to our website for all the details and the application link.
✂️ Help with desexing costs
RSPCA ACT offers discounted desexing with the option to pay via Centrepay.
Please note there can be a waitlist, so we recommend booking at least six months in advance.
💸 Other options for vet bill assistance
There are a few other ways you might be able to get help with veterinary costs:
- Ask family or friends if they can provide a short-term loan.
- Check with your home insurance — some policies include pet illness coverage.
- Good Shepherd and Care offer interest-free community loans.
- Some vets offer Centrepay payment options.
- The RSPCA ACT may help with dental care or desexing.
- For urgent cases, vets must provide first aid, so please call your nearest clinic for emergency advice.
❤️ Why do we support pet owners who can’t afford care?
Hardship can happen to anyone. Illness, job loss, or life changes can make it difficult to afford vet care — but that doesn’t mean someone doesn’t love or deserve their pet.
Pets provide comfort, companionship, and stability, especially for those doing it tough. Without charities like ours, many would face economic euthanasia — putting their pet to sleep simply because of money.
Our mission is to make sure that doesn’t happen.
💵 Why does vet care cost so much?
Veterinary care can seem expensive because, unlike human medicine, there’s no Medicare for pets.
Vets are often small business owners with high overheads — rent, staff, medical supplies, and constantly updated equipment. Despite that, animal care is far cheaper than human medical care when you remove government subsidies.
Most clinics are one-stop medical centres offering consultation, diagnostics, and surgery under one roof. Advances in veterinary medicine mean pets now live longer and healthier lives — but with that progress comes higher costs.
Your vet’s fees reflect the cost of providing high-quality, professional care — the same way you’d expect to pay for a mechanic or tradesperson’s expertise.