Reviews

Review Details

• Review fromGloria B

  Date: 04/08/2024

  1 star
  0 stars. THIS PLACE DON'T EVEN DESERVE ONE STAR!! I ASKED THEM FOR HELP FOR MY DOG SHE HAS TWO BILATERAL INGUINAL HERNIAS SHE NEEDS SURGERY. I DID THE APPLICATION AND SENT IT ALONG WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE VET AND MY PERIOD OF INCOME. AS WELL AS A PHOTO OF MY DOG.I COULDNT BELIEVE THEY EMAILED ME BACK TELLING ME ALL RUDELY THAT I NEED CONTACT ALL THE OTHER PLACES FIRST BECAUSE PET ASSISTANCE INC ARE ALWAYS LAST TO PAY. DONT THESE PLACES SURVIVE WITH DONATIONS? WHY ARE THEY SO RUDE AND WHY ARE THEY LAST ? ANYWAYS , I EMAILED THEM BACK ASKING WHY THEY'RE LAST.. AND THEN THEY SAID IF I NEED THE HELP THEN FIRST TELL THE VET TO TAKE THE PAIN MEDICINE OFF AND THEN THEY WILL GIVE US A DONATION OF $250 WOW ARE U SERIOUS RIGHT NOW.

  Pet Assistance, Inc.

  Date: 04/09/2024

  Pet Assistance, Inc. (PAi) policy regarding grants for emergency care for pets of people in financial need is covered on our website, ************************* under the tab “financial aid/application.” Our policies are further addressed in our emails and written “grant approval.” PAi financially helps hundreds of needy pet owners and helps many more just by providing education, advice, and finding reasonably priced vet care for their pets.
  ISSUE ADDRESSED BY THE PET OWNER:
  I DID THE APPLICATION AND SENT IT ALONG WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTS FROM THE VET AND MY PERIOD OF INCOME. AS WELL AS A PHOTO OF MY DOG.I COULDNT BELIEVE THEY EMAILED ME BACK TELLING ME ALL RUDELY THAT I NEED CONTACT ALL THE OTHER PLACES FIRST BECAUSE PET ASSISTANCE INC ARE ALWAYS LAST TO PAY.
  Our response after receiving her application, photo, and estimate:
  “Your application is being processed. Please make a note of the following requirements for grant approval.
  1. Pet Assistance, Inc. (PAi) must have a written, itemized estimate from the vet and a diagnosis.
  NEEDED
  2. You must commit a specified amount of your personal funds towards treatment. DONE
  3. Surgeries cannot include biopsies, vaccinations, routine blood work in otherwise young, healthy animals, or other items not medically necessary for the surgery.
  4- We require that you apply to other organizations and update us on any other funding you receive. PAi is always the last to pay.”
  ISSUE ADDRESSED BY THE PET OWNER:
  The pet owner did get donations from other organizations amounting to $1400 and could pay $400 from her own funds. PAi offered UP TO $250. She was still short $1200- $1500 of the surgery cost. After reviewing the estimate, we came up with the following suggestions. We never said they should take the dog off pain medications; we just suggested a less expensive alternative.
  “Thank you for the estimate and the names of other organizations that are helping. We see only two obviously overpriced procedures: $620 is quite high to spay a small dog, especially since she will already be under anesthesia. Also, NOCITA, which appears in a ‘high amount.’ Eliminate NOCITA, $150, a drug approved in 2016 that is a pain killer that MAY last up to 72 hours. It is very costly. You can use the oral painkillers that other hospitals use and that everyone used until several years ago. They are a fraction of the cost. Lowering these two items alone will save you a few hundred dollars. Speak to the hospital about it.
  Have you heard from some of the organizations whose names we gave you? Is the hospital willing to work a payment plan for the balance due?”
  We also wanted to know if she had worked out a payment plan with the hospital so we would know if the surgery would proceed if the bill could not be paid in full.
  Why is PAi always the last to pay? Pet Assistance, Inc. may well be the smallest organization that helps people and their pets nationwide. Desperate pet owners may apply to ten or more organizations for help and often get more pledges than they need. Since we are the last to pay, occasionally, our funding is not needed at all, or only a portion is required to fill the gap.
   

• Review fromJessica R

  Date: 01/13/2023

  1 star
  I had taken in a dog our local dog pound picked up. Shortly after I found out he required a perianal hernia removal surgery and a mass with cancerous cells removed. I reached out to pet assistance for help. After jumping through their hoops I received a very rude and condescending email.
  Facts she missed:
  -Perianal hernia isn't a surgery most vets (or at least the ones in my area) can do.
  -I in fact called over a dozen vets within 2 hours of me trying to find away to get the surgery done cheaper and NONE of them would do the surgery. They all referred me to ****** ********** *** *** ** ********* 
  The following is her rude, ignorant, condescending email:
  "We are so sorry to hear about ********. Unfortunately, as our website clearly states, we only financially help with small/medium privately-owned hospitals, not emergency, specialty, VCA, or other large corporate-owned facilities. The latter are grossly overpriced and we need to feel our contribution is making a significant difference to the owner and the pet. In these circumstances, our advice alone often saves pet owners thousands of dollars.
  The price on the estimate you submitted is much higher than what we feel it should be for that procedure, and Pet Assistance can not help with overpriced procedures. If you send us a copy of a detailed invoice, we will look and see if there are line items that can be eliminated or reduced..
  I suggest you check with other hospitals in your area. I believe that most veterinarians perform this surgery, and that it does not need a specialist..
  Please go to ********* Search for "low-cost animal hospitals" near your zip code ***** (or "veterinarians" near your zip code ******. Make note of those with at least 3.8 stars or more and several reviews. Call and see if the hospital does perianal hernia surgery. If you send us some names, we may be able to check them out further for you.
  Sincerely, Darlene
  Pet Assistance, Inc.......where every pet matters! "

  Pet Assistance, Inc.

  Date: 01/15/2023

  Pet Assistance, Inc is an organization that nationally helps pet owners in financial need with urgent and emergency veterinary care. Our aid may be financial, educational, and/or advisory.We are very small and have only one and a half volunteers handling a large caseload of applications.
  On January 8, 2023, we posted the following on the top of every page of our website so no one would miss it! “URGENT: Read this before downloading an application! Starting January 8, 2023, PAi will not take any new applications for URGENT veterinary care until further notice. We are severely understaffed and have been unable to respond promptly to applicants. We will respond only to EMERGENCY cases ...situations where the pet may die within 36 hours if not tended to. Emergencies (for us, at this time) fall ONLY into the following categories:
  1. Urinary blockage,
  2. Pyometra
  3. Exploratory surgery.
  This is not an easy decision for us. Our hearts go out to the pet owners who need us and the pets with tumors, broken legs, rotten teeth, and others that could use our help. We hope we can fill our staff vacancies and shortly be back in 'business' full-time.”
  In addition, we added a ‘vacation’ response to our email account. Everyone wiring to us gets this message:
  “No NEW applications except for urinary blockage, pyometra, or exploratory surgery.
  PAi is extremely shorthanded and cannot respond to emails other than immediate life-threatening emergencies. We hope we will be back working at full capacity shortly.”
  Our website www.petassistanceinc.org, spells out who we financially help and what hospitals we work with. Excerpt from our website:
  “Pet Assistance, Inc. helps solely with independent, privately owned hospitals.
  We do not help with ANY "chains," franchises or corporate-owned specialty hospitals, such as ********* **** or emergency hospitals. Exceptions may be made ONLY when, in our opinion, a specialist is really needed. PAi has very limited funds and does not help with overpriced procedures.
  Veterinary care subsidies are for urgent or life-threatening emergencies only
  PAi financially helps longtime pet owners who have always cared for their pets, yet find they cannot afford an emergency problem.
  PAi cannot financially help with new or recently acquired pets. We can offer advice and direction.
  Grants are made based on urgency, prognosis, and financial need. The owner must contribute to the pet's treatment or surgery.
  We need a written estimate from the veterinarian. If the cost is higher than the norm for the procedure we cannot help.
  PAi does NOT help with unnecessary blood work, routine care, costly diagnostics (MRIs, CT scans, etc.), or ongoing illness.
  We do not financially help once a procedure has been done.
  Our aid often comes in the form of guidance, advice, and referrals. This alone has saved pet owners thousands of dollars.“
  Despite these messages specifically stating that we were temporarily limiting our services, on January 11, 2023, Ms. R filed an application with PAi for financial aid.
  Ms. R.'s stated on her GoFundMe that she adopted Buster one month prior. According to everything on our website which we URGE people to read, she did not qualify for financial help, (recently acquired dog,, the dog has a tumor, not a life-threatening situation.) In addition, our website specifically states we do not work with large corporate, or chain hospitals, such as MedVet which was the hospital she was using.
  We have been doing this work since 1973. Granted things have changed radically in the past twenty years, but we still feel the surgery quote was high. We asked for an itemized estimate to review and see if there were line items that could be eliminated or reduced, but we were only sent a flat fee quote of $4600-$5300 for 24 hours at the hospital
  PAi sent Ms.R.a a list of several larger organizations that possibly could help her and we offered to help find her a more reasonably priced hospital. She sent us the names of seventeen organizations she had applied to for help, all of which never responded or said ‘no’.
  Below is a copy of our last email to Ms. R. and her subsequent email to us (and BBB and heaven know who else) accusing us of being rude and condescending.
  “Dear JR, Jan. 13, 2023
  We are so sorry to hear about Buster. Unfortunately, as our website clearly states, we only financially help with small/medium privately-owned hospitals, not an emergency, specialty, VCA, or other large corporate-owned facilities. The latter are grossly overpriced and we need to feel our contribution is making a significant difference to the owner and the pet. In these circumstances, our advice alone often saves pet owners thousands of dollars.
  The price on the estimate you submitted is much higher than what we feel it should be for that procedure, and Pet Assistance can not help with overpriced procedures. If you send us a copy of a detailed invoice, we will look and see if there are line items that can be eliminated or reduced. I suggest you check with other hospitals in your area. I believe that most veterinarians perform this surgery and that it does not need a specialist.
  Please go to yelp.com. Search for "low-cost animal hospitals" near your zip code ***** (or "veterinarians" near your zip code *****). Make note of those with at least 3.8 stars or more and several reviews. Call and see if the hospital does perianal hernia surgery. If you send us some names, we may be able to check them out further for you.
  Sincerely, Pet Assistance, Inc.......where every pet matters! “
  And Ms. R.’s response to PA one-half hour later: “Thank you for your opinion. Unfortunately due to the perianal hernia surgery, small/medium privately owned vets are unequipped and unable to preform this specific surgery. I called roughly a dozen vets within a 2-hour drive of my home and NONE of them can preform the surgery. I was given 2 options by all of them which is MedVet Cincinnati and OSU in Columbus. A perianal hernia is NOT the same of an umbilical hernia which I could get done for about $200. It is much more complicated due to all the blood vessels and other issues in that area. Maybe you should do a little tiny bit of research and call local small/medium vets around my area and see what results you get so you don't sound so ignorant. And if you are magically able to find one close by who can do it less please let me know.
  Do you think I am thrilled to have to come up with $4600 to pay for a surgery my dog needs? Do you honestly think I sat here and was like oh let me call the most expensive place I can find? Do you honestly think that I did NOT spend time calling around to find a cheaper option? A dog that was picked up by the local dog pound because someone neglected him and is the reason he needs surgery to begin with. I sent you all this freaking information showing the surgery, where it would be preformed and the amount and you should have NOT requested me to spend more time filling out your damn application when you already knew the cost and what he needed.
  Apparently, every pet does NOT matter. Sounds like you have a personal issue with larger vet hospitals. Your email is very rude and condescending and I will be sharing a copy of it every place I can and will also let the organization that referred me to you for help know your response. I have received a total of 6 no's so far and yours was the only rude one I received. No worries I know to never donate to your organization.
  Get a Life “
  Pet Assistance, Inc is an organization that nationally helps pet owners in financial need with urgent and emergency veterinary care. Our aid may be financial, educational, and/or advisory.We are very small and have only one and a half volunteers handling a large caseload of applications.
  On January 8, 2023, we posted the following on the top of every page of our website so no one would miss it! “URGENT: Read this before downloading an application! Starting January 8, 2023, PAi will not take any new applications for URGENT veterinary care until further notice. We are severely understaffed and have been unable to respond promptly to applicants. We will respond only to EMERGENCY cases ...situations where the pet may die within 36 hours if not tended to. Emergencies (for us, at this time) fall ONLY into the following categories:
  1. Urinary blockage,
  2. Pyometra
  3. Exploratory surgery.
  This is not an easy decision for us. Our hearts go out to the pet owners who need us and the pets with tumors, broken legs, rotten teeth, and others that could use our help. We hope we can fill our staff vacancies and shortly be back in 'business' full-time.”
  In addition, we added a ‘vacation’ response to our email account. Everyone wiring to us gets this message:
  “No NEW applications except for urinary blockage, pyometra, or exploratory surgery.
  PAi is extremely shorthanded and cannot respond to emails other than immediate life-threatening emergencies. We hope we will be back working at full capacity shortly.”
  Our website www.petassistanceinc.org, spells out who we financially help and what hospitals we work with. Excerpt from our website:
  “Pet Assistance, Inc. helps solely with independent, privately owned hospitals.
  We do not help with ANY "chains," franchises or corporate-owned specialty hospitals, such as ********* ***, or emergency hospitals. Exceptions may be made ONLY when, in our opinion, a specialist is really needed. PAi has very limited funds and does not help with overpriced procedures.
  Veterinary care subsidies are for urgent or life-threatening emergencies only
  PAi financially helps longtime pet owners who have always cared for their pets, yet find they cannot afford an emergency problem.
  PAi cannot financially help with new or recently acquired pets. We can offer advice and direction.
  Grants are made based on urgency, prognosis, and financial need. The owner must contribute to the pet's treatment or surgery.
  We need a written estimate from the veterinarian. If the cost is higher than the norm for the procedure we cannot help.
  PAi does NOT help with unnecessary blood work, routine care, costly diagnostics (MRIs, CT scans, etc.), or ongoing illness.
  We do not financially help once a procedure has been done.
  Our aid often comes in the form of guidance, advice, and referrals. This alone has saved pet owners thousands of dollars.“
  Despite these messages specifically stating that we were temporarily limiting our services, on January 11, 2023, Ms. R filed an application with PAi for financial aid.
  Ms. R.'s stated on her GoFundMe that she adopted Buster one month prior. According to everything on our website which we URGE people to read, she did not qualify for financial help, (recently acquired dog,, the dog has a tumor, not a life-threatening situation.) In addition, our website specifically states we do not work with large corporate, or chain hospitals, such as MedVet which was the hospital she was using.
  We have been doing this work since 1973. Granted things have changed radically in the past twenty years, but we still feel the surgery quote was high. We asked for an itemized estimate to review and see if there were line items that could be eliminated or reduced, but we were only sent a flat fee quote of $4600-$5300 for 24 hours at the hospital
  PAi sent Ms.R.a a list of several larger organizations that possibly could help her and we offered to help find her a more reasonably priced hospital. She sent us the names of seventeen organizations she had applied to for help, all of which never responded or said ‘no’.
  Below is a copy of our last email to Ms. R. and her subsequent email to us (and BBB and heaven know who else) accusing us of being rude and condescending.
  “Dear JR, Jan. 13, 2023
  We are so sorry to hear about Buster. Unfortunately, as our website clearly states, we only financially help with small/medium privately-owned hospitals, not an emergency, specialty, VCA, or other large corporate-owned facilities. The latter are grossly overpriced and we need to feel our contribution is making a significant difference to the owner and the pet. In these circumstances, our advice alone often saves pet owners thousands of dollars.
  The price on the estimate you submitted is much higher than what we feel it should be for that procedure, and Pet Assistance can not help with overpriced procedures. If you send us a copy of a detailed invoice, we will look and see if there are line items that can be eliminated or reduced. I suggest you check with other hospitals in your area. I believe that most veterinarians perform this surgery and that it does not need a specialist.
  Please go to yelp.com. Search for "low-cost animal hospitals" near your zip code ***** (or "veterinarians" near your zip code *****). Make note of those with at least 3.8 stars or more and several reviews. Call and see if the hospital does perianal hernia surgery. If you send us some names, we may be able to check them out further for you.
  Sincerely, Pet Assistance, Inc.......where every pet matters! “
  And Ms. R.’s response to PA one-half hour later: “Thank you for your opinion. Unfortunately due to the perianal hernia surgery, small/medium privately owned vets are unequipped and unable to preform this specific surgery. I called roughly a dozen vets within a 2-hour drive of my home and NONE of them can preform the surgery. I was given 2 options by all of them which is MedVet Cincinnati and OSU in Columbus. A perianal hernia is NOT the same of an umbilical hernia which I could get done for about $200. It is much more complicated due to all the blood vessels and other issues in that area. Maybe you should do a little tiny bit of research and call local small/medium vets around my area and see what results you get so you don't sound so ignorant. And if you are magically able to find one close by who can do it less please let me know.
  Do you think I am thrilled to have to come up with $4600 to pay for a surgery my dog needs? Do you honestly think I sat here and was like oh let me call the most expensive place I can find? Do you honestly think that I did NOT spend time calling around to find a cheaper option? A dog that was picked up by the local dog pound because someone neglected him and is the reason he needs surgery to begin with. I sent you all this freaking information showing the surgery, where it would be preformed and the amount and you should have NOT requested me to spend more time filling out your damn application when you already knew the cost and what he needed.
  Apparently, every pet does NOT matter. Sounds like you have a personal issue with larger vet hospitals. Your email is very rude and condescending and I will be sharing a copy of it every place I can and will also let the organization that referred me to you for help know your response. I have received a total of 6 no's so far and yours was the only rude one I received. No worries I know to never donate to your organization.
  Get a Life “
  Pet Assistance, Inc is an organization that nationally helps pet owners in financial need with urgent and emergency veterinary care. Our aid may be financial, educational, and/or advisory. We are very small and have only one and a half volunteers handling a large caseload of applications.
  On January 8, 2023, we posted the following on the top of every page of our website so no one would miss it! “URGENT: Read this before downloading an application! Starting January 8, 2023, PAi will not take any new applications for URGENT veterinary care until further notice. We are severely understaffed and have been unable to respond promptly to applicants. We will respond only to EMERGENCY cases ...situations where the pet may die within 36 hours if not tended to. Emergencies (for us, at this time) fall ONLY into the following categories:
  1. Urinary blockage,
  2. Pyometra
  3. Exploratory surgery.
  This is not an easy decision for us. Our hearts go out to the pet owners who need us and the pets with tumors, broken legs, rotten teeth, and others that could use our help. We hope we can fill our staff vacancies and shortly be back in 'business' full-time.”
  In addition, we added a ‘vacation’ response to our email account. Everyone wiring to us gets this message:
  “No NEW applications except for urinary blockage, pyometra, or exploratory surgery.
  PAi is extremely shorthanded and cannot respond to emails other than immediate life-threatening emergencies. We hope we will be back working at full capacity shortly.”
  Our website www.petassistanceinc.org, spells out who we financially help and what hospitals we work with. Excerpt from our website:
  “Pet Assistance, Inc. helps solely with independent, privately owned hospitals.
  We do not help with ANY "chains," franchises or corporate-owned specialty hospitals, such as Banfield, VCA, or emergency hospitals. Exceptions may be made ONLY when, in our opinion, a specialist is really needed. PAi has very limited funds and does not help with overpriced procedures.
  Veterinary care subsidies are for urgent or life-threatening emergencies only
  PAi financially helps longtime pet owners who have always cared for their pets, yet find they cannot afford an emergency problem.
  PAi cannot financially help with new or recently acquired pets. We can offer advice and direction.
  Grants are made based on urgency, prognosis, and financial need. The owner must contribute to the pet's treatment or surgery.
  We need a written estimate from the veterinarian. If the cost is higher than the norm for the procedure we cannot help.
  PAi does NOT help with unnecessary blood work, routine care, costly diagnostics (MRIs, CT scans, etc.), or ongoing illness.
  We do not financially help once a procedure has been done.
  Our aid often comes in the form of guidance, advice, and referrals. This alone has saved pet owners thousands of dollars.“
  Despite these messages specifically stating that we were temporarily limiting our services, on January 11, 2023, Ms. R filed an application with PAi for financial aid.
  Ms. R.'s stated on her GoFundMe that she adopted Buster one month prior. According to everything on our website which we URGE people to read, she did not qualify for financial help, (recently acquired dog, the dog has a tumor, not a life-threatening situation.) In addition, our website specifically states we do not work with large corporate, or chain hospitals, such as MedVet which was the hospital she was using. We asked for an itemized estimate to review and see if there were line items that could be eliminated or reduced, but we were only sent a flat fee quote of $4600-$5300 for 24 hours at the hospital
  PAi sent Ms.R.a a list of several larger organizations that possibly could help her and we offered to help find her a more reasonably priced hospital. She sent us the names of seventeen organizations she had applied to for help, all of which never responded or said ‘no.’
  Below is a copy of our last email to Ms. R. and her subsequent email to us (and BBB and heaven knows who else) accusing us of being rude and condescending.
  “Dear JR, Jan. 13, 2023
  We are so sorry to hear about Buster. Unfortunately, as our website clearly states, we only financially help with small/medium privately-owned hospitals, not emergency, specialty, VCA, or other large corporate-owned facilities. The latter are grossly overpriced and we need to feel our contribution is making a significant difference to the owner and the pet. In these circumstances, our advice alone often saves pet owners thousands of dollars.
  The price on the estimate you submitted is much higher than what we feel it should be for that procedure, and Pet Assistance can not help with overpriced procedures. If you send us a copy of a detailed invoice, we will look and see if there are line items that can be eliminated or reduced. I suggest you check with other hospitals in your area. I believe that most veterinarians perform this surgery and that it does not need a specialist.
  Please go to yelp.com. Search for "low-cost animal hospitals" near your zip code ***** (or "veterinarians" near your zip code *****). Make note of those with at least 3.8 stars or more and several reviews. Call and see if the hospital does perianal hernia surgery. If you send us some names, we may be able to check them out further for you.
  Sincerely, Pet Assistance, Inc.......where every pet matters! “
  And Ms. R.’s response to PA one-half hour later: “Thank you for your opinion. Unfortunately due to the perianal hernia surgery, small/medium privately owned vets are unequipped and unable to preform this specific surgery. I called roughly a dozen vets within a 2-hour drive of my home and NONE of them can preform the surgery. I was given 2 options by all of them which is MedVet Cincinnati and OSU in Columbus. A perianal hernia is NOT the same of an umbilical hernia which I could get done for about $200. It is much more complicated due to all the blood vessels and other issues in that area. Maybe you should do a little tiny bit of research and call local small/medium vets around my area and see what results you get so you don't sound so ignorant. And if you are magically able to find one close by who can do it less please let me know.
  Do you think I am thrilled to have to come up with $4600 to pay for a surgery my dog needs? Do you honestly think I sat here and was like oh let me call the most expensive place I can find? Do you honestly think that I did NOT spend time calling around to find a cheaper option? A dog that was picked up by the local dog pound because someone neglected him and is the reason he needs surgery to begin with. I sent you all this freaking information showing the surgery, where it would be preformed and the amount and you should have NOT requested me to spend more time filling out your damn application when you already knew the cost and what he needed.
  Apparently, every pet does NOT matter. Sounds like you have a personal issue with larger vet hospitals. Your email is very rude and condescending and I will be sharing a copy of it every place I can and will also let the organization that referred me to you for help know your response. I have received a total of 6 no's so far and yours was the only rude one I received. No worries I know to never donate to your organization.
  Get a Life “

  Jessica R

  Date: 01/16/2023

  As you can tell by the response to my review that they are very rude, unprofessional and condescending and not interested in helping if you are taking your pet to large vet (corporate owned as they refereed as) or if they feel that you are billed too much. They don't bother to look up and see if a specialist is needed and the average cost in an area. Also she knew all this upfront before sending me more paperwork to complete and fill out. Thankfully I have had other wonderful originations reach out to help.