CARE cannot take personal pets due to limited availability of foster homes. However, we still want to help. Finding good homes for needy animals is not our only goal. We also want to keep homes together and help people get the same joy from the relationship with their pets that we get from ours. The incredible feeling of being able to communicate with a completely different species than our own is indescribable. You understand them, and they understand you. It's a beautiful thing. We have it with our own pets, and we want you to have it, too. If there is trouble in your relationship, please consider this 'Relationship Counseling' and give it a try before "filing for divorce".

Behavior Problems

Undesirable behavior is the number one reason why dogs end up in rescue. 96% of dogs relinquished for behavior problems have never been obedience trained. The dog's behavior is undesirable because he hasn't been taught what behavior IS desirable. The simplest solution, therefore, is enrolling in an obedience training class. Classes offer immediate feadback from an instructor as to what you are doing right and what could be done better. For the do-it-yourselfers, this website offers some 'crash course' lessons. For basic obedience, check out the Dog Training & Behavior page.

Aggression	Barking	Digging	Jumping Up
Anxiety	Begging	Housetraining Issues	Marking

Health Issues

When your dog (or other pet) is seriously ill or injured, the proper care can be very expensive. There is help for you to pay the bills and keep your beloved pet.

SpaySC.org provides a listing of low-cost spay and neuter organizations in S.C.

IMOM.ORG is a 501(c)(3) charity organization which helps qualified people receive financial assistance for non-routine Veterinary care for their pet. The service is available for all companion animals and has never failed to raise the money needed to help these pets. Check the IMOM.ORG website to see if you qualify.

The American Animal Hospital Association Helping Pets Fund provides financial assistance when people cannot afford veterinary care for their pets. They can help in three types of cases:

When a pet owner is receiving government assistance for low-income individuals
When a pet owner experiences a temporary financial hardship
When a veterinary practice acts as a Good Samaritan and no pet owner exists

The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or medical treatment. The purpose of the Pet Fund is to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal medical care need never be made on the basis of cost. Check thepetfund.com website to see if you qualify.

If you do not qualify for financial assistance for your pet's care, Care Credit is a great option. Veterinarians want their payments at the time of service, but Care Credit allows you to make affordable monthly payments. Apply for Care Credit at carecredit.com.

Help-a-Pet.org is a nonprofit organization established to help low-income pet owners pay for Vet care. To qualify, your income must be below $20,000 for an individual household or $40,000 for a family household (amount varies depending upon the number of dependents). Due to limited funding, financial assistance can only be provided once per pet. Visit help-a-pet.org to apply for assistance.

The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes. Visit fveap.org to see if you qualify.

HandicappedPets.com ® Products, services, and support for elderly, disabled, and handicapped pets. We help you care for them.

Lifeline Grang Program provides funding to Good Samaritans, animal rescuers, non-profit organizations and pet owners to help them care for animals in life-threatening situations.

The Winnie Health Care Endowment provides funding to clients who have an exceptional bond with their pet and cases where the clients might need to consider euthanasia because they are unable to afford the cost of the recommended treatment..

Other Groups Who are Breed or Injury Specific

Corgi Aid
CorgiAid is a nonprofit organization founded to provide financial assistance to corgis and corgi mixes. We help out those who rescue dogs from shelters or other non-permanent homes, then foster them until a new home is found.

Labrador Lifeline
Labrador Life Line, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) Not for Profit Organization created to help owners or rescuers of Labrador Retrievers who are in need of financial assistance.

LABMED - Rx For Rescued Labs

LABMED was founded to provide emergency monies to offset expenses incurred in the medical treatment of abandoned and/or injured Labrador Retrievers in need of rescue.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP WITH VET BILLS

Angels 4 Animals

Cats in Crisis

Shakespeare Animal Fund

The Mosby Foundation

United Animal Nations

Brown Dog Foundation

Feline Outreach

The Magic Bullet Fund (The Perseus Foundation)

Orthodogs' Silver Lining Foundation

Canine Cancer Awareness

Cody's Club (radiation treatments)

Diabetic Pets Fund

If you are not in need of these services and wish to help those who are, please click the links and make a donation to these worthy causes.

Last Resort

If all else fails and you must part with your pet, please make sure he goes to a loving forever home. Most pets who are relinquished to animal shelters are euthanized. Here are other options that will give your pet a better chance at a happy, healthy life:

Classified Ads - place an ad in the local newspaper or on Craigslist. Petfinder also allows individuals to place classified ads at no charge.

Flyers - put up flyers at the office, pet supply stores, and your Vet's office.
Remember to charge a fee for your dog rather than giving him or her away "free to a good home". Click here to find out why that is a bad idea.

Low-kill instead of High-Kill Shelters - As a last resort, if you absolutely have no other choice but to relinquish your dog, look for low-kill as opposed to high-kill shelters. These are shelters that have strong adoption programs and work very hard to avoid euthanizing animals for overcrowding. One such shelter is the SPCA Humane Organization in Sumter, SC.

SPCA Humane Organization

(803) 773-9292
1140 S Guignard Dr, Sumter, SC 29150
Cross Streets: Near the intersection of S Guignard Dr and US-15-CONN/Kingsbury Dr

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