Resources for Military/Veteran Pet Owners

Pets are often sources of support, companionship, or healing for many who have served. Sometimes the cost or resources required to care for those pets becomes prohibitive. The following list of resources was compiled to assist military and Veteran families find resources to help them care for their pets.

New Hampshire

Pet Adoption

Angel Pets for Vets  will pair veterans with a free pet, so they can more easily deal with PTS, helping to heal the deep emotional scars, and possibly save their lives.  Angel Pets for Vets can help a veteran get their current companion dog certified as a service dog.

Chris' Hero Pets  By partnering with a network of shelters, Chris’ Hero Pets will take some of the financial burden off of Veterans seeking a companion by paying their adoption fees. This program though Hero Pups is in memory of Christopher Allen Journeau and is a resource for Veterans who may not be looking for a support dog, but still feel they could benefit from having a companion by their side. This program is available to all local Veterans through our partner shelters.

Support Animals

Hero Pups is a New Hampshire-based, non-profit organization that pairs support dogs with veterans and first responders throughout New England who have been diagnosed with service-related psychological challenges. Laura Barker founded the organization after her son was wounded in Afghanistan. Hero Pups was founded on the belief that since our Heroes have already given so much, it’s the least we can do to provide them a companion to help them lead a happier life, free of charge. 

Operation Delta Dog mission is to rescue homeless dogs and train them to be service dogs for Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), and related challenges.

 

Spay/Neuter Programs and Clinics

Animal Allies  The Animal Allies Spay & Neuter Program is open to any cat owner who cannot afford the regular cost of spaying or neutering.

Animal Population Control Program  provides financial assistance for low-income, New Hampshire-resident pet owners to neuter their cat or dog. It is part of the state's program to reduce pet overpopulation and threats to public health and safety from mid-Atlantic rabies and other sources. 

Kitty Angels offers a spay and neuter program for cats on a sliding scale cost to owner through a clinic at the Animal Rescue Veterinary Services in Londonderry.  Information on how to request an appointment is found here.  

Rozzie May Animal Alliance offers low-cost spay/neuter for cats and dogs in New Hampshire and western Maine.

 

Animal Rescue Leagues and Humane Societies

Bedford Animal Rescue League of NH  offers many resources to include spay/neuter clinics, medical financial assistance (CAAF Companion Animal Assistance Fund), pet food pantry, Safe Haven temporary housing.

Claremont Sullivan County Humane Society offers low-cost spay/neuter programs and rabies clinics for dogs and cats, pet food bank for low-income families, and pet owner education.

Concord Pope Memorial SPCA  host low-cost pet vaccination clinics and spay/neuter clinics, Pet Food Pantry for temporary help feeding pets, Pet Therapy for area nursing homes and care facilities, "Paws to Read" program and "Caring Kids" workshops for a fee, Humane Education program, Barn Cat program, and pet owner resources.

Derry Greater Derry Humane Society provides resources for southern NH pet owners.

Dover Pope Memorial Humane Society Cocheco Valley offers a periodic drive thru rabies & microchip clinic for cats and dogs, pet food assistance program, pet education resources and training.

Enfield Upper Valley Humane Society offers low-cost spay/neuter/vaccination clinics for cats and dogs, temporary assistance with its Pet Food Pantry, temporary housing and care of animals to assist owners in emergency situations.

Laconia NH Humane Society offers its Pet Pantry for dog and cat food and supplies for pet owners in need of assistance, educational programming for children "Teaching Kindness" and "Telling Tails" reading program, and resources for landlords and tenants.

Littleton Second Chance Animal Rescue offers affordable spay, neuter and vaccination clinics, nail trim clinic, cat boarding, and Barn Home program.

Manchester Manchester Animal Shelter programs include a low-cost feline spay/neuter program, Fix-A-Pit program (free spay/neuter, rabies vaccination and microchip for Pit Bulls), pet food pantry, Pets 4 Vets (waived pet adoption fee for US Veteran that has documented medical need for a companion animal), free classroom Humane Education for young students, and Barn Cat Program.

Nashua Humane Society for Greater Nashua provides resources to include pet friendly apartment rentals, emergency and disaster planning resource planning for your pets, "Reading to Rescues" program for youth, low-cost rabies vaccination program.

Ossipee Lakes Region Humane Society services include low-cost pet crates and carriers, Pet Pantry, waived pet adoption fees for military/Veterans, humane live animal trap rentals, offsite educational presentations, and pet nail trims for a small fee.

Plaistow Animal Rescue Merrimack Valley   offers low cost spay/neuter programs and pet resources.

Salem Feline Friends New Hampshire provides resources to low-cost spay/neuter programs for cats and rescue program for cats in an unsafe environment.

Salem Salem Animal Rescue League holds Community Veterinary Clinics with spaying/neutering, vaccination and microchipping services for cats and dogs. 

Stratham New Hampshire SPCA  supports a short-term financial assistance program for horse care and hay, low-cost spay/neuter clinic, low-cost rabies vaccination clinic, and other pet resources.

Swanzey Monadnock Humane Society offers low-cost spay/neuter clinics, affordable health clinics, rabies vaccination & microchip clinics, Pet Food Pantry, free boarding and medical care to pets of community members fleeing domestic violence, are homeless, or are entering a drug, mental health, and/or medical treatment program or experiencing an emergency resulting from a natural disaster.

 

Massachusetts

Merrimack Valley, MA/NH The Shadow Fund NE  The Shadow Fund provides limited financial assistance to pets principally residing in the Merrimack Valley, but not limited to the Merrimack Valley. The Shadow Fund generally provides benefits to pets for the purpose of emergency medical care or life threatening disease, unless otherwise approved by the Director.  The Shadow Fund cannot be used for routine medical care like annual check-ups, vaccinations, or dental care, unless it is an emergency and approved by the Director.

Allston, MA Merwin Clinic Founded on the principle that no pet should be denied medical care due to the financial status of its owner, the Merwin Memorial Free Clinic for Animals provides free or low cost medical care to walk-in patients. Medicines to cure sick animals, (e.g. antibiotics) and preventative medicines, (e.g. heartworm pills and vaccines) are available at reduced rates.  Please note that the clinic does not accept appointments as visitors are helped on a first-come, first-served basis, during hours of operation.

Methuen, MA MSPCA at Nevins Farm/MSPCA Angell provides low-cost spay/neuter programs, Pet Care Assistance for pet care at Angell Medical Center, Emergency Equine Relief Program, Humane Education, pet owner resources, and animal behavior classes for a fee.

 

Nationwide

Dogs on Deployment supports pets of all types that belon to active duty, reservists, National Guard, honorably discharged veterans, first-responders and government service employees and their families through a central network of volunteers to board their pets while they are deployed or have other service commitments.  They help qualified military families with the cost of pet care during emergencies, and/or before and during deployments in order to promote responsible pet-ownership, providing financial assistance to get military pets spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and help with cost of pet care.

Feeding Pets of the Homeless Feeding Pets of the Homeless provides emergency veterinary care, preventative wellness clinics, and pet food and supplies to the companion animals of homeless people across the country. The organization also provides assistance to veterans who are homeless as well as those veterans participating in the HUD-VASH program who are housed and in VA treatment programs.

HUD-VASH is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing program that combines the HUD housing vouchers with the supportive services provided by the VA to help Veterans who are homeless, and their families find and sustain permanent housing. The program targets the chronically homeless veterans who are most vulnerable and often have severe mental or physical health problems and limited access to other social supports.

Guardian Angels for Soldier's Pet assist active-duty service members, wounded warriors, veterans, and their beloved companion animals or assistance service canines through the Pet Foster Home Program.  Their Foster Home Program has a two-fold purpose, assisting with deploying active-duty service members and veterans in specific situations. They find volunteer foster homes within their network and the Military Pet Assistance (MPA) fund to assist Homeless Veterans with veterinary care and temporary pet boarding expenses and veterans requiring emergency inpatient care lasting less than 30 days. 

PACT for Animals mission is to provide a network of emergency Pet Foster Programs, helping animal caregivers with their emergency needs, and running education seminars.  PACT places pets in foster homes who offer temporary, free boarding until the owner can be reunited with their pet.  The Pet Foster Care Program is available for military and military support services personnel on deployment, training or permanent change of station.  PACT also assists pet owners that are experiencing a medical emergency and require long-term hospitalization and recovery time.

RedRover brings animals out of crisis and strengthen the bond between people and animals through emergency sheltering, disaster-relief services, financial assistance, and education. The RedRover Relief program provides financial assistance, resources, training, and support to individuals and organizations.  The RedRover Responders program provides emergency sheltering, training, and consultations for animals displaced by natural disasters and communities facing other crises.

Waggle is a not-for-profit crowdfunding model.  If your pet needs a medical procedure that you can't pay for, create an account on Waggle and answer a few questions about your pet.  A team of pet industry experts will assist your pet by creating a written story that you can share in your social media accounts.  They engage with your veterinary hospital to certify the treatment estimate on your pet's Waggle page and give advice on how to share your pet's story through social media.