Help is out there for pet owners in trouble

Q. Is there financial assistance available for veterinary care or are there low-cost vet clinics in the community?

- Kathy Stryker, Elmhurst

A. A variety of resources are available. The organizations below are devoted to assisting with veterinary costs during difficult times. These organizations have individual guidelines and some can help with emergency care while others provide financial assistance when circumstances are forcing you to surrender your pet due to costly veterinary bills.

• Angels 4 Animals: angels4animals.org

• Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program: fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door

• Help-A-Pet: help-a-pet.org

• In Memory of Magic: imom.org

• United Animal Nations: www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=161

• The Pet Fund: thepetfund.com

• American Animal Hospital Association Helping Pets Fund: www.aahahelpingpets.org/grant_guidelines.html; requires an AAHA-certified vet to apply for you

Within Chicago and the suburban area, clinics are available for low-cost vaccinations and wellness support. These include:

• Animal Welfare League: animalwelfareleague.com/clinic.asp

• The Anti-Cruelty Society: anticruelty.org/site/epage/36617_576.htm

• National Animal Welfare Society of the U.S.: nawsus.org/clinic.html

Pet food assistance is available at many local food banks. Please call your local food bank to verify that pet food is available.

• People's Resource Center: peoplesrc.org/page.aspx?d=what&p=pantry

• Community Hunger Network: communityhungernetwork.org/AreaPantries/area.pantries.html

I hope these resources provide the support you need during these difficult economic times.

• To submit questions about the animal community, e-mail "Ask the Director" at animalcontrol@dupageco.org or visit dupageco.org/animalcontrol.