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The
Animal Protective Foundation is committed to helping pet owners
facing hard times keep their pets. Following is a list of helpful
resources which will continually be updated to assist the public.
 Looking
for a local pet-friendly rental?
Click here
for the most
comprehensive listing of pet-friendly rentals in the Capital District. This extensive 25+ page
document includes rentals from Albany, Schenectady, Montgomery,
Saratoga and Rensselaer counties and will be continually
updated. Call 374-3944, ext. 113 for a free "Renting with Pets"
guide.
Landlords:
if you have a pet-friendly rental property that is not included on
this list, please contact us at (518) 374-3944,
ext. 113 and we will add you on the list. We have made every attempt to be
accurate, but if you find an error, let us know
and we will correct it.
Having
trouble affording food to feed your pet?
- The APF is partnering with the Schenectady
Inner City Ministry (SICM) Food Pantry to help those in need
feed their pets,
so they will not be forced to surrender them. We are regularly
supplying both extra cat and dog food, along with cat litter or
small animal food when we have it. A variety of pet food is donated and
brought to the APF and then picked up by SICM for distribution
at their Food Pantry. The APF is accepting unopened, not
out-of-date packages of most any type pet food (especially dog
or cat) or cat litter for this program if you would
like to donate.
Please Note: We are not distributing pet food here at the
APF, you must go to SICM to receive it.
- The SICM Food Pantry is located at 839 Albany
Street in Schenectady. There are no income requirements, but you
must bring an ID when you go. You may pick up food for your
animals up to four times within a year based on the date you
started.
This program is open to residents of Schenectady County. For more information and hours, call the Food Pantry at (518)
346-4035 or visit their website at
http://www.sicm.us/
Looking
for spay/neuter options?
The APF is a leader in the area offering reduced-cost spay/neuter
surgery for cats from all around the Capital District.
We are currently averaging about 75 surgeries a week. To find out more about our program
and how to make an appointment,
along with other spay/neuter
options available for cats and dogs,
click here.
Does
the APF offer any assistance to victims of domestic violence who are
looking
for a safe haven for their pets?
Yes, through our "Pet Guardian" partnership program with the
Schenectady YWCA, the APF offers temporary shelter and care for
pets of
domestic violence victims. For more information about this program,
please contact the YWCA directly at (518) 374-3386
or
their website at
http://ywca-schenectady.org/
Looking
for local rabies clinics?
Rabies clinics for the public are periodically offered by each
individual counties Health Department.
The
2009 schedules (or links to them) for local counties are
posted below for your convenience.
- There are
no more Schenectady
County Rabies Clinics for 2009
- Saratoga County Rabies Clinics for 2009
Location:
4-H Training Center, Middleline Road, Ballston Spa
Last one: November 17
The cost of the rabies clinics is free to
Saratoga County residents; however,
donations are appreciated.
Cats are from 7:00 pm until 8:00 pm and the cats
must be in carriers. Dogs are from 8:00 pm until 9:00 pm and the dogs must be on a leash.
All vaccination certificates are written for
one year. If a previous signed certificate is produced, a three year
certificate will be written.
Domestic ferrets can be vaccinated at these clinics
and must be in a carrier.
- There are
no more Rensselaer
County Rabies Clinics for 2009
- Albany County Rabies Clinics for 2009
- November 17 at the Village of Green Island Public Works Garage
from 1-4 pm
A series of Rabies Vaccination Clinics for
dogs, cats, and ferrets has been arranged by the Albany County
Department of Health in cooperation with the Capital District
Veterinary Medical Society. All dogs, cats, and ferrets must be
on leashes or in carriers. A record of prior vaccination will be
required for a three year immunization. If no record is
presented, a one year vaccination certification will be issued.
All clinics are open to any Albany County resident.
Donation is $8 per animal.
For more
information go to:
http://www.albanycounty.com/departments/health/programs_services.asp?id=747
Does
the APF offer
veterinary care for the general public?
No, we only offer limited services in conjunction with our
spay/neuter program.
Are
you facing
foreclosure?
If you are facing home
foreclosure and you have pets, here are some tips to help you
relocate with your pets or find other safe placement for them.
Never leave pets behind when you
vacate your home!
Take Your Pets With You or Find Them a Safe Place to Stay:
- Ask family, friends and
co-workers if they will care for your pets while you relocate.
- Call local boarding facilities
or ask your veterinarian for suggestions where you may be able
to receive low-cost boarding for your pets, or set up a payment
plan for boarding costs, while you relocate.
- If you have no other options,
you can surrender ownership of your pets to shelters or rescue
groups such as the
APF, but be aware that you will be signing over all rights to
the animal. Every effort will be made to find adoptable animals
other homes, but obviously there are no guarantees.
Don’t
Leave Pets Behind:
-
Never vacate your home and leave
pets behind or set them loose. It’s both inhumane and
illegal!
-
If you leave pets indoors or
release them outdoors, state criminal animal-cruelty laws
may apply (e.g., abandoning or neglecting your pets), even
if you believe you have left sufficient food and water for
your pets.
-
If you leave pets behind and
have arranged for someone to periodically check on them, you
may still be in violation of criminal animal-cruelty laws.
In addition, when the mortgage lender takes possession of
the home, your pets are at risk of an uncertain future that
may include euthanasia.
-
When faced with foreclosure,
please remember to provide for your pets to ensure that they
are safe and that you do not face a criminal investigation
and possible criminal charges for abandoning or neglecting
them.
Having
trouble affording veterinary care?
-
Shop around. Veterinarian charges
vary widely from practice to practice.
-
Ask your veterinarian if they would
be willing to work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are
willing to set up a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you
do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front.
-
If you have a specific breed of dog,
contact the National Club for that breed. (The American Kennel
Club, www.akc.org, has a list
of the national dog clubs.) In some cases, these clubs offer a
veterinary care fund.
-
Ask your veterinarian to submit an
assistance request to the American Animal Hospital Association's
(AAHA) "Helping Pets Fund." In order to qualify, your animal
hospital must be AAHA accredited. To learn more, about the
program, visit the AAHA website
www.aahahelpingpets.org. To find an AAHA accredited
hospital in your area, search online at
www.Pets911.com.
-
If you purchased your dog from a
reputable breeder, check your contract to see if there is a
health guarantee that covers your pet's ailment.
-
Contact Care Credit at
www.carecredit.com
-
Use your credit card. Ask for a
higher credit limit or a cash advance.
-
Call your bank. Ask about loan
programs or other options they can suggest that might be helpful
in your situation.
-
Ask your employer for a salary
advance.
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Alert family and friends and ask
them each for a $25 loan.
-
Consider taking on a part-time job
or temping.
The following is a list or organizations
that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need. Each of
these organizations is independent and has their own guidelines, so
contact each one separately to determine if you qualify.
Updated Nov. 13, 2009
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