PetAid Program

The impetus for BirchBark's creation was Dr. Merrianne Burtch's dream never to see a family forced make the heartbreaking and irreversible decision to say goodbye to a beloved pet simply because they could not afford life-saving veterinary care. And so, BirchBark was born. Since 2013, BirchBark has provided financial assistance to hundreds of families whose pets faced life-threatening or life-compromising illness or injury. Today, PetAid remains a cornerstone of our programming. We are grateful to be able to provide hope and options to the pet families in our community.

How does the PetAid Program work?
In cooperation with our Veterinary Partners, who generously discount their services by up to 25%, BirchBark offers to cover up to 50% of the pre-discounted cost of care (up to a cap of $5,000), leaving pet families responsible for the remainder of the bill.

Who can qualify?
PetAid is available to residents of Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito County whose household income is up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. We only are able to fund cases where the prognosis with veterinary intervention is good.

At this time, we unfortunately are unable to provide support for routine care (vaccines, routine exams, preventative dental cleanings, spay/neuter surgeries), cancer treatments, long-term care needs, or certain orthopedic surgeries such as TPLO. PetAid recipients must also use one of our Partner Vets, which ensures that we are able to keep costs down and help as many families as possible.

What do I do to get help?
To begin the process of applying for financial assistance, please click here to start by reviewing the 10 questions. If you answer yes to all of them, scroll to the bottom and click on the "Apply for Financial Assistance" button.

What can I do if I do not qualify for PetAid?
We understand what a stressful time this may be for you, but do not give up hope. In addition to crowdfunding, there are other options that can help you help your pet. Please see our Resources page for other options.