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| SAVING MONEY ON PET CARE |
Tips to Save Money on Pet Care:
These are tough economic times for people and pets, and
sadly, record numbers of animals are being abandoned or
surrendered at shelters because owners can’t afford to
keep their pets. This web page will discuss some
suggested ways that you may be able to reduce the costs
of owning your companion animals.
While CoPAL offers these by way of information, please
be aware that offers and deals may change over time, and
you use these suggestions at your own risk.
To put pet costs in perspective, Americans spent an
estimated $43.4 billion on their pets in 2008. Owners of
dogs spend an average of $1,425 per year, with cat
owners spending $990 annually. Basically, owning a pet is
an expensive proposition — and it isn’t getting any
cheaper.
Here are some of CoPAL’s tips to keep your pet in good
health while saving money.
1. Discount Coupons:
There are a number of ways that you can get discount
coupons to reduce the cost of pets supplies. These
include the following:
a. Manufacturers' Clubs. Clubs such as Costco’s and BJ’s
offer discount coupons (e.g., $5 off of IAMs dog food) in
store and on their web sites.
b. Retail Store Pet Clubs. By joining a pet store club you
may obtain rebates on future purchases. Remember to
keep your proof of purchase and complete and mail the
rebate form.
c In-store Pet Coupons. Check weekly grocery and box
store specials for printed coupons.
d. Coupons On and Inside Pet Products.
e. ECoupons. Many discounts and money-saving
coupons on pet supplies and food can be found on-line.
The following are some places to look:
• Pet food and supply retailers: merchants such as
PetsMart (www.Petsmart.com) Drs. Foster and Smith
(www.drsfostersmith.com), or Petco (www.petco.com)
offer a large variety of pet supplies and foods on-line
that include special subscriber deals and coupons for on-
line shoppers.
• Coupon "warehouses": some web sites specialize
in listing coupons of third-parties (e.g., pet food
manufacturers) for online use or printing out. A few
"pet specific" sites offering a money saving coupons are:
Doggie Coupon (DoggieCoupon.com)- Coupon Cat (www.
couponcat.net) - Coupon Cabin - Pets.
Google 'pet coupons' or similar search terms to search
for more such sites.
• Pet food Manufacturers: Search Google for your
pet food manufacturer’s web site and you may likely find
free products and coupons. However, you may first have
to register or sign up for the company’s newsletter.
2. Additional sources for discounted pet products:
• Check out discounted pet products on store
shelves. When products have been opened or haven’t
sold, many stores will discount them by 20% or more,
the discounts increasing over time.
• Veterinarians. Veterinarians often have free
samples of pet food and treats, especially for puppies,
along with money-saving coupons for pet products.
• Discounted Pet Supplies. Check out merchandise
suppliers and wholesalers or distributors of pet supplies
and cut out the middle-man. Check your phone book or
Google to locate one near your home. Also, several
discount box stores (e.g., Christmas Tree Shop) offer low-
cost pet supplies.
• On-line discounters and outlet stores selling pet
supplies (e.g., PetEdge).
• Web sites like Craigslist or Freecycle to purchase
or swap pet equipment, such as a crate or a scratching
post.
3. How to save money on your pet's vet bill.
(See Human's Society suggestions at http://www.
humanesociety.
org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_c
are.html
• Shop around for a vet.
Find an affordable veterinarian by asking friends, posting
the question on local pet forums, or phoning your local
humane society for a recommendation. Don’t hesitate
to ask for available discount programs, such as a
“multiple pet discount”.
• Consider purchasing pet insurance, either through
an organization such as the ASPCA or by checking on-
line. Be careful however to understand the costs of the
insurance, including co-payments and deductibles,
limitations of such insurance program such as
restrictions on pre-existing conditions and weigh these
against the likely benefits. Pet insurance may be the
difference in an emergency requiring expensive care that
will enable you to save your pet.
• Vaccinations: Vaccinations (like rabies, DHLPP
(distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and
parvovirus), bordetella (kennel cough), are necessary to
keep your pet healthy, and certain vaccinations are
required to obtain a license for your pet.
• There are now several options in addition to your
veterinarian to obtain low-cost vaccinations. These
include:
1) Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics:
Several large pet supply stores like Petco host walk-in
Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics for dogs and cats. Petco’s
clinics are in store and staffed by a licensed veterinarian
who offers other preventative care services. Another
such company is Luv My Pet. Locations for their low-
cost vaccination events can be found at their web site.
2) local animal shelters may also offer low cost pet
clinics. But first check out the clinic’s services offered,
hours available, and whether there is an income
qualification.
3) Do a Google search or look in the Yellow Pages to see
if there is a veterinary college in your area which may
offer patient discounts. In our area, Cummings School
of Medicine at Tufts in Grafton, MA may be helpful.
4) Check out foundations like the American Animal
Hospital Association's Helping Pets Fund (www.
aahahelpingpets.org) or breed-specific rescue groups;
these organizations may provide veterinary care for pet-
owning families in need.
• Medicines: Check out online stores like 1-800-
PetMeds, Entirely Pets, and PetCareRx and their on-line
coupons. You may even find your vet will match these
prices and you can avoid shipping costs.
• CareCredit: CareCredit works like a credit card,
but is exclusive for veterinary care. Talk to your
veterinarian to see if CareCredit is an option for your
pet's care, but be careful to consider the costs of such
payment plan.
• Low cost spay/neuters: Spray and neutering helps
your pet lead a healthier life and also avoids the costs of
unwanted kittens and puppies. See the chart below for
available low-cost programs and the list of locations of
available facilities.
• Be a Do-It-Your-Selfer: Learn from your
groomer, on –line or from your vet how to groom your
pet and trim it’s nails. Swap pet –sitting services. Make
your own pet toys. Be creative!
******************************************************
*
CoPAL welcomes your comments and suggestions on
how to save money on pet ownership that we may pass
on to our readers. Through pet savings, pet owners will
be more able to keep their four-legged family members
at home!
*****************Extra, Extra!!
Pet Care Expenses Tax Deduction, Proposed Law
The United States Congress is currently considering the
proposed HAPPY ACT (Humanity and Pets Partnered
Through the Years). If passed, this law will allow
taxpayers owning companion animals to take a federal
tax deduction of up to $3500 a year for pet expenses.
Introduced in Congress on July 31, 2009, as H.R. 3501,
by Michigan Representative Thaddeus McCotter, this law
expresses our nation’s concerns for promoting humane
animal treatment, rewarding positive animal care, and
recognizing the animal-human relationship. HAPPY
states: "The Human-Animal Bond has been shown to
have positive effects upon people's emotional and
physical well-being."
The law would amend the IRS Code to allow an
individual who owns a pet up to $3500 a year in tax
deductions for qualifying animal care expenses.
Let your Congressperson know that, like CoPAL, you
support enactment of this law. By helping the 63% of
Americans who own companion animals to reduce their
pet expenses (similar to deductions we can take for our
children), this law will enable more families to be able to
afford to keep their pets and thereby not overwhelm
further the animal shelters or cause the tragic result of
economic euthanasia.
Please speak up for our animals!
*********
Some of the more common PET FOOD
MANUFACTURERS'S web sites to look for coupons
are listed below:
• 9-Lives Web site 9-Lives Web site
• Absorbine Absorbine Veterinary Web site
• Alpo Alpo Dog Food Web site
• Arm & Hammer Pets Arm & Hammer Pets Web
site
• Aquari Yums Cat Treats Aquari Yums Cat Treats
Web site
• Beggin Strips Dog Treats Beggin Strips Dog Treats
Web site
• Beneful Purina Beneful Dog Food Web site
• Benny Bully's Benny Bully's Web site Benny Bully's
Free Samples
• Bil Jac Bil Jac Web site
• Bitz n Bonez Dog Treats Bitz n Bonez Dog Treats
Web site Bitz n Bonez Dog Treats Free Sample
• Breeders Choice Breeders Choice Web site
• Busy Bone Dog Treats Purina Busy Bone Dog
Treats Web site
• Canine Carry Outs Del Monte Canine Carry Outs
Web site
• California Natural California Natural Web site
• Cat Chow Purina Cat Chow Web site
• Cesar Web site
• Chew Eezb Chew Eez Web site
• Chew Rific Dog Treats Purina Chew Rific Dog
Treats Web site
• Cycle Del Monte Cycle Web site
• Deli-Cat Cat Food Purina Deli-Cat Cat Food
Web site
• Deramaxx Deramaxx Web site
• Dog Chow Purina Dog Chow Web site
• Dog Gone Pain Dog Gone Pain Web site Dog Gone
Pain Free Sample
• Eukanuba Proctor & Gamble Eukanuba Web site
• Fancy Feast Fancy Feast Web site
• Feline Pine Feline Pine Web site Feline Pine Rebates
• Flint River Ranch Dog Food Flint River Ranch
Web site Flint River Ranch Free Sample
• Friskies Friskies Web site
• Gravy Train Gravy Train Web site
• Greenies Greenies Web site Greenies Sample &
Coupons
• Halo Halo Pets Web site
• Healthwise Healthwise Web site
• Hill's Pet Nutrition - Science Diet Hill's Pet
Nutrition Web site
• Hi Pro Purina Hi Pro Web site
• IAMS Proctor & Gamble IAMS Web site
• IHN IHN Web site IHN Sample Request
• Improve Improve Web site Improve Sample
• Innova Innova Web site
• Jerky Treats Jerkey Treats Web site
• Karma Organic Karma Organic Web site
• Kibbles-n-bits Kibbles-n-bits Web site
• Kibbles and Chunks Purina Kibbles and Chunks
Web site
• Kit 'n Kaboodle Purina Kit 'n Kaboodle Web site
• Kitten Chow Purina Kitten Chow Web site
• Lambert Kay Lambert Kay Web site Lambert Kay
Offers Page
• Maxwell's Natural Pet Food Maxwell's Natural
Web site
• Meaty Bone Del Monte Meaty Bone Web site
• Meow Mix Meow Mix Web site
• Mighty Dog Mighty Dog Web site
• Milk Bone Milk Bone Web site
• Moist & Meaty Moist & Meaty Web site
• Mother Nature Mother Nature Web site
• Nature's Recipe Nature's Recipe Web site
• Nature's Variety Nature's Variety Web site
• Nature Zone Nature Zone Pets Web site
• Newman's Own Pet Food Newman's Own Web site
• Nutro Pet Products Nutro Products Web site
• Nylabone Nylabone Web site
• Pedigree Pedigree Web site
• Pet Promise Pet Promise Web site
• Pounce Del Monte Pounce Web site
• Purfestions Del Monte Pounce Purfestions Web site
• Purina Puppy Chow Purina Puppy Chow Web site
• Purina Kittenwise Purina Kittenwise Web site
• Purina Naturals Purina Naturals Contact Purina
Naturals Free sample
• Purina One Purina One Web site
• Purina Pro Plan Purina Pro Plan Web site Purina
Pro Plan free Trial
• Purina Snack Lovers Purina Snack Lovers Club
Web site
• Safe Guard Dewormer Safe Guard Dewormer Web
site
• Schmackos Schmackos Web site
• Scoopex Scoopex Web site (free sample)
• Secondnature Dog Litter System Secondnature Web
site
• Sheba Sheba Web site
• Skippy Skippy Web site
• Tidy Cats Tidy Cats Web site
• T Bonz Purina T Bonz Web site
• Triple Crown Triple Crown Web site*****
**********************************************
MASS STATEWIDE LOW COST
SPAY AND NEUTER
PROGRAMS:
SPAYMASS hotline
(888) 495-SPAY or spaymass@mrfrs.org
A referral program for people seeking
low cost spay/neuter for cats and dogs in Massachusetts.
This hotline is open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
Stop the Overpopulation of Pets
(617) 571-7151 An organization dedicated to
providing accessible, low cost neuter and vaccination services
for privately owned and feral cats.
MSPCA/MVMA Spay Neuter Assistance Program
(SNAP)
(617) 541-5007 A program that provides discounted
spay/neuter certificates through for individuals with
demonstrated economic need. Certificates are accepted at
nearly 200 participating veterinarians throughout
Massachusetts.
Animal Advocates
North Dartmouth, MA
508-991-7727
Low cost spay/neuter clinic.
Animal Rescue League of Boston
508-255-1030
877-590-SPAY toll free
617-426-9170
Various programs offered in Boston, Brewster, Salem, and
Dedham areas. They also have a mobile clinic that visits
many neighborhoods, and they also accept a limited number
of feral cats.
Neponset Valley Humane Society
Norwood/Mansfield, MA
508-261-9924
Web: www.nvhumanesociety.org
A Helping Paw Inc
Buzzards Bay MA
508-743-8406
Northeast Animal Shelter
204 Highland Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
978-745-9888
Alliance for Animals
232 Silver Street
South Boston, MA 02127
617-268-7800 clinic
Low cost spay/neuter and vaccinations for pets and ferals.
Call for information.
Massachusetts SPCA/Angell Memorial Hospital
SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program)
Boston MA
617-522-7282
617-541-5007 for info
Assistance for pets of low income people at participating
area vets.
Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society
91 Bridge Road
Salisbury, MA
462-0760
Free spay/neuter for ferals.
Northeast Animal Shelter
204 Highland Avenue
Salem, MA 01970
978-745-9888
Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare Inc
Bolton MA (services located at Clinton MA)
978-779-8287
NEW HAMPSHIRE
N.H. Spay Line
Toll Free 1-800-990-SPAY
For residents of N.H., this service tries to help people
locate a low cost or free s-n program.
New Hampshire Spaying & Altering Service
8 Hutchins Street
Concord, NH 03301
603-224-1361 before 2 pm
New Hampshire Dept of Agriculture
APC Program
State House Annex
33 Capitol Street
Concord, NH 03301
603-271-3697
Discounts for qualified low income families. Call or write
for information about APC.
Spay Program for Mother Cats
8 Fox Hill Road
Belmont, NH 03220
603-524-6432
You and your cat must meet various criteria to qualify for
this program. Call for information
Animal Allies
Manchester, NH
877-312-9595
603-228-6755
Helps people who have a large number of cats or people who
need help and do not qualify for other programs. This
organization does NOT offer FREE services. They provide
certificates for discounts on s/n to people who qualify.
SOME USEFUL WEB SITES
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