Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
CARING for a sick animal can be expensive consequently animals may suffer because owners cannot afford to pay veterinary fees.
This column features places where you may be able to get reduce cost veterinary care if your pet is sick. All the places mentioned have eligibility criteria which must be met. If you find you don’t meet the criteria but have a sick pet and are short of money, it can be worth phoning private vets as their prices vary and they might be able to help with a payment plan.
The RSPCA’s Putney Animal Hospital (6, Clarendon Drive, SW15 1AA
Tel: 0300 123 0716) aims to provide low-cost veterinary services for animals most in need.
Eligibility criteria include that you must be in receipt of at least one benefit from their list. You also need to live in their catchment area.
They are open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday for appointments. At other times, they are open for emergencies but call before attending. In an emergency, the RSPCA will provide initial stabilisation or emergency treatment for any animal, including euthanasia when this is in the best interests of the animal. This will be charged to clients (other than those eligible for reduced cost vet assistance) at an unsubsidised rate.
The RSPCA has a vet clinic at the Southall Cat Adoption Centre (Burket Close, Southall UB2 4JS. Tel: 0300 123 0746). If you are eligible, they will see domestic pets by appointment. They do not offer out of hours care.
The RSPCA Hillingdon Clinic (16, Crescent Parade, Uxbridge Road, UB10 0LG) provides help for sick animals by appointment. Call 01895 231 435 to see if you are eligible.
Blue Cross has an animal hospital at Hammersmith (Argyle Place, King Street, W6 0RQ Tel: 0300 777 1800) and Victoria (Sheppard House, 1-5 Hugh Street SW1V 1QQ. Tel: 0300 777 1890). Eligibility criteria apply including relating to postcode and needing to be on a means-tested benefit. In an emergency, if you need out of hours care, it is provided at the Victoria hospital but phone 0300 777 1890 first.
If you can afford insurance, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) has an insurance scheme you could consider.
If you have a sick pet, and want help from the PDSA, they advise you to either call their helpline on 0800 731 2502 or look up pdsa.org.uk to see what services are available in your area.
If your pet is not ill but needs free or low-cost neutering, organisations including The Mayhew (Trenmar Gardens, NW10 6BJ. Tel: 020 8962 8000) have schemes to help.