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Applying for Assistance
Our Save-A-Life program is a partnership between FACE and over 200 veterinary hospitals in San Diego to save family pets at risk of “economic euthanasia.” Tragically, many pets with treatable conditions are euthanized simply because their owners cannot afford the necessary care.
Please be aware that FACE is unable to take phone calls during these times.
FACE will only respond to immediate life-threatening cases with a fully
completed application. Once we receive your complete application, please monitor your email for
updates. FACE will notify both you and the treating veterinarian of the approval
or denial after reviewing the full application.
Pet parents and veterinarians, click below to see if the animal in need of help meets our eligibility requirements.
Eligibility Requirements for Financial Assistance
We know that having a critically ill pet is an incredibly emotional experience for those who love them. Please understand that any applicant exhibiting disrespectful or disruptive behavior will not be eligible for FACE assistance.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FACE FUNDING
- Initial exam or consultation fees
- Services already rendered and/or treatments completed before FACE approval (FACE does not reimburse for funds already paid to the vet, including deposits, at the time of your application.)
- Routine or non-emergency care (e.g., vaccines, spay/neuter, cruciate ligament tears, benign mass removals)
- Conditions requiring ongoing treatment (e.g., diabetes, Addison’s disease, heart disease/murmur, dermatology/skin conditions)
If you do not qualify for FACE funding, or if you are looking for other types of help, we hope that the comprehensive lists of additional resources below will help. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
- You and members of your household must be the owners of the pet for which you are requesting assistance.
- All pet owners must be residents of San Diego County in California.
- The pet must have been examined by a veterinarian within the past two weeks, with a definitive diagnosis confirming the pet has an immediate life-threatening condition or condition impacting quality of life.
- The pet must have a good prognosis with treatment.
- You have not received FACE assistance more than twice. (FACE can provide assistance to pet owners a maximum of two times in their lifetime.)
- Fracture repairs must be performed by a board-certified surgeon.
- You agree to fundraise, reach out to friends and family, and seek additional support to help cover expenses. Please note that FACE does not fund the full cost of treatments.
- Is the pet spayed or neutered? If not, you must be willing to have your pet spayed or neutered to receive assistance from FACE.
- The household does not have to be denied veterinary credit and/or loan options in order to apply for FACE assistance.
Pet Parents: Apply for Financial Assistance
The 3 items below are required to start the application process:
- Care Credit and Scratch Pay results (Scratch Pay if applicable) – screenshot photos required
- Screenshots of current bank balances in all bank accounts and lines of credit (checking, savings, and credit accounts) – examples include Chime, EDD Bank of America, Direct Express, Venmo, personal bank accounts, and all major credit card companies.
- Most recent bank statements show a complete 30 days of transactions for all household checking accounts, to include income, bills, spending, rent, and mortgage payments.
These additional items will be required in order to complete the final review of your application:
- Your favorite photos of your pet (ideally 2-5)
- Link to your fundraising campaign – start your campaign here: GoFundMe. Be sure to link your GoFundMe to your personal account and be prepared to use the funds raised to pay the treating hospital directly for your pet’s emergency care.
- Treating Veterinary Hospital must send over complete medical documents for review.
- You will receive an automated email to complete the required financial portion of the application. Please be prepared to attach the required documents to proceed with the review process.
- For pet owners who do not have Wi-Fi capabilities or internet access, please ask your veterinary hospital for assistance in submitting your application and financial documents.
- If you have the necessary information above to proceed, please click the button below to apply for assistance. If you have any questions, please contact us at (858) 450-3223, Monday–Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Please ensure that your application is completed in full, as incomplete applications cannot be processed.
Apply for AssistanceVeterinarians: Submit a New Case
Client Application: Clients begin by completing the FACE grant application, which includes an online form and submission of household financial information to determine eligibility.
Veterinary Partner Submission: Our veterinary partners then submit the medical portion of the application. After review, grants are paid directly to our partner hospitals on behalf of approved patients.
Partner Support: In return, our Save-A-Life partners offer a 25% discount on “FACE cases” and assist with fundraising for FACE, even small efforts like donation jars make a difference!
W-9 form: We are required to have your hospital’s W-9 on file. If this is your first time working with FACE, you will need to submit your signed W-9 with your first invoice in order for you to receive payment.
Payment Options/Bill.com: Receive payment electronically via ACH within Net 15 at no additional cost. Paper checks are issued within Net 30, with a $3 administrative fee deducted from each invoice of payment. A $25.00 fee will also apply to any check that requires reissuance. Please let us know your hospital’s preferred payment method.
- Request for Financial Assistance (RFA): The RFA online application must be submitted and signed by the treating veterinarian
- Treatment Estimate: Provided by the treating veterinary hospital (Please ensure that all services that have already taken place are excluded)
- Complete Medical Records: Include all relevant medical records related to the current diagnosis for FACE review
When you have all of the information above ready, click below to start the application.
Submit a New Case
San Diego, CA 92121
Organization • Tax ID: 20-5333261