In July 2024, our dog Onyx suffered what we believe was a complication from surgery. Frantic with worry, we rushed him to an emergency animal clinic. His was a fight between life and death - but his life was put on hold due to payment first policy. With zero dollars to our name after spending so much on his initial surgery, help was refused. Onyx was turned away and he died just a few hours later. He was only one years old. 

This heartbreaking incident is not just our story. Many pet owners face the same dilemma daily. According to estimates from the American Pet Products Association, pet owners in the U.S. spent $99 billion on their pets in 2020, but not all pet owners have the financial resources to cover sudden, unexpected medical costs.

Let's stand together and demand that veterinary clinics and emergency animal hospitals place life above all else. No pet should be denied urgent care because of their owner's immediate financial circumstances.

Let's petition for the introduction of laws that mandate immediate medical attention for animals in critical condition, regardless of the financial capacity of the owners. Don't let another life like Onyx's be lost. Please, sign and share this petition.