Require Emergency Veterinary Care Regardless of Ability to Pay.

Just like a hospital would not turn away a human in a life-threatening situation, animals should not be denied care simply because their owner cannot afford it in that moment. Pets are not objects. They are family. They feel pain, fear, and love just like we do.

I recently went through this myself. I spent over $1,200 trying to save my dog, doing everything I could with the resources I had. Instead of receiving support, I was told I would need thousands more for treatment or be prepared to consider euthanasia. No pet owner should ever be put in a position where money determines whether their pet lives or dies.

This is not just my story. This is something thousands of pet owners face every single day. People who love their animals deeply are being forced into impossible decisions because there is no system in place to support emergency veterinary care.

I am calling on the state to step in and fund veterinary emergency services, create assistance programs, and require clinics to provide life-saving stabilization regardless of immediate payment. Just like human healthcare, there should be a system that ensures no life is turned away in a crisis.

If you have a pet, this matters to you too. Just because it’s not your situation right now does not mean it never will be. One day, you could be in this same position, fighting to save your dog and being told you cannot afford to. Help support and pass this act so that when that moment comes, your pet has a chance to live.

Together, we can raise our voices and push for a system that values their lives the way we do.

No pet should die because their owner cannot afford care.