It’s heartbreaking enough when your pet is sick or dying. But for hundreds of people in Massachusetts, the pain doesn’t end there. It lands them in court.

Since 2023, the MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center has sued more than 650 people in small claims court over unpaid veterinary bills. Some of them owed as little as $300. Many, like Yvette Ramos and Daiana Rodriguez, had no idea they could apply for financial aid or were told they’d receive help, only to find themselves saddled with lawsuits, court fees, and debts that grow by 12 percent each year. These aren’t just bills. They become barriers to housing, employment, and basic dignity.

MSPCA is a nonprofit. It exists to prevent cruelty to animals, not to punish the people who love them.

We’re calling on MSPCA-Angell to immediately end the practice of suing low-income pet owners for medical debt under $2,000, and to publicly commit to:

• Expanding financial aid and clearly offering it before treatment
• Notifying clients of their rights and debt risk in writing
• Ceasing legal action unless all aid options and non-court solutions are exhausted

We understand that running a hospital costs money. But suing struggling families, including students, single parents, and retirees, over modest bills is not the solution. It damages lives, deepens distrust, and contradicts the very mission of compassionate animal care.

Thousands of pet owners turn to MSPCA in times of desperation, trusting that the organization will treat them with care, not threaten them in court. It’s time to rebuild that trust.

Please sign and share this petition to urge the MSPCA to stop taking low-income clients to court and start working toward real, humane solutions.