Keeping the family together: Planned PEThood’s affordable vet care keeps pets in their homes

Keeping the family together: Planned PEThood’s affordable vet care keeps pets in their homes

Sophia’s family knew something was wrong. Rushing their beloved pet to the veterinarian, they found she was suffering from a potentially fatal infection.

She’d need surgery, but the quote given was between $6,000 and $9,000! For the family, the vet may as well have said $2 million; it was an unaffordable amount.

The situation Sophia’s family faced is not uncommon. With nearly 70% of U.S. households owning a pet, and drastically rising costs for veterinary care in recent years, a growing number of pet owners are finding that price has become a barrier to care for their animals.

The nonprofit Planned PEThood of Georgia is working to remove that barrier for families who need it by offering low-cost veterinary visits and spay and neutering surgeries.

“We know people don’t want to have to make decisions to part with their animals. They don’t want to have to take them to a shelter, much less have to potentially put them down over something that might have been preventable,” CJ Bentley, Planned PEThood’s CEO, said. “Our goal is to keep pets with their families.”

Bentley, who has two rescue dogs of her own, knows the psychological benefits of having a pet and the emotional bonds that can form. Before coming to Planned PEThood almost a year and a half ago, she spent 20 years working for humane societies in Michigan and Atlanta.

Her passion for animals coupled with her experience in rehoming them has helped Planned PEThood grow in its mission to stop pets’ suffering before it begins through proactive programs and services like its Community Pet Clinics.

“Shelter overcrowding is a harsh reality, but it’s one we can prevent,” Bentley said. “We have a team that really loves animals, and they’re doing this because they know that this work is really important.”

During these community clinics, Planned PEThood veterinarians and volunteers transform open spaces like parks and school gymnasiums to see between 250 and 400 animals in just a few hours on a walk-up basis at no cost to the families who come. They just need to provide proof of residency.

“There’s no judgment,” Bentley said. “This affects so many households. They don’t need to think about how they are going to afford it or have to put it on a credit card, or even walk out without getting their pet the care they need. We can see so many animals in a short amount of time, and it’s so impactful. Each one of those people would be leaving with a $200 to $300 bill.”

At these clinics, Planned PEThood provides dogs and cats essential services like rabies vaccines, microchipping and flea and tick prevention. Pet owners also receive pet care education and spay and neuter vouchers, if they need them.

Planned PEThood also has an appointment-based wellness clinic in Duluth. Here, dog and cat owners can access basic services for their pets including wellness exams, routine care, vaccines, microchips and heartworm tests. They also offer scheduled spay and neuter surgeries at this location. The costs are much lower than typical veterinary care facilities.

Planned PEThood can do all this free and subsidized care because of donated funds.

“We bring a lot of value to the community, and we know how important it is to use every dollar wisely — and how much it means to have people put their faith in us for the mission that we’re driving,” Bentley said. 

Recently, PlannedPEThood was able to start an agency fund with the Community Foundation, thanks to a generous donation from the Nickerson family. The fund allows Planned PEThood an extra boost in being able to grow its impact. 

“We’re so happy to be connected to the fund, and we are so grateful for the Nickerson family’s contribution to get it started,” Bentley said. “The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia is the right fit for us because it allows us to focus on serving families with pets in our area. We love that it’s local. We love that it connects us to other local organizations. And we love the peace of mind it brings us.”

All this allows Planned PEThood to stay focused on its mission.

“We’re not just a service; we’re a safety net for pets and the families who cherish them,” Bentley said. “Planned PEThood is driven by the belief that every pet deserves to stay with the family that loves them.”

Pets just like Sophia. Instead of the thousands of dollars their veterinarian quoted the family for her care, Planned PEThood was able to intervene and provide the lifesaving surgery she needed for only $300.

Sophia is now healthy, and back where she belongs — enjoying quality time with her family. To learn more about Planned PEThood, visit pethoodga.org.