The pandemic was not enough to put millions of people in big economic difficulties: today the disproportionate increase in prices has raised the poverty line and more and more people are struggling to bear the medical costs for their pets.
So let’s see in which cases it is possible to obtain free veterinary care and if economic concessions are provided for those in difficulty.
How much to keep a dog?
To date, keeping a dog in Italy requires an expense that goes from 30 you have 100 euros per month per family. These expenses include:
- veterinary care,
- any medications,
- accessories,
- food.
Even if our dogs are satisfied with only a crumb of our attention, before adopting one we must be aware that a new member is entering the family, and that this will inevitably involve some expenses.
But life can be unpredictable and you can find yourself in the unpleasant situation of not having enough money to care for your dog. So let’s see what to do and in which cases it is possible to get free veterinary care for dogs and cats.
I have no money to treat my dog: free veterinary care
In this delicate historical moment it can happen that you find yourself in important economic hardship.
The instability that has characterized our country has brought millions of workers to their knees, who have had to start reconsidering priorities, often at the expense of health. Not only their own, but also and inevitably that of their pets, as their health costs are not covered by a mutual fundas it happens for us, so they are practically all the responsibility of the owner.
Not to mention that a sad reflection of this scenario is represented by an increase in dropouts. So what if you suddenly don’t have money to treat your dog? Are there any services to get free veterinary care for animals? Let’s find out.
Contact the local veterinary ASL
If you find a stray dog or an injured wild animal who needs help, you can deliver it to the local ASL who will treat him until his health conditions stabilize.
Contact the garrison first to ask for their availability and conditions, as they may vary according to the regions.
However, free veterinary care is not valid for owner animals and is only for emergency conditions.
However, try to inquire at your local district to ask if there are free initiatives to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Evaluate the pets bonus
Thanks to the 2022 pet bonus it will be possible to tax deduction 19% on income tax for veterinary expenses which include:
- veterinary care (interventions, laboratory and diagnostic tests, specialist visits);
- the purchase of prescribed drugs.
It is not a question of free veterinary care, therefore, but it is still a very useful saving. Up to one bonus can be obtained maximum expense of 550 €however, considering a deductible of € 129.11.
Let’s take an example: if during the year you have spent € 450 for the purchases described above (traceable via receipt or automatic payment) you will have to subtract the deductible from this amount and calculate 19%: in our case the deduction will be equal to 60, € 96.
The Pet Visit Bank
Not even a month has passed since the launch of the “Pet visits bank” initiative envisaged by ENPA, on which website it is possible to request help if you are not in economic conditions to be able to support the veterinary care necessary for the well-being of your 4-legged friend.
Currently, free veterinary care for dogs and cats is only available in some cities:
- Torino,
- Roma,
- Trieste,
- Mogliano Veneto.
Here veterinarians affiliated to the project will be able to provide certain services free of charge in favor of pets: we hope that the service will expand quickly in all Italian regions.
Other tips to optimize veterinary expenses
Here are other tips to better manage your dog’s veterinary expenses.
Take out insurance in advance
If you want to make a good investment in order not to have unpleasant surprises in the future, a piece of advice is to inquire about veterinary insurance.
In fact, there are some contract formulas in which it is possible to pay an annual or monthly permissive fee, even if this also depends on the type of dog and the breed of the dog.
Request an installment payment
A visit to the vet costs an average of € 40, but doubles easily if you are in big cities or in the presence of highly specialized veterinarians.
If our dog has to undergo expensive interventions, you can ask to pay in installments so that we can guarantee the necessary care for your friend in good time.
Ask for help
If you are now short of ideas and have not been able to get free veterinary care for your dog or cat, do not despair and ask for help: from friends, relatives, non-profit organizations, social networks.
Fortunately, today there are many people willing to make a small donation to help a dog or a family in need!