Animal Samaritans

Financial Aid

Helping the Community to Help their Animals

In a caring and giving society, people sometimes need assistance.

Animal Samaritans knows that some pet owners are incapable of affording the charges of private veterinary services for their pets.

In keeping with our mission to, "improve the lives of animals and people" and our desire to be a focal point within the Coachella Valley for animal welfare, Animal Samaritans has some programs to assist people in helping their pets.

Affordable Spay and Neuter

In the event that a pet owner is unable to pay for spay and neuter services, there may be the possibility of Animal Samaritans waiving a portion of the fees. Call to make your appointment and pre-qualify.  No qualifying on the day of your spay and neuter surgery.

  • Household income not to exceed $1500/month (proof required)
  • Local resident (CA Photo ID or Driver's License required)

Senior's Pet Wellness Fund

Animal Samaritans provides, subject to availability of funds, financial assistance for the care of pets belonging to income qualifying senior pet owners who meet the following requirements:

  • Age 65 or older (proof of age required such as copy of Driver's License, etc.)
  • A permanent Coachella Valley or Morongo Basin resident (proof of residency required such as copy of Driver's License, utility bill, etc.)
  • Maximum income not exceeding $1,500 a month for one person (proof required such as copy of bank statement, Social Security statement, etc.)
  • Proof of ownership of animal (such as vaccination records or license)

This program is administered in a first come, first served basis.
Click here for more information

Funding is generously provided by the Albert and Anna Herdina Memorial Fund for Animals through the Community Foundation serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, the Auen Foundation, and the Ed Cauduro Advised Charitable Fund of The Oregon Community Foundation.

Other Programs Available to the Public

Animal Samaritans' Feral/Community Cat Program
Animal Samaritans is in partnership with the community to contain the feral cat population. Animal Samaritans believes in the trap, neuter and release (TNR) approach to reducing the feral cat population. When community members trap feral cats and bring them to Animal Samaritans, we will, as a service to the community, and budget permitting, provide spaying and neutering services on feral cats for just $25. We then depend on the person who brought the cat to our facility, to return the cat to the colony.

“Stray” cats are NOT the same as “feral/community” cats. Stray cats are domesticated or semi-domesticated homeless animals; they will generally approach you if you offer food, and may allow at least one human to touch or pet them. In contrast, feral cats are wild, undomesticated homeless animals; you cannot pet them or pick them up. Feral cats will typically run, hide, hiss, or bite if you get too close to them.

Only feral (wild) cats are eligible for the Feral/Community cat program; stray cats are not eligible. Our veterinary staff knows the difference between a stray cat and a feral cat; they will not proceed with discounted spay/neuter services if a cat appears to be domesticated, or semi-domesticated.

To capture a feral cat, you can obtain a trap from our clinic. Animal Samaritans rents these traps for $5.00 a day and requires a $50.00 deposit. Any money received in excess of the daily charge will be returned to you when the trap is returned. We would appreciate any donations that you can make towards the program.

You should set your feral cat traps in the evening (not the morning or day); After trapping the cat, you bring him or her to Animal Samaritans' clinic at 7:30am. One feral cat per person please. We can accommodate between 2 and 6 feral cats Monday through Friday. After the cat's surgery, you will need to pick the cat up in a carrier, and return him (after he has recovered) to his colony area.
Feral Cat FAQS

Programs from Others that are accepted at Animal Samaritans' Clinic

Lend-A-Paw
Lend-A-Paw offers pledges toward veterinary care and is not limited to spay/neuter procedures. For guidelines and information, please call 760-327-4458.

POPCO - Pet Overpopulation Coalition
Non-profit group that connects pet owners with various resources for spay/neuter financial assistance. For guidelines and information: 888-664-5166.

Please Note: Animal Samaritans strives to make affordable veterinary care available to everyone, however, the availability of financial assistance and waived fees for veterinary care is dependent on eligibility and what financial resources are available at the time.  Animal Samaritans relies on charitable contributions and grants to provide its programs and services.  We cannot guarantee financial assistance from other organizations.