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MAY YOU PROSPER
By Niki Behrikis Shanahan
Beloved, I pray that
you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
3 John 1:2 (NKJV)
We all love our animal companions, and they are a very important and vital part of our families. One of the responsibilities of having pets is the financial expense. It is very costly to buy food, litter, supplies, and grooming and veterinary care.
From time to time people ask for prayer for financial help, as well as healing for their pets. The Lord is interested in every aspect of our lives, and He wants to help us as we provide for our companion animals and ourselves. He doesn’t want to see us struggle financially, and we should remember to pray and ask Him to help us with all our needs.
I know that in addition to your own pets, many of you feed feral cat communities, take in foster pets, and contribute to shelters or animal organizations. Many of you also feed birds and other animals, as well. Some of you are maxed out with pets in your home. You have so much love for these beautiful creatures, and you’re doing your best to help them. Proverbs 12:10 says that the Godly take good care of their animals.
I believe that God will provide for us and bless us as we help these little ones, because the Lord is our Shepherd and we shall not want. Let’s keep praying that the Lord will bless us richly in all areas of our lives, including financially, and open doors for us. Here’s a sample prayer:
Dear Lord,
We pray that you will bless us generously as we provide for our pets, and other animals that we help. Please give us wisdom in finances and bless us in our jobs. We know that it says in Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” Thank you; Lord, for providing for all our needs. In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Psalm 145:16 NIV
The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.
Psalm 145:9 KJV
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the Heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17 NIV
Copyright 2008 Niki Behrikis Shanahan
SPECIAL FINANCIAL LINKS OF INTEREST
Here are some helpful articles and links that may assist some people with pet food, vet care, and supplies. Some are for seniors and homebound individuals. You could check through these services to see if you or someone you know may be eligible for assistance. It’s always a good idea to check with your veterinarian to see if they will offer any discount or payment plans. Also you may want to check with local senior programs to see if they assist people. Some areas have pet food assistance along with their Meals On Wheels program. I cannot vouch for any of these organizations, but it may be worth checking them out.
FOR SHELTERS: Hills Science Diet Shelter Program as stated on their website:
“Not-for-profit shelters CAN NOW afford premium nutrition. Because our first priority is your animals, it doesn't matter if your shelter has 100 or 10,000 adoptions per year. Participation in the Science Diet® Shelter Nutrition Partnership means your shelter will receive enough Science Diet® brand pet food to feed ALL of the animals in your care for FREE. You only pay the minimal cost of shipping and handling. Plus, all food will be delivered to your Shelter... no worries.” Here’s the link:
Help-a-Pet: nonprofit organization with a single purpose: to provide financial assistance nationwide for the medical care of pets whose owners are unable to afford the expense.
http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html
Labrador Life Line - Not for Profit Organization created to help owners or rescuers of Labrador Retrievers who are in need of financial assistance.
http://www.labradorlifeline.org/about-lll.htm
The Travis Fund, Tufts University: http://www.tufts.edu/vet/gift/p&p.html
In Memory Of Magic. "Helping people help pets." To better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged. http://www.imom.org/
Financial Assistance For Felines: http://www.felineoutreach.org/
American Animal Hospital Association: http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/
Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services, has a mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. http://www.angels4animals.org/
Cats in Crisis Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and humane organizations care for cats with chronic or emergency medical conditions through financial and fundraising assistance. http://catsincrisis.org/
The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes. http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/
The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need veterinary care. http://thepetfund.com/
The LifeLine Grant Program provides funding to Good Samaritans, animal rescuers, non-profit organizations and pet owners to help them care for animals in life-threatening situations. Learn more about our various LifeLine Grants and find out the eligibility requirements by following the links below. http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28
Meals On Wheels for Seniors - San Jose, California -Meal program serves pets and their people.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/food/orl-mealswheelspets08jan06,0,7903829.story
Pals Atlanta: http://www.palsatlanta.org/
Ohio area: http://www.indeonline.com/index.php?ID=23673
Columbia, SC http://www.seniorresourcesinc.org/Season%20of%20Suppers.htm
Texas links: http://www.sheltersource.org/banks.htm
A website with assistance program links: http://loveyourpetexpo.com/petfoodhelp.html
PET SUPPORT SERVICES, Lansing, MI: http://www.referweb.net/lansing/Detail.aspx?c;;0;;;23131;99469;339;Environmental%20Quality;Animal%20Services;Veterinary%20Bill%20Assistance
New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance Veterinary Bill Assistance Program:
http://www.nj-ara.org/vetbill.html
http://www.handicappedpets.com/Articles/help/
NY S.A.V.E, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to the aid and assistance of low-income pet owners residing in one of the five boroughs of New York City, whose pet is in need of emergency veterinary care. http://www.nysave.org/
More New York information: http://www.animalalliancenyc.org/services/assistance.htm