Pet Care Help in California

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Lower-cost vet care, help with vet bills, spay/neuter and pet food in California. We checked each listing on the organization’s own website in October 2026. Programs change often, so call or check their page before you go.

Emergency? Call your veterinarian or the nearest 24-hour emergency hospital now, and tell them if cost is a barrier. Emergency signs and poison hotlines

In Southern California? See our listing-by-listing coverage of Los Angeles County, Orange County, the Inland Empire and the Central Coast. This page covers Northern and Central California.

Lower-cost vet care

• Mercer Veterinary Clinic (and Davis Pet Advocacy and Wellness, DPAW)
  Sacramento and Yolo counties (monthly clinics in Sacramento and Davis) · Free problem-based exams, diagnostics, treatment, vaccines and other care for the pets of people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, at monthly clinics run by UC Davis veterinary students and volunteer veterinarians; sign up for a clinic through the website.
  (530) 424-8277
  Official page
• San Francisco SPCA Community Veterinary Clinic and Spay/Neuter Clinic
  San Francisco (Community Clinic at 4527 Mission St; surgery at the Mission campus) · Affordable preventive care and treatment for minor problems (skin, ear and eye issues, vomiting, diarrhea) at the Community Veterinary Clinic in the Excelsior, plus an affordable spay/neuter clinic with financial assistance available; no emergencies, X-rays or lab work at the community clinic.
  (415) 554-3084
  Official page
• East Bay SPCA Veterinary Clinic and Humane Advocacy Programs
  Oakland / East Bay (8323 Baldwin St, Oakland; also Dublin) · Nonprofit-priced exams ($60), diagnostics, dental and surgery Mon-Fri by appointment, plus spay/neuter and vaccine clinics and a Humane Advocacy team that helps owners who are struggling keep their pets.
  (510) 569-1606
  Official page
• Humane Society Silicon Valley - Essential Care Clinic
  San Jose / Santa Clara County (Milpitas campus) · Low-cost sick visits for cats and dogs of families facing financial hardship: $60 exam plus $50-$150 treatment for common problems like colds, skin and ear issues, with weekly appointments (call early Wednesday for same-day openings); no emergencies, chronic care or orthopedic surgery.
  (408) 942-3005
  Official page
• HOPE Animal Foundation
  Fresno, Clovis and Madera (5490 W. Spruce Ave, Fresno) · Nonprofit full-service low-cost vet clinic offering spay/neuter, vaccines, wellness exams, dental care and feral cat TNR.
  (559) 271-0209
  Official page

Spay and neuter

• Sacramento SPCA - Spay/Neuter Clinic, We Pay To Spay and Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic Waitlist
  Sacramento region · Low-cost spay/neuter (new prices effective March 1, 2026) with special $25 copays for Chihuahuas and $50 for pit bulls, shepherds and huskies, plus a low-cost vaccine clinic by appointment Mon-Wed and Sat; new spay/neuter clients join a waitlist.
  (916) 383-7387
  Official page
• Central California SPCA - Low Cost Spay/Neuter and Vaccination Clinics
  Fresno (103 S. Hughes Ave) · Low-cost spay/neuter and soft-tissue surgery with digital X-ray, ultrasound and lab testing, plus monthly super-low-cost vaccine clinics (dates posted on Facebook/Instagram); book by email or online, cash or card only.
  (559) 233-7722
  Official page
• Central Valley Spay/Neuter
  Fresno County · Partnership of local rescues and vets, funded by the County of Fresno and private donors, giving low-cost spay/neuter and vaccines to any Fresno County resident, with priority for unincorporated rural areas; apply and book online (appointments fill quickly).
  Official page

Pet food

• Humane Society Silicon Valley - Pet Pantry
  Santa Clara County · Short-term free dry pet food for Santa Clara County residents facing financial hardship; sign up in person with photo ID at 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas, Thu-Sun 12-3:30 pm.
  (408) 262-2133
  Official page
• Sacramento SPCA - PAWPantry Free Pet Food
  Sacramento (6201 Florin Perkins Rd) · Free dry adult cat and dog food and cat litter for anyone in need; sign up online each Saturday at 11 am for the next Friday's pickup, limited to one pickup per household per month.
  (916) 383-7387
  Official page

Find a vet

• California Veterinary Medical Association - Find a Vet
  Statewide · The state veterinary association's public search for member veterinarians across California.
  Official page

Programs marked Waitlist or Paused said so on their own websites when we checked. For options that work anywhere in the U.S., see Find Veterinary Care and Paying for Care.

Know of a program in California we should add, or see something out of date? Suggest or correct a listing.