Can You Afford to Adopt a Special-Needs Pet? Here Are an Animal Rescuer’s Tips for Managing Costs
Key takeaways:
Kaitlin Langlois, an animal rescuer in Maryland, helps find homes for pets with special medical needs.
She says caring for pets with health issues can be easier and less expensive than many people think.
Kaitlin recommends using pet medication discounts, such as those from GoodRx, to keep costs manageable.
GoodRx for Pets: Here’s how to save on pet medications with GoodRx.
For Kaitlin Langlois, helping animals with health challenges is more than a passion. It’s personal.
As a child, Kaitlin was diagnosed with a medical condition that required extra care. Now, at 32 and a mother of five, Katilin says she feels a deep connection to the animals she helps.
“I became more attached to helping animals that have special needs because I feel a connection with them,” she says. “I have these issues, but I’m still worthy. And these animals have issues. They’re still worthy.”
A safe place for animals who need extra care
Kaitlin is president of Rise Above Animal Rescue in Pasadena, Maryland. Her nonprofit cares for about 165 pets at a time. Typically, about 20 of them have special medical needs.
Her sanctuary takes in pets from a variety of situations, including:
Owners who can no longer care for them
Strays rescued from unsafe conditions
Special cases referred by crowded shelters
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Staffers at local shelters often call Kaitlin when they receive pets with health problems they can’t handle. “They’ll call me and say, ‘Hey, we have this cat or dog’” that has a medical issue, Kaitlin says. “‘Will you take it?’” Her answer is always yes.
Some of the animals need lifelong medication, such as a cat with thyroid problems or a dog with heart disease. Others, including an Akita dog with an autoimmune condition, recover with the right treatment.
Tips to save money on special-needs pet care
Caring for a pet with health issues doesn’t have to be expensive, Kaitlin says. She has learned ways to cut costs without compromising the quality of care. She says one of her favorite tools is pet medication discounts through GoodRx.
“We use it every time we can to try to cut expenses,” she says. “Being able to save a couple of dollars here and there on a monthly prescription really makes a big difference when you’re talking about numerous animals.”
It’s one of the first things she tells families who adopt a pet with health issues. These are some of her other tips.
Find affordable vets: Look for low-cost clinics in your area.
Join online support groups: Many social groups on social media offer advice and encouragement.
Plan for extra costs: Medications for common issues, such as thyroid problems, may cost as little as $20 a month, she says.
The truth is, it doesn’t have to be so overwhelming, she says
Adopting a pet with medical needs might sound overwhelming, but Kaitlin says it’s often easier than people think.
For example, the thyroid medication for one of her rescue cats costs just $20 a month — less than $1 a day.
“These are really, really great animals,” she says. “They’re still obviously worth [adopting].”
Some people are turning dog rescuing into their life’s passion. Read about a woman who left a corporate job to be a pet rescue photographer.
Can fostering dogs bring you joy? Find out how rescuing dogs sparked a new career path for one woman.
Can I use a GoodRx coupon for my pet? Yes. If your pet has been prescribed a human medication, most GoodRx coupons will work at pharmacies.
Animals without health issues are often adopted within weeks, she says, while pets with special needs can wait months for the right family. But with a little education, Kaitlin says, many people feel confident about adopting them.
When potential adopters understand an animal’s condition and the costs to treat it — especially with options such as medication discounts — it’s much easier for them to say yes, she says.
An advocate for adopting special-needs pets
Kaitlin encourages anyone considering adoption to look beyond an animal’s health issues.
These pets may take a little extra care, but the love they give in return is priceless, she says.
Her advice? Don’t rule out a pet before taking the time to learn more about their condition. Sometimes, small changes — such as taking an affordable medication or getting extra veterinary checkups — are all they need to thrive.
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“I’m a big advocate for adopting special-needs pets," she says. "It's really not as scary as it might sound.”
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