Pet crowdfunding increasingly popular as a lifeline for sky-high healthcare costs

An emergency operation for a cat, chemotherapy for a dog or an expensive procedure after a car accident: more and more pet owners are starting a crowdfunding to save the life of their animal. The medical care is often good, but also expensive. The question arises: is crowdfunding a sustainable solution or just an emergency measure?

Although there are no hard figures on the number of crowdfunding campaigns for pets in the Netherlands, the professional organization for veterinarians KNMvD does see a clear development. "We hear that people have trouble paying bills," says Julia Hamel, press officer for the KNMvD. Anyone who has a pet has to dig deep into their pockets . "But will that lead to structurally more crowdfunding? We don't know. In the past, people asked family or neighbors for help, now they set up a Tikkie or a crowdfunding page."

What is certain is that the costs of veterinary care have risen considerably. Metro previously explained why this is the case . This is evident from research by the Ministry of Agriculture and research agency Ecorys. Hamel: "Veterinary practice staff were underpaid for years. This has now been rectified with collective labor agreements and better employment conditions. The costs of equipment, medicines and energy have also increased." However, many people still underestimate the costs .

But that price increase is also related to the increased quality and complexity of care. "Where a dog with cancer used to receive palliative care and was eventually put to sleep, we can now surgically remove tumors or even offer chemotherapy to dogs, cats and even guinea pigs. That comes with a hefty price tag. It involves long-term treatments, monitoring, regular return visits. That can cost thousands of euros."

According to Hamel, this leads to moral dilemmas for owners. "A lot of people say: 'I'd rather sell my car than put my dog ​​to sleep.' Or they don't go on holiday, or they start a crowdfunding campaign."

Veterinarians often offer multiple options, ranging from surgery to palliative care, but ultimately it is the owner who decides. “We also see distressing cases. For example, when someone comes with a cat that has been hit by a car and has multiple broken bones, and says: I don’t want treatment, but also no euthanasia. Then you are in a difficult tension as a veterinarian.”

Although there are few hard figures in the Netherlands about the exact number of actions for pets, the growth on crowdfunding platforms is clearly visible. Steunactie.nl often lists dozens of ongoing fundraising actions for sick dogs, cats and other pets, ranging from emergency operations to vet bills that can no longer be paid.

Dierendonatie.nl, which focuses on shelter animals, has also been reporting increasing involvement from donors and organizations for years. Internationally, GoFundMe confirms that pet campaigns are now among the fastest growing categories: in 2023, more than 50 million dollars were raised worldwide for animal care, divided over almost 1.8 million donations. That growth also reflects a trend in the Netherlands: the public is willing to donate, if the story is close enough.

The fact that pet care costs can add up is still underestimated too often. According to Hamel, too little attention is paid to the financial side of things when purchasing an animal. "For a few tens of euros, you can get a kitten via Marktplaats. But the annual costs, from food, litter and toys to vaccinations, castration, chipping and care, are much higher. People need to realise that they are not taking an animal for a short while, but for a lifetime. That entails financial responsibility."

The KNMvD therefore advises owners to prepare themselves well. "We always say: take out pet insurance, or create a separate savings pot for your animal. Many people have a buffer for when the washing machine breaks down. That should also apply to emergency treatment for your pet." Such a pet often needs acute care to save its life.

The greater possibilities in veterinary medicine make the offer better, but also more complicated. “The operating rooms are sometimes not inferior to those in hospitals for people. Think of CT scanners, blood tests, everything is there. But if you decide to use that care, there is also a price tag.”

In practice, it is often the more expensive treatments that crowdfunding is started for: not the standard vaccinations, but complex operations or long-term therapies. "There are many interventions that were not possible thirty years ago. At that time, euthanasia was more likely to be chosen. Now there are alternatives, but that also means that the choices are more difficult."

According to the KNMvD, it is important to continue to pay attention to the accessibility of veterinary care, especially for people with a lower income. After all, animals can play an important social role, for example for lonely elderly people or people with psychological complaints. Hamel: "Animals bring pleasure, structure and social contacts. But that also involves responsibility. If you get an animal, you have to look at it realistically: financially and emotionally."

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