Save Money By Splitting Doses of Frontline Plus Flea Medication – Up to 90% Savings!

The Best Flea Treatments For Cats And Dogs

Seresto doesn't protect against parasitic worms (as our Bravecto pick does), but it fights fleas and many tick species. Also, some pets may not appreciate having the extra bulk of a collar around their neck. And pets with especially sensitive skin may experience side effects of redness or inflammation near the collar; if this sounds like your pet, try an oral or topical treatment instead. Seresto Collar for Cats protects against fleas, American dog ticks, deer ticks, brown dog ticks, and lone star ticks. Seresto Collar for Dogs protects against fleas, American dog ticks, deer ticks, brown dog ticks, lone star ticks, lice, and sarcoptic mange.

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? (May 2024)

How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?

According to our research, pet insurance costs $768 a year for dogs and $324 a year for cats, with an overall average monthly cost landing at $49 per month. Our team secret-shopped for 14 national pet insurance providers and gathered over 2,000 quotes in all 50 states.

Use the table below to find out what the average cost for pet insurance in your state is:

Average Pet Insurance Costs Average Cat Insurance Average Dog Insurance Average Multi-Pet Insurance

State Pet Insurance Cost Cost vs. National Average Alabama $51.94 -22% Alaska $67.04 +1% Arizona $80.07 +21% Arkansas $50.00 -25% California $82.98 +25% Colorado $84.31 +27% Connecticut $93.54+= +41% Delaware $82.12 +24% Florida $61.90 -7% Georgia $68.80 +4% Hawaii $71.05 +7% Idaho $67.81 +2% Illinois $72.85 +10% Indiana $58.13 -12% Iowa $58.63 -12% Kansas $68.09 +3% Kentucky $64.87 -2% Louisiana $56.63 -15% Maine $82.96 +25% Maryland $84.87 +28% Massachusetts $98.01 +48% Michigan $64.93 -2% Minnesota $63.32 -5% Mississippi $57.81 -13% Missouri $56.46 -15% Montana $53.90 -19% Nebraska $58.06 -13% Nevada $50.36 -24% New Hampshire $69.90 +5% New Jersey $77.88 +17% New Mexico $70.24 +6% New York $76.87 +16% North Carolina $77.02 +16% North Dakota $53.74 -19% Ohio $65.35 -2% Oklahoma $56.83 -14% Oregon $65.93 -1% Pennsylvania $67.67 +2% Rhode Island $56.60 -15% South Carolina $60.01 -10% South Dakota $58.22 -12% Tennessee $58.89 -11% Texas $67.92 +2% Utah $60.24 -9% Vermont $57.87 -13% Virginia $67.27 +1% Washington $67.31 +1% West Virginia $56.71 -15% Wisconsin $60.57 -9% Wyoming $55.38 -17% State Cat Insurance Cost Cost vs. National Average Alabama $34.44 +8% Alaska $31.93 +0% Arizona $36.86 +15% Arkansas $25.05 -22% California $43.46 +36% Colorado $38.96 +22% Connecticut $47.36 +48% Delaware $39.94 +25% Florida $30.47 -5% Georgia $32.06 0% Hawaii $34.24 +7% Idaho $31.76 -1% Illinois $35.80 +12% Indiana $27.34 -14% Iowa $27.82 -13% Kansas $30.42 -5% Kentucky $28.06 -12% Louisiana $26.63 -17% Maine $39.35 +23% Maryland $39.33 +23% Massachusetts $51.18 +60% Michigan $29.67 -7% Minnesota $30.78 -4% Mississippi $27.07 -15% Missouri $25.34 -21% Montana $25.39 -20% Nebraska $29.06 -9% Nevada $25.09 -21% New Hampshire $34.35 +8% New Jersey $38.65 +21% New Mexico $32.09 +1% New York $40.78 +28% North Carolina $36.02 +13% North Dakota $25.49 -20% Ohio $33.06 +4% Oklahoma $27.48 -14% Oregon $33.76 +6% Pennsylvania $28.07 -12% Rhode Island $23.37 -27% South Carolina $29.73 -7% South Dakota $27.49 -14% Tennessee $27.13 -15% Texas $33.97 +6% Utah $29.41 -8% Vermont $27.25 -15% Virginia $31.09 -3% Washington $31.50 -1% West Virginia $26.74 -16% Wisconsin $27.91 -13% Wyoming $26.11 -18% State Dog Insurance Cost Cost vs. National Average Alabama $43.19 -12% Alaska $49.49 +1% Arizona $58.46 +19% Arkansas $37.53 -24% California $63.22 +29% Colorado $61.63 +25% Connecticut $70.45 +43% Delaware $61.03 +24% Florida $46.19 -6% Georgia $50.43 +3% Hawaii $52.64 +7% Idaho $49.79 +1% Illinois $54.32 +10% Indiana $42.73 -13% Iowa $43.23 -12% Kansas $49.25 0% Kentucky $46.46 -5% Louisiana $41.63 -15% Maine $61.15 +24% Maryland $62.10 +26% Massachusetts $74.59 +52% Michigan $47.30 -4% Minnesota $47.05 -4% Mississippi $42.44 -14% Missouri $40.90 -17% Montana $39.64 -19% Nebraska $43.56 -11% Nevada $37.73 -23% New Hampshire $52.13 +6% New Jersey $58.27 +19% New Mexico $51.17 +4% New York $58.82 +20% North Carolina $56.52 +15% North Dakota $39.61 -19% Ohio $49.20 0% Oklahoma $42.15 -14% Oregon $49.85 +1% Pennsylvania $47.87 -3% Rhode Island $39.98 -19% South Carolina $44.87 -9% South Dakota $42.85 -13% Tennessee $43.01 -13% Texas $50.94 +4% Utah $44.83 -9% Vermont $42.56 -13% Virginia $49.18 0% Washington $49.41 +1% West Virginia $41.72 -15% Wisconsin $44.24 -10% Wyoming $40.75 -17% State Average Cost for Two Pets Cost vs. National Average Alabama $73.75 -4% Alaska $77.35 0% Arizona $90.55 +18% Arkansas $59.45 -23% California $101.35 +32% Colorado $95.56 +24% Connecticut $111.92 +45% Delaware $95.93 +25% Florida $72.82 -5% Georgia $78.36 +2% Hawaii $82.54 +7% Idaho $77.47 +1% Illinois $85.61 +11% Indiana $66.57 -14% Iowa $67.50 -12% Kansas $75.69 -2% Kentucky $70.80 -8% Louisiana $64.85 -16% Maine $95.47 +24% Maryland $96.36 +25% Massachusetts $119.48 +55% Michigan $73.11 -5% Minnesota $73.93 -4% Mississippi $66.03 -14% Missouri $62.92 -18% Montana $61.78 -20% Nebraska $68.99 -10% Nevada $59.68 -23% New Hampshire $82.16 +7% New Jersey $92.07 +20% New Mexico $79.09 +3% New York $94.62 +23% North Carolina $87.91 +14% North Dakota $61.85 -20% Ohio $78.14 +1% Oklahoma $66.15 -14% Oregon $79.43 +3% Pennsylvania $72.14 -6% Rhode Island $60.19 -22% South Carolina $70.87 -8% South Dakota $66.82 -13% Tennessee $66.63 -13% Texas $80.67 +5% Utah $70.53 -8% Vermont $66.32 -14% Virginia $76.26 -1% Washington $76.87 0% West Virginia $65.03 -16% Wisconsin $68.54 -11% Wyoming $63.52 -18% Costs are based on the averages for 1 cat (the cat insurance average for that state) and 1 dog (the dog insurance average for that state), added together with a 5% multi-pet discount.

This information is based on different provider quotes collected for an accident-and-illness policy for a 5-year-old medium mixed-breed male dog, a 2-year-old female golden retriever, a 5-year-old mixed-breed male cat and a 2-year-old female Siamese cat in all 50 states. A total of 200 quotes averaged per provider for each species type.

Compare Pet Insurance Costs

You will also find that the provider you choose impacts the price you pay, even when your pet and coverage details remain constant. Compare costs between the best pet insurance providers:

Unfortunately, when it comes to the cost of pet insurance for your furry one, there is no one-size-fits-all average cost that we can provide. The exact cost of your pet insurance premium will depend on a variety of factors, including:

Pet type

Pet age

Pet breed

Location

Previous health conditions

The cost of the plan you pick will also be impacted by the provider and type of coverage you choose. Like health insurance for humans, there is no right or wrong coverage option, just a right pet insurance plan that works for you.

While we can't tell you what you will pay, we can tell you more about industry averages and what we've seen from pet insurance providers, real customers, and our secret shoppers.

How Much Does Pet Insurance for Dogs Cost?

According to our comparison of the top 10 best pet insurance providers, pet insurance for dogs costs $66 per month for adult dogs and $53 per month for puppies.

Pet Insurance Cost by Dog Breed

You can compare the average monthly costs of insuring popular dog breeds with the chart below. 

As you can see in the table, the price of coverage for your pet increases as they get older. You may see only a modest increase each year until your dog turns about six, when the coverage cost may escalate more quickly. 

Pet Insurance Cost for Dogs by Provider How Much Is Pet Insurance for Cats?

The average cost of pet insurance for cats is $32 per month for adult cats and $25 per month for kittens. The exact cost of cat insurance will depend on the cat's breed and age and where you live.

Cat Insurance Cost by Cat Breed

As you can see in the chart below, the cost of accident and illness coverage for cats can vary dramatically depending on your pet's breed and age.

Cat Insurance Cost by Provider

Based on our review, Many Pets and Lemonade are the cheapest pet insurance plans for cats. Compare the average monthly rates of top providers below:

What Affects Pet Insurance Costs?

Your pet's age, breed and location, and the chosen coverage options and discounts will all impact the overall cost of insuring your pet. 

Coverage Options

Most pet insurance providers allow you to customize your annual limit, deductible and reimbursement rate. You will generally pay the lowest monthly premium if you choose a low annual limit, low reimbursement percentage and high deductible. However, you will pay more out of pocket when your pet goes to the vet. 

Pet Breed

Breeds with a higher risk of certain health conditions will cost more to insure each month. Purebred pets can be predisposed to illnesses that can make veterinary care more expensive, driving up the price of a pet insurance policy.  

Pet Age

The cost of covering older pets will always be more expensive than a younger ones, but each provider has different policies about when and how it raises premiums. 

Most pet insurance companies allow you to enroll your pet at 6 weeks old. Some companies have a maximum age limit for enrollment, often ranging from 10 to 14 years. Therefore, if you have an older dog or cat, you'll need to find a company for senior pets that does not have upper age limits. 

When should you enroll your pet in a plan?

Patrik Holmboe, Head Veterinarian at Cooper Pet Care, suggested,

"Overall, the best time to enroll your pet in pet insurance is when they are young and healthy. Basically, the sooner, the better!"

Most pet insurance companies do not cover preexisting conditions, and their chance of developing them increases as they age. Holmboe added,

"Most policies are cheaper for younger pets. If you start early, most insurance policies allow you to either lock in this lower price or gain some form of discount as the animal ages." 

Where You Live

Your location also plays a role in the price you will pay for any type of insurance coverage — not just pet insurance. Different states have different laws and regulations that dictate insurance pricing, what data a company can collect from consumers and what benefits providers must include with coverage. For example, while most states allow insurance providers to collect credit score information to determine rates for things like homeowners and auto insurance, California and Hawaii forbid insurers from collecting this information.

As a result of variations in state law, insurance companies take on different levels of risk depending on the policyholder's residence. Pet insurance is no exception — in our review, we found significant variance in coverage rates between states. For example, the average monthly cost of pet insurance in Missouri is $41, while the state average in Massachusetts is $75 per month. Overall, the most expensive states to insure your pet in are Massachusetts, Connecticut and California, while the most affordable are Arkansas, Nevada and North Dakota.

Provider Chosen

The provider itself impacts the premium you pay. Each company assesses risk a little bit differently, weighing some factors more than others. That can lead to varying costs for identical policies based on the provider you choose. Based on our analysis, Lemonade offers great value by combining affordable prices with comprehensive coverage.

Discounts Offered

Many providers offer discounts when you enroll multiple pets or pay for your annual coverage upfront. Additionally, some providers offer discounts for policyholders who are military members or animal care workers. Compare top companies' discounts below. 

How Does Pet Insurance Work?

Once you enroll in pet insurance, your coverage will begin after the waiting period. Depending on your provider, the waiting period is typically between two days and two weeks. Remember, the treatment will not be eligible for coverage if your pet is injured or ill during the waiting period. 

After the waiting period ends, you can take your pet to any licensed veterinarian for treatment. You'll pay the vet, submit a claim and later get reimbursed from your provider. 

How much your pet insurance provider will reimburse you depends on your chosen reimbursement rate. In general, the higher your reimbursement level, the higher your monthly premium will be. 

Do All Veterinarians Accept Pet Insurance?

Yes, you can go to any veterinarian when you have pet insurance. Typically, you will pay your full vet bill upfront and file a claim to your insurance company for reimbursement. Once your pet insurance provider approves your claim, you will be reimbursed for your vet visit. The percentage of total expenses your provider will cover depends on your plan options. 

If you want to avoid filing a claim and waiting for reimbursement, some providers like Trupanion and Pets Best partner with vets to automatically process your reimbursement, so you don't have to pay the whole bill upfront. This sometimes limits which vets you can go to, as it requires that the clinic be partnered with the insurance provider.

What Does Pet Insurance Cover?

Every pet insurance provider offers slightly different plans. However, the most common accident and illness policies cover the following: 

Accidents and injuries (broken bones, toxic ingestions, bite wounds, etc.)

Diagnostic testing (MRIs, X-rays, CAT scans, bloodwork, etc.)

Major and minor illnesses (cancer, epilepsy, allergies, ear infections, etc.) 

Prescription medication 

Surgical procedures

Most pet insurance providers also offer an optional wellness add-on covering preventative care costs like checkups, behavioral therapy, vaccinations, spaying/neutering, exam fees, microchipping and more. 

What Is Not Covered by Pet Insurance?

What is not covered by pet insurance also varies slightly by provider. However, most providers have the following exclusions: 

Preexisting conditions, including any illness or health issue your pet had before enrollment in coverage

Illnesses or injuries that came about during your plan's waiting period 

Preventative care (unless explicitly covered or you enroll in a wellness add-on plan)

Cosmetic procedures 

Elective procedures

Pregnancy/breeding

Grooming 

Some pet insurance companies, like Embrace, will cover a curable preexisting condition after a specific waiting period as long as the symptoms are not recurring.

What's the Best Pet Insurance for Your Budget?

Multiple pet insurance providers operate nationwide, and you can find the best plan for your pet and your budget by researching several different companies. Compare the coverage options and services offered by each insurer, keeping in mind that the cheapest plan may not be the best plan if it does not provide the coverage your pet needs.

We recommend Lemonade, Spot and Fetch Pet Insurance as top providers that offer affordable yet comprehensive accident and injury plans. Many providers offer wellness add-ons to cover routine preventive care, such as wellness visits, vaccines, parasite prevention, and spay or neuter surgery.

Lemonade is our overall top choice for affordable pet insurance because it offers lower-than-average monthly premiums with customizable options that allow you to build a plan that works best for your budget. Lemonade also offers a 10% discount if you bundle pet insurance with a homeowners or renters policy, which can lower your premium even more.

Cheap Pet Insurance Plans Cost

The cheapest pet insurance company is ManyPets, with an average policy cost of $23.06 per month, but Lemonade comes in at a close second at $23.18 per month. On the higher end, Trupanion Pet Insurance has an average cost of $88.13 per month.

The table below ranks the top 5 most affordable pet insurance companies, based on our analysis:

Rank Company Average Pet Insurance Cost #1 ManyPets $23 #2 Lemonade $23 #3 ASPCA $31 #4 AKC $38 #5 Healthy Paws $39 Is Pet Insurance Worth It?

Many pet parents feel that pet insurance is worth it, but it may not be the right choice for everyone. Becky Simmonds, professional dog trainer and behaviorist at Breed Advisor, suggested that pet insurance may be a good option if:

You're uncertain you'd be able to pay for unexpected vet costs

Having insurance would give you peace of mind

You have a dog or cat breed prone to certain genetic health problems like hip dysplasia or cancer

Everyone's circumstances are different, so weigh the costs and benefits of enrolling in a pet insurance plan for yourself. If you own a high-risk dog breed or live in an area where veterinarian health care is expensive, pet insurance may be a great option.

Vet Visit Costs

According to our analysis, the average cost of an emergency vet visit is anywhere from $374 to $1,285. However, surgeries and hospitalizations will cost much more.

Average Vet Visit Cost by State State Average Vet Visit Cost Alabama $61.26 Alaska $80.06 Arizona $79.28 Arkansas $68.06 California $71.45 Colorado $77.72 Connecticut $93.44 Delaware $76.41 Florida $60.41 Georgia $67.10 Hawaii $69.28 Idaho $67.72 Illinois $70.89 Indiana $74.39 Iowa $60.74 Kansas $56.09 Kentucky $61.30 Louisiana $63.33 Maine $81.08 Maryland $80.65 Massachusetts $85.06 Michigan $52.78 Minnesota $76.94 Mississippi $70.55 Missouri $65.94 Montana $55.72 Nebraska $55.00 Nevada $65.44 New Hampshire $75.32 New Jersey $87.11 New Mexico $66.79 New York $84.72 North Carolina $66.67 North Dakota $62.97 Ohio $58.43 Oklahoma $53.44 Oregon $65.94 Pennsylvania $65.91 Rhode Island $79.17 South Carolina $73.00 South Dakota $60.58 Tennessee $64.56 Texas $66.81 Utah $70.11 Vermont $73.54 Virginia $69.67 Washington $79.74 West Virginia $64.28 Wisconsin $71.11 Wyoming $61.42 Source: CareCredit Average Costs of Pet Medical Treatments

The out-of-pocket cost for pet medical care can rack up quickly: Serious procedures or treatments like ACL surgery, chemotherapy and foreign object removal can cost thousands of dollars. But even treatments for common ailments like diarrhea or ear infections can cost hundreds. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Insurance Cost Which pet insurance provider is the cheapest?

According to our comparison of the top 10 pet insurance providers, we found that, on average, ManyPets and Pets Best offer the cheapest plans for cats and dogs.

What are the pros and cons of pet insurance?

Pet insurance gives pet owners peace of mind and financial security, knowing they won't have to pay a very high vet bill when their pet has an unexpected injury or illness. However, pet insurance can be expensive depending on your chosen plan and provider. Additionally, if your insurance provider does not pay your vet directly, you'll still have to pay the full vet bill and wait for a reimbursement.

 

Does pet insurance cover routine care?

Most cat and dog insurance plans only cover the cost of accidents. Illnesses and hospitalization, not routine care. However, most insurance providers offer an optional wellness plan that extends coverage to include preventative and routine care like checkups and vaccinations.

Which pet insurance provider is the cheapest?

According to our review of the top 10 pet insurance providers, we found that, on average, Lemonade and Embrace offer the cheapest plans for cats and dogs.

How We Gathered Cost Data

Our team reviewed pet insurance companies in-depth to provide the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information available. While pet insurance pricing will vary based on your pet's personal details, we took the following steps when collecting data to get a full scope of industry pricing.

Overall cost averages: We pulled individual quotes from each of our recommended pet insurance providers for every state, using individual pet age, breed and other data points as indicated. After pulling hundreds of quotes encompassing the entire U.S., we removed major outliers to create an inclusive and representative average.

Cost data by provider: To determine cost data for each provider, we pulled sample quotes with similar criteria for a fair comparison between companies. We also pulled quotes using the same pet data from multiple states and then averaged all costs together for four breeds.

Cost data by breed: We evaluated cost data for 30 dog and cat breeds. To gather this information, we averaged quotes for each breed from five providers via PetInsurer.

Cost data by age: We looked at pet insurance quotes for younger cats and dogs, adult pets and senior pets to compare cost changes as a pet ages. We collected breed- and provider-specific data for each age range and repeated our method of pulling individual price data from each state to get a comprehensive average.

We manually collected all cost information from each company's respective website. Learn more about our review standards.

Methodology: Our System for Rating Pet Insurance Companies

We review each pet insurance company based on factors most important to pet parents like you. To inform our reviews, we surveyed 1,000 dog and cat owners nationwide to determine the most important elements of pet insurance coverage. Our process includes in-depth industry research about each provider, such as comparing coverage options, gathering quotes online to determine pricing and reading reviews to assess customer service. 

We then score each provider on a 100-point scale and divide the final score by 20 to calculate an overall rating out of 5.0 stars. Here are more details about the factors we consider when reviewing pet insurance providers:

Monthly pricing (25%): To assess pricing, we collect sample quotes for ten medium-mixed breed and purebred dogs and cats, ranging from 3 months old to 8 years old. Our team collected a total of 17,338 quotes directly from 22 provider's websites, collecting at least two quotes for all 50 state from every provider for each pet profile. Providers earn the most points in this category for offering affordable coverage and a multi-pet discount. 

Plans (15%): The best pet insurance companies offer a range of plans to give customers the option to choose the coverage that is best for their pet. Companies offering accident and illness plans, accident-only plans, and wellness or preventive care add-ons earn full points in this category. We also look at coverage limits and award the most points for policies with unlimited coverage. 

Covered treatments (15%): According to our survey of pet owners, coverage is one of the most important factors when shopping for pet insurance. Companies with a breadth of included treatments and unique coverages receive more points in this category than providers with more standard or general policies.

Customization options (10%): Customizing your pet insurance policy can help lower your cost. Providers that offer more annual limit, deductible and reimbursement rate options earn the highest scores in this category.

Customer care (10%): Respondents to our survey also valued customer service when comparing pet insurance providers. We score each company based on its website accessibility and overall usability, customer service availability, mobile apps, money-back guarantees and veterinarian telehealth options, awarding points to insurers with more customer experience offerings.

Industry reputation (10%): We review up-to-date ratings and accreditation information from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and score companies based on years of industry experience and state availability.

Waiting periods (10%): Companies with shorter accident, illness and orthopedic waiting periods between the time you sign up for coverage and your policy starts score higher in this category.

Eligible age (5%): Some companies do not offer policies for pets over a certain age. For this category, we deduct points from providers that have age limits for covered pets.

We use our rating system to compare each company we review and determine the best pet insurance companies in the industry. To learn more, read our full pet insurance methodology for reviewing and scoring providers. 

Fostering Dogs So Humans Can Get Addiction Treatment

When Laura Helvey met Catherine Gabbard in the summer of 2023, she was sitting on the ground next to her dog, Bossy, crying.

Gabbard was about to disregard her orders from a Kentucky court to go to addiction treatment for one simple reason: She couldn't leave Bossy behind. Gabbard was packed and ready to run into the woods with Bossy, just so she could stay by her side.

Bossy, a pit bull-hound mix, was also pregnant and the only source of constant affection and support Gabbard had had for the past couple of years.

"She helps me if I am sad," Gabbard said in a recent interview. "She feels what I am feeling. When I was getting high, she was feeling the trauma from all of that, too."

Helvey, a stranger to Bossy and Gabbard, sat and consoled the pair and ended up bonding with the dog. Helvey made the decision to foster Bossy so Gabbard would feel at ease and get treatment.

A few days later, she was fostering seven dogs — Bossy and her six newborn puppies. They were dubbed "the recovery pups" and named after recovery facilities in Kentucky: Hope, Isaiah, Ethan, Spero and Arc. One puppy, Spark, did not survive.

Helvey, who lost her son Daniel to an opioid overdose in 2019, operates SPARK Ministries of Madison County, south of Lexington. The nonprofit community center points families and people with substance use disorder toward rehabilitation programs, detox programs, support groups, churches, job opportunities and more.

At its core, Helvey's office helps remove barriers for people seeking recovery.

SEEING A PATTERN

It wasn't until another woman came to the small SPARK office building on Main Street with her dog every day, resisting treatment because her dog had no place to go, that Helvey recognized another barrier.

The group, "Fostering for Recovery," quickly was created, and calls were coming in weekly from people asking for Helvey and Kristall Morris to take in their dogs so they could go to treatment.

"When we started advertising it, it really took off," Helvey said. "We get several calls a week."

In another instance, Helvey and Morris met a man who was about to be released from prison after 18 years. While in prison, he was partnered with a shelter dog to train the animal and to gain work experience and emotional support.

The man was accepted into a trade school with the stipulation he complete an inpatient treatment program prior to his release. While going through treatment, he needed someone to watch his dog until they could reunite.

A foster took in the dog, which was later reunited with the man who successfully completed his program.

FINDING FOSTER FAMILIES 

"We have had to turn people down because we don't have fosters. That is our biggest need," Helvey said. "It is really sad."

When the dogs are taken in, they go to the vet for spay and neuter operations, to establish responsible pet ownership once the pets are returned to their owners. Both fosters and clients sign contracts about their participation and expectations for being a part of the program.

With a lack of fosters, Helvey is no stranger to keeping the dogs herself. She currently houses three, in addition to her two personal Rottweilers. Helvey has had as many as 10 dogs in her home at once.

"It is a really big need," she said. "The rescue community is just overwhelmed."

GETTING BOSSY BACK

Gabbard, who was the first recovering addict Helvey helped through pet fostering, wasn't allowed to visit with Bossy at first while in the program, but Helvey sent her pictures that Gabbard printed out and placed in her binder and on the walls in her room. When the two were reunited, Gabbard said, "Bossy knew I was better."

Said Helvey, "Through all her struggles, that dog was with her....When she lost her family, when she lost relationships, when she lost her home. The dog was with her. Bossy loved her unconditionally, no matter if they were living in a park or in a tent."

Gabbard successfully completed her treatment program, and she has been reunited with her family and Bossy. She is one of nine people the program has helped get into recovery by fostering their pets.

While she was in treatment, Gabbard said she heard stories from other women at the facilities who had not been as fortunate as she and had lost their pets.

"No words can explain the gratitude I have," Gabbard said. "It was a blessing what she did, and a lot of people wouldn't do that, especially with the stuff she already does."

Gabbard hopes that others will hear her story and that it will inspire them to foster pets so their owners can get help.

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