Resource Center
Learn about our assistance programs (like FoodShare, Pet Safety Net, and the ARF Emergency Medical Fund®), plus additional resources in your area (pet food, vaccinations, veterinary assistance, and beyond). Our volunteers can offer help with pet-related issues including keeping or rehoming a pet, lost and found animals, low-cost services, and more.
Contact the resource center online or (925) 256-1273 ext. 450. Please allow up to five business days for a response.
Rehoming Your Pet
Our rescue efforts focus on animals at risk in public shelters. Finding a home for your pet directly keeps pets safe and out of overcrowded shelters. Our team provides free adoption listings and tips for finding your pet a new home.
Pet Care and Behavior Library
We want to help you keep your pet happy and healthy. Our virtual library consists of articles and factsheets addressing common behavior challenges, pet care, resources for recent adopters, and more.
Assistance Programs for Contra Costa County Residents
We believe the best home for a pet is the one they are already in, with familiar surroundings and a family who loves them. No one should have to choose between self-care and pet care, but sometimes the cost of care seems insurmountable. We offer several assistance programs to help.
Assistance With Keeping Your Pet
ARF Pet Safety Net
This program provides critical resources to prevent pets from being surrendered to shelters. If you are a Contra Costa County resident who, without intervention, would be forced to surrender your pet(s) due to financial crisis or personal crisis, we want to assist.
Assistance may be available for services such as:
- Spay/neuter
- Vaccinations and microchips
- Veterinary treatment with good prognosis
- Pet rental deposit
- Temporary boarding
- Pet supplies, pet food, and cat litter
- Behavior and training, including classes and private consultations
- Medical grooming
- Yard or fence repairs
- Humane euthanasia
- and more
At this time, the program cannot assist with the treatment of medical conditions with a poor prognosis (except for humane euthanasia), immediate veterinary care, continuing care for chronic conditions, some housing issues (i.e.: non-negotiable “no pets allowed” policies, unless an emotional support animal or service dog), personal or household dynamics, long-term boarding, or long-term assistance with daily pet care.
To qualify:
- Proof of Contra Costa County, California residency is required (CA state-issued ID, utility bill, etc).
- If you would, without intervention, be forced to surrender your pet(s) to an animal shelter due to a financial or personal crisis.
Note: Contra Costa Animal Services has awarded funding to a number of nonprofits in the Bay Area who might be able to assist with resources to allow you to keep your pet, provide veterinary care for your pet, and/or provide sterilization services for your pet. Resources available are similar to those provided by the ARF Pet Safety Net. For more information, please call (925) 608-8400. With the exception of Antioch, we have not received any government funding to award these services.
Veterinary Assistance
ARF Emergency Medical Fund® (EMF)
Update: The ARF Emergency Medical Fund®️ is currently paused until early 2023 due to the current waitlist of applicants. Please check back for program updates.
If you are a Contra Costa County resident facing serious financial crises, our EMF program may be able to provide affordable, non-urgent veterinary care for your pet at our clinic in Walnut Creek, California. Since 1995, EMF has been a lifeline for thousands of dogs and cats.
To qualify:
- You and your pet(s) must reside in Contra Costa County, California.
- Household income must be at or below the U.S. Department of Housing and Development’s (HUD) definition of very low income limits.
- We require proof of household income and residency.
- Proof you are the regular caretaker of the animal is also required.
- Pet must be spayed or neutered. If pet is not spayed or neutered, we offer discounted spay/neuter services if you qualify.
EMF treatment cannot be used for routine, exploratory, elective, preventative, or specialty veterinary care. The term “emergency” in EMF refers to the financial crisis of an owner unable to access affordable veterinary care.
Learn more about the ARF Emergency Medical Fund®.
Additional resources for low-cost veterinary care:
- Our low-cost spay and neuter clinic and additional low-cost spay and neuter resources.
- Guide to financial assistance programs for veterinary care.
- Our Pets and Vets program offers free vaccinations and veterinary wellness clinics for Veterans’ pets.
- Bay Area vaccine and wellness clinics.
- Low-cost end-of-life services.
Pet Food Assistance
FoodShare
Through FoodShare, ARF supplies pet food and cat litter to qualifying low-income pet guardians in Contra Costa County. By providing food to those who cannot afford it — especially during times of high foreclosure and unemployment — Purina and individual donors are helping keep pets with their families where they belong, and out of overcrowded public shelters.
Here are a handful of additional resources for pet food assistance. The requirements for assistance vary, so please review the requirements for each individually. These businesses/programs were aggregated as a courtesy and are neither endorsed, nor guaranteed, by the Animal Rescue Foundation.
FoodShare volunteers are the quiet ambassadors of ARF, providing food, a smile, and a human connection to clients — many of whom are elderly, disabled, and struggling to make ends meet. In addition to hundreds of local families, we offer limited FoodShare services to qualifying guardians of community cats.
To qualify:
- You and your pet(s) must reside in Contra Costa County, California.
- Household income at or below the U.S. Department of Housing and Development’s (HUD) definition of very low income limits.
- Guardian must provide proof of household income and residency with photo identification.
- All pets in household must be spayed or neutered (certificate required).
Thank you to our FoodShare sponsor, Purina, who donates thousands of pounds of pet food and cat litter every year.
Qualifications for Assistance Programs
Pet Safety Net
- Proof of Contra Costa County, California residency is required (CA state-issued ID, utility bill, etc).
- If you would, without intervention, be forced to surrender your pet(s) to an animal shelter due to a financial or personal crisis.
ARF Emergency Medical Fund®
- Proof of Contra Costa County, California residency is required (CA state-issued ID, utility bill, etc).
- Household income at or below the U.S. Department of Housing and Development’s (HUD) definition of very low income limits (see chart below).
- Pet must be spayed or neutered. If pet is not spayed or neutered, we offer discounted spay/neuter services if you qualify.
- Proof you are the regular caretaker of the animal is also required.
FoodShare
- Proof of Contra Costa County, California residency is required (CA state-issued ID, utility bill, etc).
- Household income at or below the U.S. Department of Housing and Development’s (HUD) definition of very low income limits (see chart below).
- All pets in household must be spayed or neutered (certificate required).
HUD Income Guidelines for Contra Costa County, California
| Income Limit Category | 1 Person | 2 Persons | 3 Persons | 4 Persons | 5 Persons | 6 Persons | 7 Persons | 8 Persons |
| Very Low Income | $51,800 | $59,200 | $66,600 | $73,950 | $79,900 | $85,800 | $91,700 | $97,650 |
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Qualifications for Assistance Programs
We are not able to assist with emergencies. If an animal is having a medical emergency, please call or go to your nearest emergency veterinary hospital for immediate assistance.
Client Privacy Statement
We honor client privacy. We do not sell or give personal data to third parties for commercial purposes.
Animal Welfare Concerns
As a private 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, we do not have jurisdiction to investigate or prosecute cases of animal abuse or neglect. To report animal welfare concerns or another animal emergency, please contact your local animal services department.
For most of Contra Costa County, please contact Contra Costa County Animal Services at (925) 608-8400. For Antioch, California residents, please contact Antioch Animal Services at (925) 779-6989.
