Humane Animal Rescue’s Pet Helpline is committed to helping pet owners with all of their pet needs!
Our goal is to help keep pets in the home and families together through free compassionate counseling. Whether you need assistance managing your pet’s behavioral needs or information on low cost veterinary care, spay/neuter services, Ellie’s pet food pantry, pet friendly housing, or other pet services, call our Pet Helpline at 412-345-0348 or email us at pethelpline@HumaneAnimalRescue.org. We are happy to help provide the care they need, while you give them the love they deserve.
The Helpline is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9: a.m. until 5 p.m. Currently our call volume is very high, we ask that you are patient with us while we manage your requests. Thank you for understanding.
Please note: our Helpline staff are not medical professionals and cannot give medical advice or diagnose medical conditions. We are able to refer you to veterinarians.
Due to a high volume of clients, we are unable to reliably schedule non-priority appointments less than a week out.
We are also only able to accept surrenders from inside Allegheny County.
Before Surrendering Your Pet
Humane Animal Rescue is dedicated to keeping pets out of shelters and helping them to remain in homes with the families who love them. Before you make the final decision, please check out some of our resources that may allow you to keep your pet or provide alternative rehoming options.
Coming into the shelter setting can be very stressful on your pet. There may be alternative rehoming options for you to consider to help find them a new home while reducing stress if you are no longer able to keep your pet.
Online Rehoming Tools:
Rescue groups generally are organizations that focus on caring for and helping families. They often re-home a specific species, breed or special needs pet and are available for almost any type of animal. These groups are organized by people who have extensive knowledge of a specific species, breed or condition, and provide a variety of opportunities for your pet. This may include the possibility of your pet staying in foster care until a home willing to adopt him/her becomes available.
Rescue Placement Links:
Check out our tips on learning and growing with your pet on our Behavior Tips page.
Pet Friendly Rental Searches in Pittsburgh:
Non-Breed Discriminatory Insurance:
- State Farm
- Auto-Owners Insurance
- USAA
- Farmers Insurance
- Canine Liability Insurance
- Canine Liability
Low Cost Vaccinations:
- Humane Animal Rescue Vaccine Clinics – Vaccines at a reduced rate on select dates
- Humane Animal Rescue Walk-in Vaccines – Vaccines without an appointment on select dates/times.
Payment Assistance:
- Care Credit – Credit Card specifically for medical/veterinary expenses.
Disease Specific Organizations:
- Big Hearts Fund, for heart disease
- Canine Cancer Awareness, cancer treatment for dogs
- Diabetic Cats in Need, for shelters, rescues, low-income owners
- Dog and Cat Cancer Fund, cancer treatment
- FETCH a Cure, for pets with cancer
- Joshua Lewis Cancer Foundation, pets with cancer
- Magic Bullet Fund, dogs with cancer
- PieFund, focuses on cancer
- Riedel Cody Fund, cancer treatment
Regional Organizations in the Pittsburgh Area:
- Care & Assistance Fund– assistance with treatable, yet life-threatening diseases that require emergency care at Pittsburgh Veterinary Specialty Emergency Center
- Ferdinand’s Fund – resources for the owners of senior pets
National Organizations:
- Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, provides grants to assist with medical treatment
- Brown Dog Foundation, for sick pets that would likely respond to treatment
- Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance for cats with life-threatening illness or injury
- Frankie’s Friends, for emergency and specialty care
- Handicapped Pets Foundation, provides equipment
- International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, for assistance dogs
- Mosby Foundation, critically sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs
- National Equine Resource Network, life-saving surgeries or treatments
- Onyx and Breezy Foundation, medical treatment for hardship
- Paws 4 a Cure, illnesses and injuries
- Pet Assistance, emergency and urgent care
- Pet Fund, medical costs beyond normal expenses
- RedRover/United Animal Nations, grants between $100 and $200 to fill small funding gaps
- Roses Fund, assistance with medical bills
- Shakespeare Animal Fund, for those meeting federal poverty guidelines
Please Note: Each organization listed above is independently operated and not affiliated with Humane Animal Rescue unless otherwise noted. Humane Animal Rescue is unable to act as a clearinghouse for such organizations and has no authority over their respective policies or procedures.
- Ellie’s Pet Pantry
- Ellie’s Pet Pantry supplies members of our local community with food for hungry pets, assisting families that have fallen on hard times and are struggling to keep their families intact.
- Hungry Hippo’s Pet Food Pantry
- Vet’s Kitchen – Beaver County Humane Society
- Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank
- JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry
- North Side Food Bank
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