BirchBark protects and honors the human-animal bond by financially aiding low-income pet guardians who cannot afford emergency vet care, and by supporting all families with education and pet loss counseling programs.
Every day, families across Monterey County face impossible decisions: save their pet’s life or pay rent. BirchBark exists to eliminate that choice. We provide emergency veterinary funding for low-income pet owners when life hangs in the balance. But that's not all. We offer grief support to those facing the loss of a pet and education to help people become effective advocates pet advocates.
In the last 12 years, we’ve saved more than 1300 pets, kept families whole, and built a community of compassion. With veterinary partners generously discounting their services and clients contributing what they can, your gift goes further; every $1 becomes $2 in care. This MC Gives!, we need your help to raise $50,000 ... enough to fund over 60 emergency cases. You can be the reason a child keeps their best friend or a senior doesn’t face loss alone. Give today. Save a pet. Save a family.
BirchBark serves pet families in Monterey County. Our PetAid Financial Assistance program specifically benefits families within Monterey County who have a household income of up to 300% the Federal Poverty Level. In cooperation with our veterinary partners, we reduce the cost of fixable medical emergencies, so that low income pet families are responsible for only 25% of the cost of veterinary intervention. Our Pet Loss Grief Support and educational programs are open to all members of our community. These programs are run online and at no cost in order to reduce geographic and financial barriers to participation. Our services are offered in Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties, and to date in 2025, 29% of approved applicants for financial support for veterinary costs have been Monterey County residents.
Thank you so much for helping with the cost for Apollo. I appreciate this from the bottom of my heart. Apollo has been family to us for the short amount of time that we have had him. He has helped my family become closer and helped us heal through the loss of my sister who was battling kidney cancer. He also has bonded very strongly with my autistic son. When my son has an episode, Apollo rushes over and is right there next to him. They take naps together and Apollo sits and watches my son play with his toys. I am forever thankful for the help that was given by this organization and I pray one day I am able to pay this forward.
- Felicia T, Salinas
