Economic barriers to veterinary care cause preventable suffering in animals whose owners cannot afford treatment, making access to affordable care a welfare justice issue.
The relationship between economic inequality and animal welfare is direct and significant. Animals owned by people with limited financial resources are not less loved, but their access to veterinary care when needed is constrained in ways that cause preventable suffering. A dog with a treatable orthopedic injury who cannot access surgical care may live months or years in chronic pain. A cat with a manageable chronic disease who cannot afford medication deteriorates when intervention would have extended comfortable life. The welfare system that exists to protect animals is inaccessible to millions of animals through economic barriers. Low-cost veterinary programs, welfare organizations that provide emergency veterinary assistance, and payment plan options from veterinary practices all expand access and reduce suffering at the intersection of economic and animal welfare.