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P.A.L.S. helps people with
critical illness or disabilities keep their existing pets,
despite medical or financial changes brought on by illness.
Animals eligible to receive services must be adult animals
and live in the home at least one year prior to enrollment.
Puppies, kittens or pets that have been in the home less
than one year prior to enrollment are not eligible for
services. Once a person becomes a client of P.A.L.S.,
he/she cannot acquire additional pets (unless the initial
pet dies). If you do acquire an additional pet, that pet
will not be covered by P.A.L.S., and may jeopardize your
status as a client. Once a client no longer has possession
of the animal he/she registered with P.A.L.S. at orientation,
that person will no longer be considered a P.A.L.S. client.
If new animals are acquired, that person must request
to be put on the waiting list for consideration as a client.
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| Atlanta Humane Society veterinarian Dr.
Gloria Dorsey examines Abby, with the
help of vet techMatt
Layland |
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AHS Office Manager Julie
Brandt and receptionist
Heather Bowles are very helpful to our PALS clients. |
Eligibility Guidelines:
Number of Animals allowed in Household -
P.A.L.S. will provide services for up to two animals per
client.
Critical/Disability Status -
An AIDS/symptomatic HIV status, referrals from Center
for the Visually Impaired, or a critical illness/disability
as defined by P.A.L.S. Client Services, must be verified
on paper by your physician.
Income -
Income must be less than $18,000 per year, and proof of
total annual income, including any disability award must
be provided prior to enrollment. P.A.L.S. anticipates
that most clients will be medically unable to work full
time, but also recognizes that some clients able to work
full-time may still fall below this income level. If a
client cares for dependents in the household, adjustment
of the income level will be considered on a case by case
basis. Pets are not considered dependents.
Annual Certification -
An annual certification will take place to ensure that
all clients are still eligible to receive services.
Expenses -
P.A.L.S. does not cover the entire expense of owning and
caring for a pet. The program does not cover prescription
medications, emergencies, x-rays, and examinations other
than annual exams. Some clinics have agreed to partner
with the P.A.L.S. program by providing a discount for
services. The Atlanta Humane Society offers P.A.L.S. clients
a 50% discount on veterinary services. In order to obtain
this discount, a client must present his/her P.A.L.S.
card. P.A.L.S. Cards will be issued annually, upon recertification.
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P.A.L.S. provides assistance for:
Pet Food -
P.A.L.S. provides free pet food. We will provide pet food
for pet(s) on record for each client only. All pet foods
are purchased and the brands used are Pedigree (dry and
canned) for dogs, and Whiskas (dry and canned) for cats.
Please alert P.A.L.S. to the special dietary needs (quantity
and quality) of the pet. If animals require prescription
diets, we will attempt to make these foods available,
provided we have a veterinarian-approved letter on file.
If you have transportation, P.A.L.S. would like you to
come by the warehouse on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
between the hours of 10a.m. - 2p.m. or, the second Saturday
of each month between the hours of 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. to
pick up needed food items. Please remember to call first,
404-876-7257, to make sure someone is available to assist
you. If you are housebound, depending on your location
and the availability of volunteers, food delivery will
be provided on the second Saturday of the month (only),
between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We request you
be at home to receive the food delivery. P.A.L.S. currently
has delivery routes in the greater Metro Atlanta area.
Veterinary Care -
P.A.L.S. covers the costs of annual immunizations, vaccinations,
heartworm preventative and flea control.
The following is a list of the maximum amounts covered
by P.A.L.S. for shots and services. If services are provided
by the Atlanta Humane Society Clinic, the costs will be
covered through the 50% discount and P.A.L.S. coverage.
If services are provided by another participating clinic,
the client will be responsible for any expense not specifically
covered or the designated benefit amount covered by P.A.L.S.
| Adult
Dog |
|
| DHLPPC |
$12.50 |
| Rabies |
$ 5.00 |
| Bordetella |
$ 5.00 |
| Heartworm Test |
$12.50 |
Heartworm Preventative
(One year supply)
|
$40.00 |
| Fecal Test |
$5.00 |
|
| Adult Cat |
|
| FVRCP |
$10.00 |
| Rabies |
$ 5.00 |
| FELV/FIV test |
$18.00 |
| Leukemia |
$10.00 |
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In
order for P.A.L.S. to cover the veterinarian costs,
the client must notify P.A.L.S. 7-14 days prior to
the appointment. If a 7-14 day notice is not provided,
the client is responsible for the total bill.
P.A.L.S. does not cover annual examination fees. Please
consider taking the pet to the Atlanta Humane Society
to avoid the annual exam fee.
P.A.L.S. covers heartworm preventative, but does not
cover heartworm treatment.
P.A.L.S. will cover up to $16.00 per quarter ($64.00
per year) in a flea control program.
If the pet's heartworm preventative is discontinued,
a test will be required for renewal of the preventative.
The client is responsible for the cost of this test.
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Foster care -
Foster care is provided for the pet that is registered
with P.A.L.S. It is only provided for the owner who
must go into a hospital or a hospice. Foster care is
not for vacation or holiday use or simple convenience.
Foster care consists of a volunteer taking your pet
into his/her home or, at your request, a volunteer coming
to the client's home to walk and feed the pet on a daily
basis. Foster care is for a maximum of 30 days.
Adoption program -
In the event that a client is medically incapacitated,
no longer able to care for a pet, or it is in the best
interest of the pet to be placed in another home, P.A.L.S.
will work with the client to adopt the pet(s). P.A.L.S.
can not guarantee placement. Once the pet is placed
in a permanent home, the person ceases to be a P.A.L.S.
client.
If a pet dies, please contact the P.A.L.S. office immediately.
Information on grief counseling is available. If the
client wishes to replace the pet and wants to receive
services from P.A.L.S., an animal from the P.A.L.S.
adoption program will be placed in the home. If there
are no pets in the adoption program, P.A.L.S. will work
with you and the Atlanta Humane Society to adopt a new
pet. If a client does not adopt a pet through P.A.L.S.
and/or the AHS, the client will not be able to receive
services from P.A.L.S.
Special Note:
Although we are concerned about the health and well
being of both human and animal clients, if a human client
passes away, the client's pet(s) do not automatically
remain P.A.L.S. clients. Animals may still receive benefits
if their new guardian is eligible to become a client.
The new caretaker can and will bypass whatever waiting
list exists in order to immediately become a client.
However, the new guardian must go through an official
orientation process and will not receive services without
proof of eligibility.
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Transportation -
If you can not make it to your scheduled veterinary
clinic appointment, transportation to and from the veterinary
clinic appointment may be provided. At least a one-week
notice is required in order to schedule a volunteer
to provide transportation. Transportation is limited
to veterinarian appointments and may not be used for
grooming appointments.
Spaying & neutering -
A pet must be spayed or neutered to receive services.
P.A.L.S. will cover the total cost of the spaying or
neutering, if the animal is taken to the Atlanta Humane
Society. If you choose to go to another veterinarian,
P.A.L.S. will cover the cost up to the amount charged
by the Atlanta Humane Society. If the animal is too
old or there are health factors involved that prevents
spaying/neutering; the client may still be eligible
to receive services, providing a letter from the pet's
most recent veterinarian is submitted.
Health and educational information -
P.A.L.S. provides health and educational information
for care of the pet, including "safe pet"
guidelines to pet owners. Additionally, you will be
notified should P.A.L.S. hold pet care educational seminars.
Responsibilities -
Clients are responsible for notifying P.A.L.S. in writing
of any changes in phone number, address, animal(s) status,
or income within 10 days of the change.
Loss of Status -
P.A.L.S. clients will lose their status under these
conditions:
- The client no longer has possession of
the registered pet(s).
- The client moves out of
the P.A.L.S. service area.
- The client is abusive
or negligent toward their animals. **
- The client
is abusive to P.A.L.S. staff, volunteers, or Board
of Directors. **
- The client has falsified intake
records to gain services
- The client refuses to abide
by the guidelines that appear in this HMO packet.
**The client will receive a verbal caution if his/her
behavior is considered abusive. A letter explaining
the policies and inviting the client to meet with
our Executive Director to discuss the situation
will follow this caution. If a second abusive incident
occurs, the client will receive a letter explaining
that he/she will no longer be considered a client. P.A.L.S. is a volunteer-based organization. P.A.L.S.
currently does not receive any federal or state funding.
P.A.L.S. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization and relies
on donations from area businesses and private donations.
P.A.L.S. has the right to amend this agreement without
further notice. |
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