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Spanish Government Offers Free or Low-Cost Vet Care: Here’s Who Qualifies
Spanish Government Offers Free or Low-Cost Vet Care The International Reporter

Spanish Government Offers Free or Low-Cost Vet Care: Here’s Who Qualifies

The Spanish government has launched a new program to help struggling families care for their pets. Called Mejores Amigos (Best Friends), the program will provide free or heavily discounted veterinary services to those who can’t afford them. The program is led by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and the 2030 Agenda, in partnership with the Foundation for Advice and Action in Defense of Animals (FAADA).

For many families, pets are part of the family. But unlike human healthcare, there’s no public system like Social Security to cover their medical costs. This leaves low-income households facing tough choices when it comes to essential care like vaccinations, sterilization, deworming, or even end-of-life services. The Mejores Amigos program aims to change that.


Who’s Eligible?

The program is designed to help specific groups of people, including:

  • Homeless people with pets
  • Victims of domestic violence with pets (who aren’t already covered by the Viopet program)
  • People living in poor housing conditions with pets
  • Elderly people on minimum pensions who live with an animal
  • Those facing financial hardship, even if they have a home
  • People with mental or physical health challenges

This isn’t the first effort of its kind. In Cataluña, FAADA has already provided €154,500 in free veterinary care through similar programs.

Helping Families Keep Their Pets Healthy

Rosa Martínez, Secretary of State for Social Rights, highlighted how society’s view of pets is evolving. ‘Spanish society is changing. We’re starting to see pets as part of the family, especially for those in vulnerable situations like homelessness or loneliness. This program reflects that shift,’ she said.

The program also includes training for social workers to better understand the role pets play in vulnerable households. Additionally, the government is working on creating public pet cemeteries, like the one recently opened in Málaga, to further support pet owners.

How to Apply

Details on how to apply for the Mejores Amigos program will be available on the official website, mejoresamigos.org, within the next two weeks. The government hopes this initiative will not only improve animal welfare but also provide much-needed support for families who rely on their pets for companionship and emotional comfort.

This program is a big step forward in recognizing the bond between people and their pets, making sure that financial struggles don’t stand in the way of responsible pet ownership.

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3 comments

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Gerry

That’s a great scheme for the pets and people alike… 👏 👏 👏

comments user
Bea

Ah that’s lovely

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