Veterinary Care Assistance

Diesel Memorial Fund

The Diesel Memorial Fund, through its Chronic Care Aid program, provides vital support for pets with chronic health conditions that require specialty care and offers relief to the families who support them—emotionally, financially, and practically.

It was created in honor of Diesel, a resilient Pitbull mix adopted by our founder, Kaajal Tiwary, at just five days old. Through years of managing Diesel’s complex medical needs, Kaajal came to deeply understand the toll that serious pet health issues can take on a family. His remarkable journey remains the heart of our mission.

    Chronic Care Aid Program

No one should have to choose between their pet’s life and their family’s finances. The Chronic Care Aid Program provides up to $5,000 per year for up to 3 years to help with chronic illness or cancer treatment, so you can spend more time loving your pet and less time worrying about the cost.

To qualify you must:

  • Show financial need
  • Cover 25% of the total vet costs
  • Provide veterinary referral of need for treatment

We can help pay for:

  • Lab work (after the first round of tests)
  • Ongoing treatments and medications
  • Palliative care and quality-of-life support

A brown and white dog is being examined by a veterinarian.

Program Schedule:

This program has not yet launched.
Click the button below to be added to the waitlist.

Program Requirements

To qualify for assistance, you must:

  • Live in Santa Clara County, California and provide proof of residency
  • Be 18 or older and the primary caregiver for a dog or cat with a diagnosed chronic, non-surgical condition requiring specialty care
  • Have a pet with a positive prognosis and a treatment plan focused on ongoing care rather than emergency or one-time procedures
  • Have a household income within the federal poverty guidelines (see income table below) and provide documentation of financial need (such as tax returns or government assistance verification)
  • Have applied for CareCredit or ScratchPay and either been denied or approved for an amount that does not meet your pet’s medical costs
  • Have no other available resources (credit, savings, etc.) to cover treatment
  • Be able to contribute 25 percent of the treatment cost upfront, with possible support from friends, family, or other organizations
  • Receive veterinary care through one of Diesel’s FootPrint Partner Veterinarians to ensure coordinated, cost-effective treatment
  • Cover the cost of your pet’s initial exam with a Diesel’s FootPrint Veterinary Partner (find a partner clinic [here])
  • Participate in a short follow-up interview and success story after your pet’s care is complete

Submitting an application does not guarantee approval.
Please wait for confirmation before scheduling or approving any treatments you cannot afford. Both you and your veterinarian will be notified once a decision has been made.

Please read these “program eligibility requirements” & FAQ’s carefully before filling the application

Household Size Income
1 person $43,740 or less
2 people $59,160 or less
3 people $74,580 or less
4 people $90,000 or less
5 people $105,420 or less
6 people $120,840 or less
7 people $136,260 or less
8 people $151,680 or less

  1. You and your pet are not a resident of Santa Clara County, California.

  2. The program does not cover non-essential services such as routine care (e.g., vaccination, spay or neuter, parasite preventives), dental treatment, reproductive and breeding evaluations, treatment of breeding-related complications, cosmetic treatments, complications from cosmetic procedures, care from non-licensed veterinarians.

  3. Assistance is not available for treatments already completed. Diesel’s FootPrint does not reimburse for veterinary services (including deposits) rendered before approval.

  4. We do not cover the cost of the intial consultation with the specialist.

  5. Care provided by anyone who is not a licensed Veterinary Specialist.

Dog and Cat

After the application and required documentation are submitted by the applicant and treating veterinarian, the case file is reviewed, and you will receive a response within 24 hours.

  • You’ll get an email confirmation within 24 hours after submitting all required documents for yourself, household members over 18 and your vet.

  • If documents aren’t submitted within 48 hours of applying, your application will be closed, and you’ll need to reapply.

  • Check your spam folder, and if you don’t hear from us in 24 hours, email support@dieselsfootprint.org.