Pet Help in the Columbia Area
In Columbia and need help now? For an emergency, go to a 24-hour hospital below and tell them if cost is a barrier. To lower costs, start with the spay/neuter programs and low-cost clinics. For a bill you can’t cover, get a free funding plan.
Want what’s closest to you? Search by ZIP code or your location. Nearby: Greenville-Spartanburg. Charleston.
Emergencies and 24-hour hospitals
- CVETS - Columbia Veterinary Emergency, Trauma & Specialty 24 hours
1321 Oakcrest Drive, Columbia, SC 29223 · (803) 995-8913
24/7 emergency and specialty animal hospital for critical care in Columbia. CVETS also runs a separate urgent care location in West Columbia for non-critical conditions.
Spay, neuter and vouchers
- Animal Mission Spay/Neuter Vouchers (Richland County)
127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209 · (803) 929-6000
Midlands nonprofit that gives discount vouchers for spay and neuter surgery, accepted at more than 30 regional veterinarians and clinics. Vouchers are donor-funded and meant for pet owners who need help covering the cost. The Lexington County voucher program is paused. - Animal Mission TNR Vouchers for Community Cats (Richland County)
127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
Discount vouchers toward spay or neuter, vaccination and ear-tipping for free-roaming community cats in Richland County, for anyone trapping and returning cats. - Columbia Animal Services - Pet Fix & Return (29203)
127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
Free spay or neuter, vaccinations and microchipping for dogs belonging to residents of the 29203 zip code who face significant challenges getting veterinary care.
Low-cost clinics and vaccines
- Pawmetto Lifeline Wellness Clinic
1275 Bower Pkwy · (803) 465-9196
Nonprofit clinic where pet owners can book wellness exams, vaccines, bloodwork, heartworm treatment, dentals and some surgeries (for example mass removal, hernia repair) with posted prices.
Veterinary hospitals and clinics
- Animal Mission Emergency Pet Housing Assistance
Midlands of South Carolina
Short-term emergency boarding for pets of qualified Midlands residents in a crisis, through partner kennels, boarding facilities and dog sitters, so pets are not surrendered to a shelter. Covers situations such as hospitalization, incarceration, hospice and in-patient treatment; other cases are reviewed one by one.
Pet food
- Pawmetto Lifeline Pet Soup Food Pantry
1275 Bower Pkwy · (803) 465-9187
Emergency pet food for Midlands families who receive public assistance (Medicaid, disability, food stamps, TANF or unemployment) and whose pets are spayed/neutered, with discounted spay/neuter for clients in Lexington and Richland counties.
Keeping your pet, end-of-life care and pet loss
- Columbia Animal Services (City of Columbia Animal Shelter)
127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209 · (803) 776-7387
City of Columbia open-admission animal shelter and the only open-admission shelter serving all pets and people in need of shelter help in Richland County. Handles adoptions, lost and found pets, rehoming support, fostering, and abuse or neglect reports. Stray pets are held five days, or 14 days if they have a registered microchip. - Richland County Animal Services (Animal Care)
Richland County · (803) 929-6000
Richland County animal services for unincorporated areas: pet licensing, animal law enforcement and complaints, lost and found pets, rehoming help, stray cat information, and pickup of personal deceased pets that are double-bagged and placed curbside. Partners with Animal Mission on spay/neuter and TNR vouchers. - Lexington County Animal Services
321 Ball Park Road, Lexington, SC 29072 · (803) 785-8149
County animal control and shelter. Officers pick up stray dogs and enforce restraint ordinances, and an officer is on call around the clock for emergencies such as injured animals and animal attacks. The shelter adopts out dogs and cats and runs foster and volunteer programs and a county cat pilot program.
Paying for a bigger bill
Ask any hospital about payment plans, CareCredit or Scratchpay, and apply to more than one assistance program. Ways to pay a vet bill in South Carolina lists the programs that are open now, and a free funding plan puts them together for your pet, with a free fundraiser page if you want one.