FAQs
What does Phinney’s do, exactly?
We are an organization run only by volunteers (we have no staff) that helps low-income people in Massachusetts keep their pets. That means we help in any way we can to keep a family and their pets together. We help pay lots of vet bills and boarding bills (for when people need to be hospitalized and have no one to care for their pets). We foster animals, walk dogs, clean litter boxes, and do anything that we can to fill in for committed pet owners when they need a hand. We also ship pet food and supplies to people going through hardships. This way we can avoid more shelter surrenders and keep people and pets together when they need each other the most: during a crisis.
We are an organization run only by volunteers (we have no staff) that helps low-income people in Massachusetts keep their pets. That means we help in any way we can to keep a family and their pets together. We help pay lots of vet bills and boarding bills (for when people need to be hospitalized and have no one to care for their pets). We foster animals, walk dogs, clean litter boxes, and do anything that we can to fill in for committed pet owners when they need a hand. We also ship pet food and supplies to people going through hardships. This way we can avoid more shelter surrenders and keep people and pets together when they need each other the most: during a crisis.
Where is your office?
We don’t have an office. Volunteers are assigned their tasks over the phone, via email or text, and they go about their tasks at home, at our events, or go visit families to help care for their pets.
We don’t have an office. Volunteers are assigned their tasks over the phone, via email or text, and they go about their tasks at home, at our events, or go visit families to help care for their pets.
Where are your clients located?
The families we help regularly with pet care, fostering, advice and vet services are mostly located in the greater Boston and the MetroWest areas. We can only help regular families located in areas where we have volunteers available. We help people all over the state of Massachusetts with emergency vet bills and regular deliveries fo pet supplies, and sometimes even get to help people living in surrounding states, such as New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
The families we help regularly with pet care, fostering, advice and vet services are mostly located in the greater Boston and the MetroWest areas. We can only help regular families located in areas where we have volunteers available. We help people all over the state of Massachusetts with emergency vet bills and regular deliveries fo pet supplies, and sometimes even get to help people living in surrounding states, such as New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
My pet is sick and I can’t afford the vet bill. What can Phinney’s do for me?
If you are low-income (and can present paperwork such as SSI, SSDI, low-income housing, food stamps, etc), or if you lost your job or got reduced hours because of COVID-19, and you live in Massachusetts, we may be able to help you with pet advice, pet supplies, vet bill coverage and other resources. Call us at 617-979-8705 or email us (fastest option), making sure you explain your predicament as best as you can (which helps expedite the screening process).
If you are low-income (and can present paperwork such as SSI, SSDI, low-income housing, food stamps, etc), or if you lost your job or got reduced hours because of COVID-19, and you live in Massachusetts, we may be able to help you with pet advice, pet supplies, vet bill coverage and other resources. Call us at 617-979-8705 or email us (fastest option), making sure you explain your predicament as best as you can (which helps expedite the screening process).
How do I know if I’m eligible?
You need to leave us a detailed message at 617-979-8705 or email us with details of what the problem is and what you need, so we can send you our application. You must be low-income and live in Massachusetts for us to be able to consider your case. Beyond that, we have other qualifications and limitations and will need you to provide us with information to determine if we can help you. Hopefully we can!
You need to leave us a detailed message at 617-979-8705 or email us with details of what the problem is and what you need, so we can send you our application. You must be low-income and live in Massachusetts for us to be able to consider your case. Beyond that, we have other qualifications and limitations and will need you to provide us with information to determine if we can help you. Hopefully we can!
Why do I have to live in a certain area to be helped?
We need volunteers in your area to be able to help you in person. Also, our work requires a lot of volunteer hours and financial resources. So we established an area of coverage when we started, and we have been expanding it as we grow our volunteer and donor base. Little by little, we may be able to cover more of the country, and maybe one day, the world!
We need volunteers in your area to be able to help you in person. Also, our work requires a lot of volunteer hours and financial resources. So we established an area of coverage when we started, and we have been expanding it as we grow our volunteer and donor base. Little by little, we may be able to cover more of the country, and maybe one day, the world!
Why do I always get an answering machine when I call Phinney’s?
We are a very small all-volunteer organization with limited resources, and we cannot afford to have staff to answer phone calls. To make sure your request won’t be lost in the volunteer rotations, we have a messaging system: you leave a message with the subject of your call and your contact information, and a volunteer responsible for the area related to your call will get in touch with you as soon as possible. Please do not email and call for the same reason. Choose the means of communication that suits you best and tick to it, so you don't duplicate our workload.
We are a very small all-volunteer organization with limited resources, and we cannot afford to have staff to answer phone calls. To make sure your request won’t be lost in the volunteer rotations, we have a messaging system: you leave a message with the subject of your call and your contact information, and a volunteer responsible for the area related to your call will get in touch with you as soon as possible. Please do not email and call for the same reason. Choose the means of communication that suits you best and tick to it, so you don't duplicate our workload.
When I received financial assistance, why did Phinney’s ask me to commit to donating back to the organization at some point in the future?
You are the most important stakeholder in your animal’s welfare, and we know that if you could pay for the care yourself, you would. That is why we ask you to “pay it forward” in whatever way you are able in order to help others like you who are facing similar hardships. That way, we are a community supporting each other. That said, you are not required to donate in the future to be helped now.
You are the most important stakeholder in your animal’s welfare, and we know that if you could pay for the care yourself, you would. That is why we ask you to “pay it forward” in whatever way you are able in order to help others like you who are facing similar hardships. That way, we are a community supporting each other. That said, you are not required to donate in the future to be helped now.
My pet has chronic health problems. Can Phinney’s help me?
We may, depending on where you are located and what your pet needs are. Email us or leave us a detailed message at 617-979-8705 stating your name, location, urgency and problem with your pet, and we will see what we can do for you.
We may, depending on where you are located and what your pet needs are. Email us or leave us a detailed message at 617-979-8705 stating your name, location, urgency and problem with your pet, and we will see what we can do for you.
I have a chronic illness that is making it really hard to keep my pet. Can you help?
Yes, if you are eligible and we have the funds and/or volunteers to help you in your area. You need to leave us a detailed message via email or at 617-979-8705, and answer our questionnaire, so we can evaluate if and how we can help you.
Yes, if you are eligible and we have the funds and/or volunteers to help you in your area. You need to leave us a detailed message via email or at 617-979-8705, and answer our questionnaire, so we can evaluate if and how we can help you.
My pet is chronically ill and I can’t afford treatment. Can you help me?
Depending on your location, eligibility, and if we have the right volunteers in your area, we may very well be able to help you. You need to leave us a detailed message at 617-979-8705 or email us and answer our questionnaire, so we can evaluate your case and evaluate how we can help you.
Depending on your location, eligibility, and if we have the right volunteers in your area, we may very well be able to help you. You need to leave us a detailed message at 617-979-8705 or email us and answer our questionnaire, so we can evaluate your case and evaluate how we can help you.
I want a pet but can’t afford it. Can you help me?
No, we can't. Our mission is to help people keep their pets – the ones they already have, and with whom they have formed a long lasting bond. Caring for an animal is expensive and you will now have a lifelong commitment to that animal. Please think long and hard before adopting an animal if you are concerned that you will not be able to care for him or her.
No, we can't. Our mission is to help people keep their pets – the ones they already have, and with whom they have formed a long lasting bond. Caring for an animal is expensive and you will now have a lifelong commitment to that animal. Please think long and hard before adopting an animal if you are concerned that you will not be able to care for him or her.
I recently got an animal but can’t afford it. Can you pay for its routine care?
We can't. We have limited funds and must prioritize assisting people with strong bonds with their animals who have fallen upon hard times. While we may be able to offer emergency veterinary assistance if you qualify for it, we cannot provide ongoing support. Please see our Resources page for other organizations that might be able to help you.
If you truly feel that you will be unable to provide the pet with his or her basic needs, and are unable to find support, we would urge you to consider returning the pet to the original owner or surrendering the animal to a shelter or rescue.
We can't. We have limited funds and must prioritize assisting people with strong bonds with their animals who have fallen upon hard times. While we may be able to offer emergency veterinary assistance if you qualify for it, we cannot provide ongoing support. Please see our Resources page for other organizations that might be able to help you.
If you truly feel that you will be unable to provide the pet with his or her basic needs, and are unable to find support, we would urge you to consider returning the pet to the original owner or surrendering the animal to a shelter or rescue.
I do not qualify for help from Phinney’s. Do you know of any other organizations that might help me and my pet?
Yes. Please take a look at our Resources page. We list several animal organizations there.
Yes. Please take a look at our Resources page. We list several animal organizations there.
How do I become a volunteer?
Our volunteer section has more information on becoming a volunteer. We are looking for people who are ready for a commitment of at least one year. Please get in touch with us by email or phone, and we will send you our Volunteer Manual for you to read, and our Volunteer Packet for you to read through and, if you like it, join us. Thank you for considering becoming a volunteer!
Our volunteer section has more information on becoming a volunteer. We are looking for people who are ready for a commitment of at least one year. Please get in touch with us by email or phone, and we will send you our Volunteer Manual for you to read, and our Volunteer Packet for you to read through and, if you like it, join us. Thank you for considering becoming a volunteer!
How am I going to be trained if Phinney’s doesn’t have an office?
In addition to receiving a volunteer manual, volunteers receive one-on-one training when they are assigned a task. That means that you will be guided by a more senior volunteer over the phone, video conferencing, text, email, and any other means of communication that suit you both. If you are paired with a pet owner and pet, and go visit them for the first time, another experienced volunteer will accompany you and guide you through the visit. If necessary, volunteers will accompany you until you are ready to perform your task on your own. You may also become part of a team of volunteers if you decide to take care of a family on a regular basis. We also offer periodically group training by subject (refresher training, understanding mental illness, what is animal abuse and neglect, etc.). As Phinney’s grows, we keep adding more group training opportunities.
In addition to receiving a volunteer manual, volunteers receive one-on-one training when they are assigned a task. That means that you will be guided by a more senior volunteer over the phone, video conferencing, text, email, and any other means of communication that suit you both. If you are paired with a pet owner and pet, and go visit them for the first time, another experienced volunteer will accompany you and guide you through the visit. If necessary, volunteers will accompany you until you are ready to perform your task on your own. You may also become part of a team of volunteers if you decide to take care of a family on a regular basis. We also offer periodically group training by subject (refresher training, understanding mental illness, what is animal abuse and neglect, etc.). As Phinney’s grows, we keep adding more group training opportunities.
Can I donate items, like food and pet beds?
We are no longer accepting pet supplies due to the risks associated with handling items during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact your local shelter to find out about places that would accept items. The only items we are still accepting are brand-new high-value items that could be auctioned (a fashion purse, a gift card over $50, tickets to events or subscriptions, collectibles, etc.) Please email us if you are considering donating a high-value item. Thank you for considering us!
We are no longer accepting pet supplies due to the risks associated with handling items during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please contact your local shelter to find out about places that would accept items. The only items we are still accepting are brand-new high-value items that could be auctioned (a fashion purse, a gift card over $50, tickets to events or subscriptions, collectibles, etc.) Please email us if you are considering donating a high-value item. Thank you for considering us!
What does Phinney’s need the most?
By far, monetary donations. We also need people committed to volunteering with us for at least a year (the more the better). We need people for various opportunities, but we most need leaders, people willing to manage a group, solve problems on their own with minimal supervision, and capable of leading a project from beginning to end.
By far, monetary donations. We also need people committed to volunteering with us for at least a year (the more the better). We need people for various opportunities, but we most need leaders, people willing to manage a group, solve problems on their own with minimal supervision, and capable of leading a project from beginning to end.
I can’t volunteer but I want to donate. What’s the best way to do that?
The best ways are either sending us a check (Phinney's Friends, PO Box 425, Lincoln MA 01773) or donating through our website. Even better, if you decide for a recurring donation! Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent of the law!
The best ways are either sending us a check (Phinney's Friends, PO Box 425, Lincoln MA 01773) or donating through our website. Even better, if you decide for a recurring donation! Your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent of the law!
I called for assistance/sent in a volunteer application/emailed with some questions but haven’t heard back yet. Why?
We are an all-volunteer run organization. Please know that, while it may take a little while, we aim at responding as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience!
We are an all-volunteer run organization. Please know that, while it may take a little while, we aim at responding as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience!
I am a business owner and want to help. What can I do?
Businesses are some of our greatest allies and supporters. You can donate money, gift cards or items/services, promote an event to raise funds for us, distribute flyers to your clients, help us reach out to your community to recruit more volunteers, engage your employees in volunteering for us… If you are a vet clinic, you can give us discounts on vet visits, procedures, and surgeries. If you are a pet daycare, we are always in great need of boarding. The possibilities are endless. Please email us or call us. We are sure we can find something interesting and exciting that will benefit us both. Thank you for considering Phinney's!
Businesses are some of our greatest allies and supporters. You can donate money, gift cards or items/services, promote an event to raise funds for us, distribute flyers to your clients, help us reach out to your community to recruit more volunteers, engage your employees in volunteering for us… If you are a vet clinic, you can give us discounts on vet visits, procedures, and surgeries. If you are a pet daycare, we are always in great need of boarding. The possibilities are endless. Please email us or call us. We are sure we can find something interesting and exciting that will benefit us both. Thank you for considering Phinney's!
