Policy & Fees

Appointments

Due to the nature of our business, we do not offer appointments. Instead, much like a human emergency room, we see our patients in the order in which they arrive.

However, we see our most critical patients first, regardless of the time they arrived. That means that if a very critical case such as an animal that has been hit by a car arrives, we see the hit by car animal immediately. It's our goal to make sure everyone who walks into the Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota walks out on all four paws, even if this sometimes means an increased wait for others.

Whenever possible, it's a good idea to call us ahead to let us know when to expect you. We may be able to facilitate your pet's doctor visit by preparing paperwork, setting up our treatment area for your pet, or even meeting you at the door to help you carry your animal inside if assistance is required.

Visitation

At AERC, we firmly believe that our patients benefit greatly from visitation from their human family members. Clients are welcome to visit their hospitalized pets, and we encourage this whenever possible. We ask that if you are able to, to call ahead and let us know when to expect you so we can better coordinate your visit with our many patients' needs.

Fees and Payment

At the Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota, it is our standard policy that payment is due at the time of service. We charge an examination fee, and if anything additional is required, one of our trained staff will review an estimate of services for your pet's individual health plan. At AERC, you are in control of your pet's treatment; it's our policy to provide the level of health care that each owner has selected and agreed to.

We accept payment in the form of cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and CareCredit.

If an animal requires hospitalization, we ask for a deposit equal to the amount of the lower range of the treatment plan that the doctor has created for your pet--due when you leave your animal in our care. The balance, if any, is due when your pet is retrieved at the end of its stay with us.

Due to the nature of our business, we cannot offer payment plans or billing. However, we do understand that emergency expenses for veterinary care can feel overwhelming. That's why we offer CareCredit to qualified individuals.

With CareCredit, qualified individuals will receive:

• An exclusive line of credit for your pet care expenses, freeing your cash and major credit cards for other purchases.
• An easy solution to the dilemma of whether to accept costly treatment for a pet.
• Flexible, low monthly payments with no up-front costs.
• The choice of several payment plans, so you can use the one that best fits you needs.
• No application fee, no annual fees, and no pre-payment penalties.

Ask any of our trained staff more about CareCredit. The process from application to decision takes only a few minutes.