.The Inner Pup is only able to provide flea prevention to clients who are currently receiving heartworm prevention with TIP. If your dog is an existing client with a current ProHeart12 shot who is due for their next 6 months of flea prevention, we are happy to provide that during our Make Up Clinic dates. Make sure to email us in advance at info@theinnerpup.org with the date of your dog’s last visit and their current weight so we can ensure we have the right size of flea prevention.
If your dog is overdue for more prevention, you will be required to attend a clinic offering Heartworm Prevention where you’ll receive both heartworm and flea prevention. 

If you need JUST flea prevention because your dog is already current on heartworm prevention through another vet, that can be purchased over the counter, or through your regular vet clinic. Due to the flea burden in our region, we HIGHLY recommend using prescription flea medication whenever possible. 

The Inner Pup is not able to guarantee a specific type of flea prevention, and cannot write prescriptions for flea medication that we do not have in stock. The flea prevention we purchase can vary month to month. However, we always ensure that all flea prevention TIP provides is current (not expired), FDA approved, and veterinarian approved.

 If your pup is allergic to fleas and MUST have the pill form of flea prevention, or you’ll need prevention before our next make- up clinic date, you’ll need to purchase that from a local vet clinic. You can find a list of local low cost vet clinics HERE. 

Thank you for understanding!

Yes! You can switch from monthly prevention to ProHeart at any time, or vice versa. However, you should make sure that you switch on the day that your dog is due for more prevention or sooner. Even just one day without heartworm prevention can put your dog at risk of heartworm disease!

The Inner Pup is not a traditional veterinary clinic nor do we have a facility, which means TIP’s services are delivered as pop up clinics. Due to this method of service delivery, our dates can vary depending on when the locations we partner with are available.

Generally speaking, we host large scale Heartworm Zero clinics and cat clinics once every three months.

Some programs, like Make Up Clinics and Heartworm Happy Hours, happen monthly on the same date and time each month.

Looking for the next date for a specific program? You can use the “Services” drop down menu to find it! Each program's webpage will include information about its upcoming events, so simply find the program you’re looking for and visit its page for more information. Our website is the first place we update when a clinic is scheduled.

Our website always has the most up to date information about our next heartworm clinic: https://www.theinnerpup.org/next-hw-prevention-clinic

If there is information that says “TBD” or “TBA” that means details are not confirmed yet. Our website is the first place we update with new clinic information, so please don’t email us to ask for additional details if something is listed as “TBD” or “TBA” - we won’t have any additional information to give you!

If you’d like to get emails and texts when upcoming clinics open up, you can sign up for our client alerts by clicking HERE. 

If your dog is due for more prevention before our next clinic or if you just missed our last one, we hold Make Up Clinics on the third Thursday of each month. You can learn more about those HERE. 

It is your responsibility to keep track of the records you receive - clients receive the only paper copy of their records at clinics. If you have lost your records, you can email us to request confirmation of when your pet is due back. If a veterinarian is requesting this information, they can email info@theinnerpup.org Please note records requests will be responded to in 5 business days. 

Make sure to include your name, phone number, and your dog’s name, as well as the date of the visit you need information for if you have it. 

The Inner Pup is currently (as of August 2026) only offering Spay/Neuter Assistance for Hollygrove residents. Fortunately, the majority of parishes in Southeastern Louisiana offer spay/neuter vouchers for their residents!

Orleans and Plaquemines Parishes via The Louisiana SPCA: HERE

Jefferson Parish via The Jefferson SPCA:  HERE

St. Bernard Parish via St. Bernard Parish Animal Control (must visit in person): https://www.sbpg.net/148/Animal-Control

St. Tammany Parish via St. Tammany Animal Services (use the sidebar on the left to download the application): https://stpgov.org/departments/animal_services/index.php#collapse470b3

Terrebonne Parish via The Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter: https://tpcg.org/AnimalShelter/PetServices#

Lafourche Parish via The Lafourche Parish Animal Shelter: 

https://humanela.org/programs/spay-neuter-resources/lafourche-parish/

Other Low Cost Options Include:

Low Cost Animal Medical Center: https://www.lowcostanimal.org/

KatVet: https://www.katvet.org/Spay-Neuter

The Inner Pup can help with some types of medical care, but The Inner Pup is NOT a veterinary clinic. If your pet is in need of urgent or emergency care, seek help from a licensed veterinary clinic immediately. Click HERE for a list of local vet clinics that can help.

The Inner Pup offers preventative services at our Heartworm Zero Clinics, Make Up Clinics, and Cat Clinics. TIP also offers Heartworm Treatment services. 

Some pets may qualify for additional, non-routine medical care via TIP’s Veterinary Assistance Grant Program. You can find information about the program and apply for assistance by clicking HERE

For Clinics: 

In order to be as accessible as possible, TIP offers five (5) different ways to pay! We have no preference how you pay, so please pick whatever is easiest for you:

1) Pay with cash - Exact change only, please!2) Pay with Venmo - we are @theinnerpup3) Pay with Zelle - use info@theinnerpup.org4) Pay with Cash App - use $theinnerpup5) Pay by credit card - visit our payment portal to do so

Please do not pay before arriving at a clinic unless you’re asked to do so - we do not provide refunds if you pay for the clinic and do not attend, or if show up after the line is closed.

For Heartworm Treatment: 

To ensure treatment client payments get tracked correctly, we ask that you please contact info@theinnerpup.org if you’d like to make a payment. 

The easiest way to pay is to use one of the five methods listed above during your next Heartworm Happy Hour Visit.

The Inner Pup is not a rescue or shelter and we do not house pets. TIP’s goal is to keep pets in their homes with their people and therefore we do not offer rescue or rehoming services.

Our goal is to offer whatever resources we can to help people keep their pets if at all possible. If you’ve already explored our local resources for veterinary assistance, training assistance, and support with food or supplies, and still need to surrender your pet - you’ll want to reach out to local rescues and shelters to make sure that your pet lands somewhere safe. 

Please know that starting this process sooner rather than later is essential, and there will likely be a waitlist no matter where you go. It is always helpful to rescues if you, a friend, or family member are able to house your pet until they find a new home. Once you sign surrender paperwork with a shelter or rescue, you will be releasing ownership of your pet, even if they remain in your home until they are placed with another foster or family.

If you're planning to surrender your pet to your municipal local shelter, please be aware there will be a longer waitlist. If you’re searching for a private rescue, or no-kill shelter, those organizations may decline your pet entirely depending on the space they have available and your pet’s needs, so we recommend reaching out to multiple organizations and being honest about your situation and your timeline. 

Shelters and rescues RARELY accept walk-in surrenders. Once you know what organizations you’d like to work with, fill out their posted surrender form and wait for a response, or reach out to them directly to ask about their process.  

For more information, you can find re-homing tips HERE

You can find  templates that include the information you’ll want to give a shelter or rescue about your pet to set them up for success HERE (Dogs) and HERE (Cats)

HERE is a list of local New Orleans Rescues that you can contact directly.

The Inner Pup only provides services for owned pets. If you’re planning to keep this animal in your family permanently, and you are otherwise eligible for our services, you’re welcome to use them!

If you’re not sure about whether or not you can keep this animal, or know that you would like to help find them a new home - you can reach out directly to local New Orleans Rescue organizations that may be able to help. 

HERE is a list of local New Orleans Rescues that you can contact directly.

The Inner Pup is not able to handle emergencies.

If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, you will need to contact an emergency veterinary clinic immediately. Please do not wait for a response from The Inner Pup - our team does not have the capacity to respond immediately, and we cannot handle emergencies.

You can find a list of local veterinary clinics by clicking here.

Local veterinary clinics that offer emergency services include Metairie Small Animal Hospital, MedVet, and Avenue Wellness + Emergency. Other local veterinary clinics, such as East Riverside Veterinary Hospital, Batt Veterinary, and LocalVet Urgent Care may offer emergency care during the regular business hours.

Please note that emergency vet care is rarely low cost and we encourage you to be open about your budget when you arrive at the clinic of your choice.

The Inner Pup’s services are available for low income pet owners who are not otherwise able to access care. As a non-profit, The Inner Pup subsidizes the cost of care for each pet that we see. If you are able to afford veterinary care, we are extremely appreciative of you reserving TIP’s services for those most in need.

We understand that each family’s situation is unique and for that reason, we do not have strict income guidelines. As a general guideline, our goal is to serve pet owners who receive government assistance, live below 200% of the federal poverty line, and/or are experiencing extenuating circumstances that prevent them from accessing vet care.

While we do not currently require proof of low income, we reserve the right to ask for it.

The Inner Pup provides services specifically for owned pets. We are not able to assist with fosters or provide services to rescues/shelters/etc. If you are fostering a pet, please contact the organization you are fostering through to arrange care. 

If you have questions or concerns about a specific situation, we always welcome pet owners to reach out to us directly at info@theinnerpup.org or at our text only line: 504-321-3442.

The Inner Pup subsidizes the prices of services for pet owners via donations, grants, and volunteer time. The actual cost of the services and prevention that TIP provides far exceed what we charge clients. Clients only pay a small portion of the actual cost of services in each of TIP’s programs, including our Heartworm Zero and Wellness Clinics, Veterinary Assistance Grant Program, and Training Voucher Program.

For this reason, we kindly ask that pet owners only use TIP’s services if they have no other option to help us reserve these resources for the people who won’t be able to get care any other way.

If you are unable to pay for traditional vet care but are able to pay more than the listed price of TIP services, we gratefully accept additional donations. Every dollar donated to TIP goes straight back into the programs that keep pets in homes.

The Inner Pup offers a dog training assistance grant for eligible pet parents.This grant subsidizes 90% of each lesson cost with one of our trainers. You can learn more and apply for that grant HERE Once both that is received, we’ll do our very best to get back to you within 5 business days via e-mail.

If you’re approved, we’ll pair you with the best trainer for your needs. Your confirmation e-mail will include instructions for booking with that trainer, and how to submit your co-pay for those lessons. 

Yes! Unless otherwise specified, pets must attend. Additionally, please bring any prior medical records for your pet, if you have them. If you have attended a TIP clinic with us before, make sure to bring your records from your last visit. We do not have the ability to look up your medical records during our pop up clinics. 

Please have your dogs leashed and secure in a harness or collar that they cannot slip out of. Cats should be in a closed carrier. If you need assistance handling your pet, or need assistance to fit their collar or leash, let us know when you arrive!

The Inner Pup offers Heartworm Zero Clinics every 3 months and Make Up Clinics on the third Thursday of every month. Please plan ahead to make sure you attend one of the above options before your pet is overdue for prevention!

If you’re unable to attend a TIP clinic, you’ll need to make an appointment at a local vet to receive prevention. You can find a list of low cost area resources by clicking here.

Please wait to attend a clinic until your pet is due for more prevention. It’s dangerous to give prevention before a pet is due and we are not able to give prevention early, even if that timing is more convenient for you.

Heartworm disease is fatal if untreated, so the first step is getting your dog started on treatment!

The Inner Pup offers a softkill treatment program for heartworm positive dogs. Your pet will need to attend 3 appointments over the course of 13 months during our Heartworm Happy Hour (held on the first Wednesday of each month). The client copay for Heartworm Treatment is $150 and is paid in installments (generally $50 at each of the three visits).

If you are interested in enrolling your dog, please fill out the Heartworm Treatment Inquiry form on our website: https://www.theinnerpup.org/heartworm-treatment

Once our team receives this, our Heartworm Treatment Director will reach out in 2-3 business days to go over your pet’s medical history, discuss if TIP’s treatment is the right fit for you and your pet, and answer any questions you have. If you decide that you’d like to enroll your pet, our Treatment Director will help you do so and will schedule your pet for an appointment at our next Heartworm Happy Hour.

The Heartworm and Flea Prevention provided by The Inner Pup are prescription medications that must be prescribed by a licensed veterinarian affiliated with TIP. The Inner Pup is not a pharmacy and cannot fill prescriptions written by other veterinary professionals. If you are looking to fill a prescription written by your own veterinarian, we recommend Chewy, Costco, or using your veterinarian’s recommended pharmacy.

The Inner Pup hosts Cat Clinics once every three months. You can find the most up to date cat clinic information HERE

The cost of all services provided at our clinics and through our grant programs are heavily subsidized, so we are not able to provide additional discounts. 

If you are experiencing temporary financial hardship that prevents you from attending a TIP clinic due to the cost, please reach out to info@theinnerpup.org and we will do our best to find a solution.

TIP is not able to permanently waive fees for any households, we thank you for understanding the client copays required for TIP’s heavily subsidized services allows TIP to continue providing services to our community!

TIP’s mission to support pet owners is inspired in part by the belief that pets bring joy into our lives that everyone deserves, but also because when owners cannot take care of pets our rescue and shelter system is so overwhelmed that often there isn’t anywhere else for them to go. TIP does not require pets to be spayed or neutered in order to receive services, but we do strongly encourage it. 

Spaying and neutering pets prevents more than accidental pregnancy. Spayed females have a significantly lower risk of developing cervical cancer, mammary cancer, and pyometra - all costly and dangerous illnesses that are very preventable. Neutered males have a significantly lower risk of developing testicular cancer, prostate disease.

We strongly encourage altering all pets, however, we do not require pets to be altered to receive services. We realize that not all pet owners have had the opportunity to receive spay/neuter services, and we are happy to point you in the right direction 

While we do not require pets to be altered to receive services, we cannot provide services to breeders. The Inner Pup’s services are subsidized by donors and sponsors. Client copays do not cover the full cost of services that TIP provides, and therefore TIP operates at a deficit for each animal helped. We are happy to support pet owners in need trying to keep their pets in their homes, but we are not able to provide subsidized services to help breeders who then turn around and sell puppies and kittens for a profit. Thank you for understanding TIP’s policies!