ABSTRACT Drawing on data from a project examining experiences of accessing support for pets from the UK animal welfare charity Blue Cross, this paper illuminates the impact of financial hardship on pet owners. Twenty service users (15 female, 5 male, aged 29–67 years) took part in individual online semi-structured interviews. Sixteen were receiving free or reduced-cost veterinary care (eligibility is based on certain means-tested benefits and catchment area). Participants were encouraged to talk about their experiences with Blue Cross, with a set of key questions capturing the chronology of events employed as a guide. All participants (even when relatively financially secure) alluded to the expense of having a pet and the rising cost of all aspects of care. The majority had struggled financially in recent years due to changes in circumstances (reduced income or had to stop working due to illness, injury, or carer responsibilities). Others had been on a low income for the long term. Seeking support was often the result of a health issue or emergency with a pet, when unanticipated veterinary costs (operations, transporting animal, scans, treatment) were simply unaffordable. People were faced with the heart-wrenching dilemma of what to do to help their pet, describing these times as the most stressful in their lives, and with most only becoming aware of charitable support for pets via word-of-mouth. Two of our participants’ stories show how when you have limited financial resources, serious health problems, or complicated circumstances, life can spiral out of control and lead to difficult situations with pets. However, it also highlights how resilience and strategies are established in this process, mitigating to some extent the impact of future crises. We highlight the full range of issues experienced as a result of economic vulnerability and consider the implications for organizations providing support to people who are often struggling simultaneously with their finances and mental health.