Good news for dog and cat owners in Józsefváros – the Józsefváros Municipality is launching an animal health support program!
From 18 August 2025, the Municipality will provide a veterinary support program for dog and cat owners in Józsefváros, contributing to veterinary costs for pet owners.
Veterinary care is not cheap, but it is essential for responsible pet ownership.
This program helps more pet owners bring their animals for vaccinations, microchipping, sterilization, or other important health checks. Support can be requested by dog and cat owners in the 8th district for a maximum of two animals per household.
Two veterinary clinics in the district are participating in the program:
- TutiVet (Horváth Mihály tér 6, former Szigony Street clinic)
Visit the TutiVet website at this link, or contact them by phone: 06 20 490 5959 - Vet-Art (Horváth Mihály tér 11)
Contact Vet-Art staff at: 06 1 333 0948
The first phase of the program is a trial period and will continue until the HUF 2 million budget is exhausted.
Detailed information about eligibility and how to request support is provided below.
How to Apply for Support
To request support, you must first submit an application to the Customer Service of the Józsefváros Mayor’s Office either in person or by email.
You can collect the application form in person at the Customer Service (1082 Budapest, Baross utca 66-68) or download it by clicking on the file below:
Submit the completed application in person at Baross utca 66-68, or electronically to ugyfelszolgalat@jozsefvaros.hu.
Documents to Submit with the Application
- Copy of your Identity Card and Address Card
- Copy of the Pet Health Book (not required if unique identification [microchipping] is being performed)
- If applicable, documents proving special conditions (e.g., pension certificate for retirees, decisions establishing eligibility for specific social benefits – see details on special conditions below)
If sending the application by e-mai to the Customer Servicel, please attach the above documents electronically.
Customer Service Opening Hours
- Monday: 8:00 – 18:00
- Tuesday: 8:00 – 16:00
- Wednesday: 8:00 – 16:30
- Thursday: 8:00 – 16:00
- Friday: 8:00 – 12:30
You can access the Customer Service website via this link.
If you want to receive support for two animals, separate applications must be submitted for each, and the Municipality will issue the supporting documents for each animal individually.
If eligible, a staff member of the Mayor’s Office will issue a personalized certificate within 8 days of submitting your application and will maintain a record of program participants.
Notification of eligibility will be sent by e-mail, but if you prefer, you can also collect the certificate in person at the Customer Service office (1082 Budapest, Baross utca 66-68).
Once you receive the certificate from the Municipality, you can choose between the two participating clinics (TutiVet or Vet-Art).
Please schedule an appointment with the clinic of your choice and present the certificate issued by the Municipality at the clinic. The veterinarian will perform the agreed and professionally recommended procedures based on the certificate and your personal documents.
IMPORTANT!
The program is reimbursed to the veterinarians afterwards, but pet owners must have sufficient funds in advance to cover the procedures.
Who Is Eligible for Which Support?
You are eligible for support if all of the following apply:
- You have permanent residence, place of stay, or a rental contract in the 8th district of Budapest
- You are the owner/caretaker of the animal
- The official place of keeping the animal is in the 8th district (if you have a Pet Health Book or pet passport, this must be used to verify; otherwise, you must declare this)
- The animal is individually identified (microchipped) and has a Pet Health Book (not required if unique identification is performed with the support)
- A maximum of two animals per household can participate in the program
If the above conditions are met, you can receive 50% support, up to HUF 50,000 per animal for veterinary services performed.
Example:
If you meet the above conditions and take a dog for a HUF 15,000 combined vaccination, the Municipality will pay HUF 7,500 directly to the veterinarian, and you pay the remaining HUF 7,500 at the clinic. If you order additional services and the total cost of veterinary services reaches HUF 140,000, the Municipality will pay the maximum HUF 50,000, and you only pay the remaining HUF 90,000.
Higher Support Is Available for Pet Owners in Need!
If you are:
- a retiree, or
- receiving benefits for persons of working age, or
- receiving a care allowance, or
- receiving child home care allowance, or
- received municipal social support in the past year, or
- unemployed,
then you are eligible for 70% support, up to a maximum of HUF 60,000 per animal per year.
Example:
For a HUF 15,000 veterinary procedure, the Municipality pays HUF 10,500, and you pay HUF 4,500. For a total cost of HUF 140,000, the Municipality pays HUF 60,000, and you pay HUF 80,000.
Additional Support with Sterilization
If you choose to sterilize your animal, additional services can be obtained free or at a discount.
If you request the following at the same time as sterilization:
- Unique identification (microchipping),
- Rabies and combined vaccinations,
- and deworming
then the sterilization itself receives 50% or 70% support, and the Municipality covers 100% of the additional procedures, with a maximum annual support of HUF 65,000 per animal per household.
Example:
Therefore, if you use the above-mentioned services in combination with sterilization, you are required to pay 50% or 30% of the sterilization cost, depending on the type of support you are eligible for, while in the case of the additional HUF 15,000 cost arising from sterilization, the municipality will cover the full amount directly to the veterinarian. If the total cost of the above services is HUF 140,000, the municipality will pay HUF 65,000 to the veterinarian, and you will only need to pay HUF 75,000 on site.
For any questions, please contact Ádám Balogh, Animal Welfare Officer at the Municipality.
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