When Having a Pet Becomes a Luxury You Can No Longer Afford

Figures & data

Table 1. The interview guide/prompt.

Background	Welcome participant, brief introduction and chat, asking age and where they lived before starting the audio-recording. Ensure the participant understands the research and if they have any questions.
Accessing Blue Cross support: Reasons and experiences	Confirm which Blue Cross services were accessed and for which type of pet/s, and why they initially went to this organization. Identify the type of challenges/issues experienced before they accessed services (i.e., health/behavioral issues/financial). Identify if there was a tipping point that led the participant to seek help from Blue Cross. Establish initial impressions of Blue Cross services and the processes involved. Ascertain how easy/difficult it was to seek support (to identify potential barriers).
Type of support received and the positives and negatives	Pinpoint the type of support received and how it helped or affected the participant and their pet. Identify key qualities of the Blue Cross organization and the impact of receiving support. Identify any problems in the process of accessing or receiving support from Blue Cross. Ascertain if they remember why they accessed Blue Cross services rather than any other providers/awareness of other organizations.
Barriers to accessing services	Establish what helped the participant to access services. Identify participant’s views on why some people might be reluctant to access services. Ascertain if they have advice they would give to someone who is reluctant but really needs support. Pinpoint any changes Blue Cross could make to improve their services or make them more accessible.
Thanks and debrief	Thank participant for taking part and acknowledge any difficult times they have experienced. Discuss what will happen next (sent an e-mail with list of organizations providing support, a key contact at Blue Cross, and a link to our webpage). Ask for permission to send the Amazon voucher to their home address and procedure for doing so.