Startup Snout Raises $110 Million for 'Membership' Model to Defray Rising Vet Costs

The pet wellness plan provider aims to help pet owners manage skyrocketing veterinary expenses.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:15am

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Snout, a pet wellness plan provider founded in 2023, has raised $110 million in a combination of Series A funding and debt financing to help address the growing problem of rising veterinary costs for pet owners. The company's membership model allows customers to pay a monthly fee, on average $65, to cover preventative care and effectively turn vet bills into a subscription service.

Why it matters

With inflation and the influx of private equity into the pet care industry, vet costs have risen by 40% over the last five years, making it increasingly difficult for pet owners to afford basic care. Snout's model aims to provide more financial predictability and accessibility for pet healthcare.

The details

Snout was founded by Emily Dong, who has over a decade of experience in the pet industry. The company raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Footwork, as well as $100 million in debt financing from Clear Haven Capital Management. The debt funding will be used to offer no-interest, no-credit-check financing to customers, while the equity financing will support Snout's operations. Snout's membership model covers preventative care, allowing customers to pay a monthly fee rather than facing unpredictable vet bills at the time of service.

  • Snout was founded in 2023.

The players

Emily Dong

Founder and CEO of Snout, a pet wellness plan provider. Dong has over a decade of experience in the pet industry and previously founded Pawprint, which was acquired in 2020.

Footwork

A venture capital firm that led Snout's $10 million Series A funding round. Footwork was founded by Mike Smith and Nikhil Basu Trivedi.

Clear Haven Capital Management

A firm that provided $100 million in debt financing to Snout to fund its no-interest, no-credit-check financing marketplace for customers.

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What they’re saying

“Pets have become family, and we're absolutely going to continue moving in that direction.”

— Emily Dong, Founder and CEO, Snout

“With inflation and private equity coming into the space, prices have gone up 40% over the last five years and people can't afford basic things. So, it's terrifying to go to the vet. You don't know what vaccines will cost, and you're not going to get out of there for less than $300 to $500, even if nothing's wrong.”

— Emily Dong, Founder and CEO, Snout

What’s next

Snout plans to use the funding to continue expanding its membership-based model and helping pet owners manage the rising costs of veterinary care.

The takeaway

Snout's model represents a innovative approach to addressing the growing challenge of affordable pet healthcare, as pet ownership continues to rise and veterinary costs become increasingly unmanageable for many families.