ADAM scheme
Due to crowds on the phone, request the voucher preferably online.
Amsterdam Animal Aid to Minima
- Is your pet sick or injured;
- Are you a resident of Amsterdam, Diemen or Weesp and;
- Do you have a city pass with green dot?
Then you can use the ADAM scheme (Amsterdam Animal Assistance to Minima) for one pet once per city pass year (1 Aug 2024 to 31 July 2025). Read all the information, rules and conditions below.
To avail of the ADAM scheme, an voucher be requested. This can be done in two ways:
Available by phone (020- 568 15 21): Monday to Friday 10:00- 13:00.
Fees
- First visit (consultation) to the vet (100%)
- Medical expenses (50% up to max €300)
- Chipping dogs and cats (100%)
- Castration/sterilisation cats (50%)
Read more about reimbursements here
First visit (consultation) to the vet (100%)
The first veterinary visit (consultation) is reimbursed once per city pass year 100%. This first visit can only be used for a sick or injured pet, not for preventive care, such as vaccinations and worming.
During this first visit, we will find out what medical treatment your sick or injured pet needs.
Medical expenses (50% up to max €300)
If your pet is sick or injured, 50% of the treatment costs will be reimbursed, up to a maximum of €300 per city pass year. You pay the other 50% yourself directly to the vet and anything above the €300 amount you have to pay yourself. The vet determines whether treatment is medically necessary. The vet also knows what will or will not be reimbursed. Euthanasia falls under medical expenses.
Chipping dogs and cats (100%)
Chipping and registering dogs and cats is compulsory and is 100% reimbursed. If you do not want to have your dog or cat chipped, you cannot make use of the ADAM scheme. The chipping rule and reimbursement applies only to dogs and cats, not to other pets.
Castration/sterilisation cats (50%)
Castration/sterilisation (permanent infertility) of cats is reimbursed 50%. You pay the other half yourself directly to the vet. Infertilisation of other pets is not covered.
Conditions
- You have a City Pass with green dot;
- You live in Amsterdam, Diemen or Weesp;
- Your ID card is in the same name as your city pass;
- You own the pet;
- Your dog or cat is microchipped and registered with your details or you have your vet do this for you;
- You apply for the voucher for medical reasons;
- You take the voucher to the vet;
- Your vet is a member of the ADAM scheme.
Rules
- City pass year 2024-2025 runs from 1 August 2024 to 31 July 2025.
- A voucher should always be requested in advance for the first visit to the vet;
- The voucher may not be used for someone else's pet;
- The scheme applies to one pet per city pass per city pass year;
- To benefit from the ADAM scheme, dogs and cats must be chipped and registered are or will be. If your dog or cat has not yet been chipped and registered, this will be done by the attending vet. If you do not want to have your dog or cat chipped, you cannot use the ADAM scheme;
- The voucher is valid for 3 months, effective from the date of sending (until 31 July; end of city pass year). This means that you must go to the vet within 3 months for a first visit with your pet. If you do not go to the vet within 3 months, the voucher will expire and you cannot apply for another voucher during the current city pass year;
- Changing your attending vet mid-term is not allowed, unless it is for a referral or you have an insurmountable conflict with your current vet. In this case, please contact us first;
- A emergency outside our opening hours? Always first consult your vet whether the voucher can be requested afterwards. Upon agreement, request the voucher from us within a maximum of 5 working days.
Vets
You can use a voucher only at vets justified, where 'participant ADAM scheme' stands.
Additional support
Are you not eligible for the ADAM scheme or have you already used it once, but need more financial help? Then check out the following options:
Emergency fund for animal welfare
If you cannot pay the co-payment of the ADAM scheme and live on welfare level, you may be able to appeal to the Emergency Fund. The Emergency Fund is a partnership between the Foundation for Animal Welfare and the Animal Welfare in the North Central Region (Flevoland, Utrecht and North Holland). See their website for more information. The emergency fund can be reached at 088-811 3380.
Foundation for the Promotion of Animal Welfare
Foundation for the Promotion of Animal Welfare Supports pet owners who are (temporarily) unable to provide basic care for their pet, such as food and acute medical care. The foundation is a platform for people in minimum situation who have questions about their pet. Social workers and administrators can also contact the foundation for information and to inquire about support options. More information can be found on the website of Stichting Bevordering Huisdierenwelzijn.
For veterinarians/specialists in the event of a seriously ill or injured miniature pet in acute distress, the foundation is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on telephone number 06 - 126 606 54.
For individuals, social workers, administrators and others, the foundation can be reached for questions about medical support only on Wednesdays from 9.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm.
Via the website www.huisdierenwelzijn.nl/medische-steun a request for support can be made digitally at any time. It is important to read the terms and conditions carefully.
Frequently asked questions
Why is chipping mandatory for cats and dogs under the ADAM scheme?
In many communities, animal shelters are full of cats. Often the owner is unknown. Animal ambulances and shelters deal daily with cats without a chip, or cats whose chip is not properly registered. Only a small proportion of these cats are returned to their owners. We want to prevent stray cats as much as possible, also because it prevents animal suffering. A stray cat lacks the care of its owner.
Chipping dogs has been a legal requirement for all Amsterdam dog owners anyway since 2013.
Therefore, we have included chipping of cats as well as dogs as a condition in the ADAM scheme.
What is the purpose of a chip and how does it work?
A chip is mandatory for this scheme for a cat. Chipping a dog is already a legal requirement since 2013. Chipping is reimbursed from the ADAM 100% scheme for dogs and cats.
This reimbursement is separate from the amount (with a maximum of €300) available for the treatment of the sick animal.
The vet will place the chip if this has not already been done. This will be done free of charge. Registration is also very important here, as it allows us to return the animals to their owners if they become strays. The registration is done by the vet.
Is permanent infertilisation of dogs and rabbits (spaying and neutering) reimbursed?
No, not for dogs and rabbits. Only for cats is permanent infertility (castration and sterilisations) half reimbursed, as long as it falls within the maximum reimbursement of €300 per city pass year.
Why is permanent infertility (spaying and neutering) reimbursed only for cats?
For cats, permanent infertility is reimbursed. We think it's important to reimburse this, because cats are the only pets that can roam outside without an owner, and so can roam. And so there is a greater chance that they can start reproducing uncontrollably. Then the number of stray cats increases and so does animal suffering. In addition, a stray cat often ends up back in the shelter, and we want to prevent that as much as possible.
What is the difference between a voucher and a voucher?
There is no difference, voucher and voucher mean the same thing.
I live in Weesp and have a City Pass, can I also take advantage of this offer?
Yes, it is possible.
What if I have an emergency at the weekend, how do I arrange voucher and reimbursement?
If you have a weekend or evening emergency, the voucher can also be requested afterwards. Note: This is only possible if the vet you went to participates in the ADAM scheme and agrees to reimburse the emergency case afterwards. Do take into account additional administration costs (these vary per vet, count on a maximum of € 10). And still call us to request a voucher (office days, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.).
What does 'medically necessary' mean?
Medically necessary means necessary treatment to make a sick animal well again. The vet decides which treatment is necessary.
Why do I need to bring my ID and city pass to the vet?
The reimbursement for the vet in the ADAM scheme is personal. You can use this scheme only for your own sick animal. The vet must be able to verify that you are the owner of the animal and that you have a city pass with a green dot.
I have already provided my city pass number (on the animal ambulance website). Surely that is sufficient for my first visit to the vet?
No, that is not enough. The reimbursement for the vet in the ADAM scheme is personal. You can only use this scheme for your own sick animal. The vet must be able to check your details, whether you are the owner of the animal and whether you have a city pass with green dot. So always take your ID and city pass to the vet.
How often can I use this scheme?
You may use this scheme once per city pass year for one pet. During the first visit, the vet will discuss the necessary treatment for your pet with you. This can be one treatment, or multiple treatments. So, for example, if the animal is chronically ill and needs medication throughout the city pass year.
Can I use the scheme with more than one pet?
No, you can't. You can only use this scheme for one pet per city pass year. If you have another family member with a valid city pass with green dot, you may also use this scheme for the other pet. You cannot apply for a voucher in two names for the same pet. However, you may apply for the voucher for another sick animal the following city pass year.
Can several people from 1 family benefit from this scheme?
If you have another family member with a valid City Pass with green dot then that person may also use this scheme for a other pet. You cannot apply for a voucher on 2 different names for the same animal.
Can I take my pet to the vet just for a health check?
No, that is not what the voucher is for. You can only visit the vet once with your sick animal from the ADAM scheme. So the voucher is really only meant for when your animal is sick and needs treatment for this. Or making a cat permanently infertile for 50%.
Will deworming and vaccination also be reimbursed?
No, this is not reimbursed. Deworming and vaccination fall under preventive care (i.e. treatments to prevent your animal from getting sick). The ADAM scheme reimburses only the treatment of your sick animal.
How does the scheme work for chronically ill animals?
For chronic pet illness, medicines are reimbursed for 50% until the maximum of €300 is reached per City Pass year.
If my animal gets sick again, can I go to the vet again?
This is allowed only if it is the same complaint. So not if your animal has a different, new complaint. The ADAM scheme is for a single diagnosis. At the first visit, the vet looks at what complaints your sick animal has and then determines what is wrong with your animal. As the money pot for the ADAM scheme is limited, we have to make choices and have chosen this.
Can I go elsewhere with my sick animal?
This is allowed only if it is the same complaint. So not if your animal has a different, new complaint. The ADAM scheme is for a single diagnosis. At the first visit, the vet looks at what complaints your sick animal has and then determines what is wrong with your animal. Because the money pot for the ADAM scheme is limited, we have to make choices and have chosen this.