Cate Morrison (67), of Waitati, contacted the Otago Daily Times last month after Seniors Minister Maggie Barry declined her request for a Ministry of Social Development loan, which she could pay back from her pension.
The money was to pay for medication for her 7-year-old bearded collie Golly, who was born with osteochondritis dissecans - a disease of the cartilage affecting his leg joints.
Ms Barry had a change of heart after the ODT called and asked ministry staff to talk to Ms Morrison about making assistance available through the social security system.
Ms Morrison said yesterday she got a letter from her doctor and the ministry agreed to lend up to $600 over three months for Golly's vet care.
The ministry would not lend any more than $600 to pay vet bills within a three-month period.
``If he's still not right after three months - that's it.''
He had responded well to his latest round of medication, which Ms Morrison could not afford without the loan.
``He used to walk with a hunch back and his tail would be down but he's so much happier.''
However, as Ms Morrison worked with the ministry to arrange the loan, ODT readers were anonymously donating money to her vet - Vetlife Waikouaiti.
``I was completely blown away.''
She was ``grateful'' for the money, which she would use if the loan was not enough to pay for the care needed.
She said her motivation for talking to the ODT was not to raise money but to show other pensioners loans could be available to them.
``There is a lot of Gollys and Cates out there ... it's for everybody like me because I know how much it hurts.''
A ministry spokeswoman said a person's entitlement to financial assistance was made on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration their individual circumstances.
Where an immediate need for help was identified and it was for an essential item or service, the ministry would consider providing recoverable hardship assistance, she said.
More than 90 veterinary clinics across New Zealand offered a discount to Super Gold Card holders, she said.
