When disaster strikes

When disasters strike, organizations supporting impacted pets and their people can apply for grants in the wake of natural disasters like wildfires, floods and severe winter storms. 

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At a glance

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Disaster Response grants

The PetSmart Charities of Canada disaster response grant cycle is always open to help organizations address the needs of pets affected by major natural disasters. Learn more about what we fund, and how to apply. 
Cycle

Always open

Unlike other PetSmart Charities of Canada grants, there's no annual cycle. Apply any time, following any qualifying disaster.

Funding

Fast, practical funding

Grants help cover immediate needs like shelter supplies, veterinary care, supplemental staffing and more.

Deadline

Application window

Grant requests must be submitted within 90 days of a disaster. 

Eligibility

Who can apply

Your organization qualifies through one of two paths.
Path 1

Designated disaster responder

An animal welfare or human services organization designated as an authorized disaster responder by the emergency Agency Having Jurisdiction*, providing support for evacuated pets and their people.

*The organization is designated as a responder by a province or territory.

Path 2

Directly impacted organization

Canadian registered charities, including pet shelters, veterinary clinics, and human service organizations with pet-focused programming, or municipalities, and Indigenous communities that a disaster has directly impacted.

Good to know

New to PetSmart Charities of Canada?

Applying for a Disaster Response grant does not require an existing relationship with PetSmart Charities of Canada. You can still apply as long as you fall into the criteria listed above. 

Eligible animals

Eligible animals

Disaster Response grants are limited to response activities for shelter, foster, and owned companion animals — primarily dogs and cats — impacted by natural disasters.
Priority

Priority to keeping pets and people together

Eligibility applies equally to shelter pets and owned pets, but priority may be given to applicants whose response includes the needs of owned animals — temporary boarding, food distribution, and other community outreach aimed at keeping pets and people together.

What we fund

What funding can be used for

Grant funds help offset costs incurred responding to a disaster, but are not intended for general operations or unrelated needs. 
Covered

Supplies & equipment

Grants may be used for supplies needed to shelter and foster animals, and for owned pets. Equipment and supplies include kennels, crates, carriers, food, waste management, bowls, leads and leashes. 

Covered

Veterinary care

To treat disaster-related illnesses or injuries, plus vaccinations and medications protecting the broader pet population.

Not covered: Spay/neuter, grooming, and non-disaster-related medical issues.

Covered

Urgent structural repairs

Short-term or temporary remedies that allow safe operations to resume—temporary fence repairs, portable dog runs, and similar measures.

Not covered: Permanent repairs or new construction

Covered

Supplemental staff & volunteers

Grants can be used for costs related to overtime, lodging, meals and transportation for the staff responding to a disaster. 

Exclusions

What's not eligible

These requests won't be considered, regardless of when they're submitted.
Not eligible for consideration

Requests we can't fund

  • Self-deploying organizations not requested by the Agency Having Jurisdiction
  • Organizations requesting support that are not in the impacted areas
  • Requests made more than 90 days after the disaster
  • Requests to support equine, livestock, or wildlife
  • Incidents affecting personally owned property, including pet foster homes
  • Individual pet parent requests for food or medical care for their own pets
  • Emergency preparedness efforts, or requests for infrastructure or vehicles
  • Hoarding or animal cruelty seizures
  • Requests unrelated to a provincial and/or federally declared natural or mass care disaster
  • Spay/neuter, grooming, and non-disaster-related medical issues
  • Permanent repairs or new construction

Application timeline

Timeline

While the Disaster Response grant application window is always open, submissions must follow the timeline below.
  • Day 0

    Disaster occurs

    Eligibility for a specific disaster begins. 

  • Days 30-45 post-disaster

    Typical expense window

    Grants are typically limited to expenses incurred within the first 30–45 days after the disaster.

  • Day 60 post-disaster

    Extended expense window

    In extraordinary circumstances, an extended window for expenses may be allowed, pending approval.

  • Day 90 post-disaster

    Submission deadline

    Grant requests must be submitted within 90 days post-disaster to be eligible for funding. 

    Apply through SmartSimple
Ready?

How to apply

There's no waiting for a cycle to open-when a qualifying disaster affects your organization or community, apply directly.

Need Help?

Questions before you apply?

Reach out to our team if you have additional questions regarding Disaster Response grants.