Access to Veterinary Care (Grants):
Taking better care of pets builds healthier communities
Nearly 1 in 5 pet parents in Canada have wanted or needed preventive care for their pets but have not been able to access it due to affordability or inability to get an appointment.
Sixty percent of homes in Canada now include a pet to love. That’s good news! Giving a pet a good life enriches our own. But access to basic veterinary services has not kept pace. Rising costs and other barriers mean these pets struggle to access services such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations and critical medical and preventative care.
The vet care system needs an overhaul. Many underserved communities lack access to vet care close-by, delivered by a diverse pool of veterinarians. It takes trust and a common language to establish this important relationship, just as it does for people and their physicians.
No one organization can solve this complex problem alone. That’s why PetSmart Charities of Canada is funding grants to help community changemakers address the immediate problem while also creating long-term, sustainable solutions. Over time, new ecosystems will emerge that deliver an updated veterinary care system – one that is more accessible for diverse populations.
With your help, PetSmart Charities of Canada will support the development of community-based leaders to transform how, where and by whom veterinary care is delivered. Healthy pets lead to healthier families and communities.
Pet Hunger:
Keeping pet parents from making an impossible choice
According to Canadian Public Health Association, more than 18% of people live in homes experiencing food insecurity. And if they’re not getting enough to maintain a healthy diet, neither are there pets.
Pets love their people generously, and a survey conducted on behalf of PetSmart Charities of Canada found that more than 77% of pet parents would forgo their meals to ensure their pets’ get enough to eat. That’s no surprise to us — because pets are family.
We’ve made a $500,000 commitment to alleviating pet hunger, and as always, rely on our thriving partnerships on the ground to make an impact. Humane Canada was awarded a $300,000 grant to create the first-ever national pet food pantry network to support pet parents, social service agencies and shelters. We’re also making grants to partners to help keep pet food on the shelves of pet food pantries across the country.
We’re grateful for the expertise and support of our trusted partners. Together, we can help preserve the important bond between people and pets.
Disaster Response:
Keeping pets and people together when they need each other most
The need: When natural disasters strike, pets are also displaced and injured.
When people suffer during natural disasters, their pets often suffer too. As important members of the family, pets, too, have urgent needs for shelter, medical care, nutritious food, and social support. PetSmart Charities of Canada delivers disaster response grants — quickly — to community partners when the unforeseen strikes.
During times of crises such as wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods, pets and the people they love need each other more than ever. That’s why PetSmart Charities of Canada partners with organizations that can deliver support for people and their pets during times of disaster. Our support ensures fewer families must make crushing decisions around whether to leave their home to seek safety or stay in harm’s way to remain together.
PetSmart Charities of Canada believes that pets should be part of the social safety net in times of natural disaster. We are committed to supporting our trusted partners on the ground as they deliver safe spaces and resources that help people cope and move forward.
