Changing lives for pets and people that love them

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When pets are in pain or suffering, their people suffer and so do their communities. Yet accessing veterinary care can seem unattainable for so many families, which can cause further stress. Take Cinderella’s family, for example. When they noticed a lump on her belly, they visited their local vet and were devastated to learn she needed costly surgery that was out of their financial reach.

Thanks to grant funding provided by PetSmart Charities of Canada, their veterinary hospital was able to provide the care their beloved dog needed at a cost they could afford thanks to grant funding provided by PetSmart Charities of Canada. Cinderella made a full recovery, and her family continues to enjoy cuddles, walks and sloppy kisses.

PetSmart Charities of Canada is committed to making the world a better place for pets like Cinderella and all who love them. Kate Atema, director of community grants and initiatives, tells us how.

Q: What is PetSmart Charities of Canada?
A: PetSmart Charities of Canada makes grants to animal welfare partners to support two key pillars of our work: one is focused on keeping pets in their loving homes and the other is working with shelters and rescues to connect pets with new families.

As the largest funder of animal welfare in Canada, we’re proud to work with incredible partners across the country. Since 1999, PetSmart Charities of Canada has helped more than 400,000 pets find homes and issued more than $35 million in grants to animal welfare partners.

Q: Nearly 60 per cent of Canadian families include a furry member. What makes the human bond with their pets so life-changing?
A: Pets are family and anyone who has a pet knows what a massive difference they can make in their lives — a fact supported by academic research. The Human Animal Bond Research Institute has found that more than 87 per cent of pet parents enjoy improved mental and physical health from caring for their pets. We know vulnerable populations, including the elderly and homebound people, have particularly strong bonds with their pets.

Q: Every family should experience the joy and richness pets add to our lives but for many, access to veterinary care is challenging. How does lack of access negatively impact families?
A: At least one in five Canadians could not access care for their pets in the last few years for reasons that include finances, a shortage of veterinarians and lack of access to veterinary care in remote communities. Especially when we consider that pets are critical family members, it makes sense that lack of access negatively impacts families.

Unfortunately, as many as 15 per cent of pet surrenders to shelters are because of medical reasons — not because owners don’t love their pets but because they can’t find resources that can help them get the care they need to keep and care for their pets. They believe their pets would be better off with someone better able to afford their care. That’s just devastating, but PetSmart Charities of Canada is here to change thatby funding programs that help make care more accessible and affordable.

Q: Tell us about PetSmart Charities of Canada’s commitment to increase access to veterinary care.
A: In early 2023, PetSmart Charities of Canada made an $18-million commitment over five years to build low-cost clinics to make veterinary care more accessible and to work in partnership with organizations, including several veterinary universities and to bring care to support veterinary access Indigenous communities.

Many people aren’t taking their pets to the vet because they think they can’t afford it or because they feel they won’t be welcome. Through our low-cost clinic program, our partners are showing that it’s possible for families living below the median income to take care of their pets and thrive. 

We do more than provide grants. We offer our grantees support, mentorship and consulting. We’re building a community so changemakers can continue to drive the ball forward for animal care.

Q: Tell us about your program designed for communities with little or no access to veterinary care.
A: We know veterinary care is extremely hard to come by in many Indigenous communities, some of which are fly-in only or several hours’ drive away. It can be difficult to manage the pet population in communities where there isn’t access to regular spay and neuter programs. We help our partners co-create veterinary care programs in partnership with Indigenous communities to create access since many of these communities have been excluded from the veterinary system altogether.

It can be challenging to support a pet who may have been exposed to porcupine quills, has an ear infection or other health issue when you don’t have access to a veterinary provider. A lot of organizations are doing their best to provide annual clinics in those communities, but we’re working with grantees so they can be long-term providers of veterinary care.

Q: How can people who want to support pets help and where should they look for more information?
A: PetSmart Charities of Canada is an independent registered charity so when people make donations as they check out at PetSmart stores, their donations go directly to us.  

Supporters can also make a tax-deductible donation at PetSmartCharities.ca during the holiday season and find more information about us there. We encourage people to connect with their local animal welfare organizations by donating, volunteering, fostering or adopting an animal. Also, you can share this article, so more people know about the good work PetSmart Charities of Canada is doing.

This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of PetSmart Charities of Canada.