WINNIPEG HUMANE SOCIETY CONTINUES TO ADDRESS LACK OF ACCESSIBLE VETERINARY CARE WITH SUPPORT FROM PETSMART CHARITIES

The Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) has received a grant from PetSmart Charities® in the amount of $150,000 over three years to address challenges in accessing veterinary care in South Indian Lake, a remote Northern community in Manitoba.

Rising costs combined with geographical and cultural barriers have left many communities out of the veterinary care system altogether. This grant program supports innovative and culturally relevant veterinary programs.

Early in 2023, PetSmart Charities, the top funder of animal welfare in the U.S., announced a $100 million commitment over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care. One of these visionary new grant programs focuses on historically excluded communities, many of which lack access to food, housing, transportation, education, and veterinary services.

“This funding from PetSmart Charities is integral to providing medical access to communities who really need it,” says Jessica Miller, CEO, WHS. “The people and animals in South Indian Lake deserve this, and we’re so happy that with this grant, our One Health Program can work with the community to assess their needs and provide care.”

Instead of taking pre-planned solutions into selected communities, grantees will first build relationships and determine gaps. This ensures communities who have been left out are deliberately included in deciding how and when they will access the healthcare they need for their pets.

“While most people today consider pets family, millions of pets struggle to access even basic preventative care such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations, and annual exams,” said Kate Atema, director of community grants and initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “While this issue affects families in nearly every community, those who have been historically excluded from human social services are most in need of pet services, too. We’re proud to support this innovative approach that meets the unique needs identified by those living in the communities themselves.”

About the Winnipeg Humane Society

The Winnipeg Humane Society is dedicated to protecting animals from suffering and promoting their welfare and dignity. Along with helping animals find their forever homes, the organization aims to ensure the well-being of all animals through education programming, community outreach initiatives, and animal welfare advocacy.

Facebook: @WinnipegHumaneSociety
Instagram: @whsanimals
Twitter: @WinnipegHumane
Tiktok: @winnipeghumanesociety

About PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps up to 400,000 pets connect with loving families each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter and disaster response. Each year, millions of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities directly at PetSmartCharities.org, while shopping at PetSmart.com, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside PetSmart® stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, granting more than $500 million since its inception in 1994. Independent from PetSmart LLC, PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization that has received the Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator for the past 18 years in a row – placing it among the top one percent of rated charities. To learn more visit www.petsmartcharities.org.

Follow PetSmart Charities on Instagram: @PetSmartCharities
Follow PetSmart Charities on Twitter: @PetSmartChariTs
Find PetSmart Charities on Facebook: Facebook.com/PetSmartCharities
See PetSmart Charities on YouTube: YouTube.com/PetSmartCharitiesInc

Media Contact:
Carly Peters
Director, Communications
P 204-802-0311
E [email protected]

24 Hour PetSmart Charities
Media Line: 623-587-2177