About nine years ago, we asked our community to donate to help provide basic veterinary care for pets whose families couldn’t afford it. We could not imagine the ripple effect that would have. Here is one of their stories:

Raine was homeless when she walked into one of our free Vancouver veterinary clinics, a young puppy named Cane at her side. He needed to be neutered and receive basic veterinary care.

Donations from our community made sure that Cane got the care he needed so he could stay with Raine, whom he adored.

Raine will tell you that Cane was a handful! The boldest of his litter, he had opinions about everything.

He taught himself to pretend he needs to go outside just to steal her warm spot on the couch. He refused to bring the ball back when playing fetch, and never got used to having his nails trimmed.

But this goofy, stubborn dog taught Raine about responsibility and dedication. He showed her what it meant to show up every single day, even when life felt impossible.

Cane gave Raine a reason to push through the challenges she faced and eventually go back to school.

For the past eight years, Raine has worked in veterinary and shelter medicine. She’s helped with spay and neuter clinics for people living on low-income, just like the one that helped her and Cane.

Every family Raine has helped access veterinary care, every pet she’s treated: that all started with generous donors like you.

Today, Cane is old and grey, his body arthritic but his spirit is unchanged. He still walks every day and constantly tries to trick Raine into going an extra block.

He’s traveled across the country multiple times, climbed mountains, crossed prairies, and fallen into more snowbanks than anyone can count.

He now shares his home with three cat siblings and a dog sister. He loves going to the vet because it means visiting “mom’s friends” and getting cookies from all of Raine’s coworkers.

Raine reached out recently to say thank you. She said she thinks of our organization often, that she’s held us close to her heart all these years.

Here’s what we want you to know: the kindness of donors are the reason a young woman experiencing homelessness could keep her dog, go back to school, and build a life helping other pet families in the same situation she once faced.

Those gifts are still making an impact today. In every clinic where Raine works, for every low-income family she helps, for every pet that receives care, because she’s there to help provide it with compassion and understanding.

That’s the ripple giving can create.

Thank you for understanding that when we help people keep their furry companions, we’re helping humans – and the pets they love – heal and grow.

Thank you for making stories like Raine and Cane’s possible, and for the hundreds of stories that came after theirs that remain untold.

The ripple effect of your generosity may never fully be known. But we do know, stories like Raine and Cane’s teach us of the power and life changing magic of offering care, compassion, and kindness to pet families when they need it most.

With gratitude,

Kathy Powelson

Founder & Executive Director

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation

604-396-9297

Registered Charity Number: #846898088 RR 0001

PS. If you would like to contribute to our holiday fundraising campaign to support even more families like Raine and Cane’s you can do so here.

Thank you so much!!!

A few more photos of Cane and Raine, happy and together.