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Reflecting on a milestone and dreaming big for the future

Posted June 13, 2024

by Kathy Powelson

It’s hard to believe, but this month Paws for Hope is marking 13 years of helping pets and the people who love them.

A lot has changed since we started as a tiny charity in 2011. At the time, there was no one doing the work we set out to do. Since then, we’ve grown to offer a variety of important core programs and animal advocacy. 

With your help, we now provide veterinary funding and free community clinics for low-income pet families, pet foster care for people experiencing crisis (including those fleeing violence), and funding support for remote and rural communities to support their animal welfare needs.

One thing that hasn’t changed in those 13 years is our belief that pets are family members. Like any member of a family they deserve to be happy, healthy and, most of all, together with the people who love them.

Those values are more important than ever. More than 60% of Canadian households have a pet, and 70% of those who do consider them to be a part of their family. But with the cost of living surging, those families are forced to make difficult decisions every day. Recent polling found 6 in 10 pet owners found veterinary care too expensive, while those living with low incomes were significantly more likely to avoid routine pet vaccinations, dental care and checkups. 

Thanks to you, we’re able to help meet those critical needs and keep pet families happy, healthy and together. 

But as far as we’ve come, we know we can go even further. We recently asked the Paws for Hope staff to dream big, and envision what we can do in the next 13 years.

They dreamed, and they didn’t disappoint. Here’s some of what we heard:

“[Convincing government to] recognize the importance of pets in our communities and offer funding for basic animal care such as spay and neuter and vaccines to keep pets healthy.”

“Supporting and working alongside even more Indigenous and remote communities, just like we’ve done with partners and citizens in Anacla.”

“Having a facility where we can accept fosters. This would mean we wouldn’t have to turn away any pet parents looking for temporary foster care for their loved pets.”

“Truly having pets considered as family members in Canada, with the same protection as all family members.”

“More funding for smaller organizations who are doing important work, such as the Action for Animals Prince Rupert TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) project that we recently funded.”

Of course, as a small registered charity, everything we’ve accomplished so far and all these big dreams would be impossible without you, our partners, our donors, our social media followers and our community members. That’s why we want to hear from YOU. 

What do you want to see in the next chapter of Paws for Hope? What do you think is possible? What is the urgent need you see going unfilled? Why is it important for you to support Paws for Hope and the work we do?

We’d love to hear from you by email, or on our Facebook or Instagram pages. 

We are so proud of what has been achieved together, and we believe so much more is possible. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for 13 years of community.

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