Tag: McVitie Fund

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Urgent Care

Your gift this holiday season helps animals like Bear

Your kindness brings relief, comfort, and hope when they are needed most.


Your compassion helps families like Bear’s when they are facing moments of crisis.

Last month, Jenny came home to find her eight-year-old Great Pyrenees, Bear, in distress. A large lipoma on the back of his leg had ruptured, leaving him in pain. With their regular vet closed for the day, Jenny rushed Bear to an emergency hospital, where the team confirmed he needed surgery as soon as possible. They also discovered severe dental disease that would require treatment while he was under anesthesia. The costs quickly added up. 

For Jenny, a widowed mother of two living on a survivor’s pension, this emergency came at the worst possible time. Recent expenses for car repairs and medical needs for her autistic son had already drained her savings. And now Bear, the dog who had helped her family through unimaginable grief, needed urgent care she could not afford. 

Bear came into their family as a puppy and quickly became their source of calm and comfort. After the loss of Jenny’s husband, he helped her children through their grief, especially her son, offering stability and emotional support in ways only a deeply intuitive animal can.

Jenny shared, “Bear is family. He is a strong, stubborn, gentle doofus whose loyalty is unmatched. We are lucky he chose us. He gives us peace of mind and stability, especially when life feels chaotic.” 

When families with nowhere else to turn, the McVitie Fund is there to ensure they do not have to face these emergencies alone.

This year, the McVitie Fund spent a record-breaking $640,000 on emergency veterinary care, helping 1,300 pets in crisis stay safely with the families who love them. Even with incredible community support, the need has continued to outpace available funding, and the fund is currently closed to new applicants.  

Your holiday gift today will help us reopen the McVitie Fund in the new year, so more animals can receive urgent care before it is too late.  

Thank you so much for your compassion for animals and for considering a gift this holiday season. Your kindness brings relief, comfort, and hope when they are needed most. 

Categories
Media Release

Vancouver Humane Society pleading for help to save pet lives after surge in emergency veterinary funding requests 

“Sammy” (name changed for privacy), one of the animals helped by the McVitie Fund program this year.

Vancouver, November 17, 2025 — The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is raising alarm bells as requests for emergency veterinary assistance reach unprecedented levels in 2025. The organization’s McVitie Fund—which provides life-saving veterinary care for pets in low-income households across B.C.—has already processed more than 2,000 applications this year, surpassing all previous records. 

In 2020, fewer than 200 applications were received. By 2024, that number had skyrocketed to around 1,600. Now, with the program exceeding its 2025 budget, the McVitie Fund team is struggling to keep up with the growing need. 

“This rapid increase in need for a life-saving community service reflects a heartbreaking reality,” said Chantelle Archambault, VHS’s Communications Director. “More people are being forced to choose between paying rent, feeding themselves, or saving their pets’ lives.” 

Most applicants rely on Persons With Disabilities (PWD) income, Income Assistance, Canada Pension Plan (CPP), or Old Age Security (OAS). The program also supports survivors fleeing domestic violence, who can be at specific risk of lacking veterinary care funds—research shows around 99% of domestic violence cases involve financial abuse and around 89% involve pet abuse. Many program applicants report that they are surviving on just $100 to $200 each month after rent. 

“It’s no surprise that people are struggling, given the massive increase in cost of living and relative stagnation in government assistance,” Archambault added. Since 2021, consumer prices have ballooned by about 15%. Meanwhile, the provincial support allowance for a single person with disabilities living in the smallest sized unit today is just 8 cents more per month compared to rates effective on May 1, 2021, while their maximum shelter allowance has gone up by $125. 

The VHS shared that it is systemic inequities, not personal failings, driving the surge in need. For many living in poverty, pets are their primary source of emotional support and safety. When those families cannot access veterinary care, both the humans and the animals suffer. 

The McVitie Fund fills this crucial gap, keeping loved pets in their homes and out of the overcrowded shelter system. Behind each application is a story of unconditional love and resilience. 

One cat who received care through the program, Sammy*, was suffering a painful intestinal infection that caused him to stop eating and begin vomiting. His guardian, Michelle*, took him in from a friend who had to go into a shelter. She lives on disability assistance and could not afford treatment. 

“He is my boy, and I don’t want to lose him. He loves waking me up in the morning at the most ungodly hour, tapping my face with his paws and bumping his nose on my face. I love him so much,” Michelle told the McVitie Fund program team.  

Thanks to the McVitie Fund, Sammy received multiple vet visits, overnight hospitalization, and medication that helped him recover and return home. 

“Sammy is just one of the thousands of pets whose lives depend on emergency funding,” said Archambault. “But our resources are stretched thinner every year. Without more support, we may not be able to help every family on a low income that needs emergency assistance.” 

The VHS is calling on the community for donations to sustain and expand the McVitie Fund as demand continues to grow, and is encouraging cross-sector collaboration to build long-term solutions that ensure no one has to choose between their own well-being and their animal’s care. 

To donate or learn more, visit vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/mcvitie-fund.  

*Names changed to protect privacy. 

– ends – 

Source: Vancouver Humane Society 

For more information, please contact:

Chantelle Archambault 

Communications Director 

604-416-2903 

chantelle@vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca  

Categories
Urgent Care

Bandit needs dental surgery!

Donate toward Bandit’s surgery


A little black dog with a big personality, Bandit is facing some serious dental issues. He is in pain, having difficulty eating, and several of his teeth need to be extracted. Left untreated, his guardian is concerned the infection could spread from his mouth to other parts of his body.  

Bandit’s guardian Theresa is unable to work as she is living with Fibromyalgia and CPTSD. Theresa shared, “Bandit came into my life after completing my addiction treatment and he was instrumental in motivating me to stay clean. He is my emotional support dog and very important since I do not have any family support. There was a time when if not for him I probably would not have left the house, but since we get out for regular daily walks, my anxiety has greatly decreased, and my mental health has become stable.” 

“Little black Bandit is notorious for breaking hearts! He is a very well-mannered distinguished gentleman, especially when it comes to treats and back scratches, or both.” 

Right now, Theresa cannot cover the full cost of his dental surgery on her own. She told us, “Being able to get the help we need would mean the world to Bandit and me because it would ensure that we could stay together for many years to come.” 

With help from the Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie program, Bandit will get the care he needs as soon as possible. 

Can you donate today toward the dental surgery that will help Bandit live pain-free again?

Categories
Urgent Care

Support urgent care for pets this Mother’s Day

Donate to help pets like Winnie

Donate to help pets like Winnie this Mother’s Day

When Paula’s beloved dog Winnie faced a life-threatening pregnancy complication, she turned to the VHS’s McVitie Fund for help. Thanks to donors like you, Winnie received an emergency C-section and spay just in time, delivering eight healthy puppies.
 
Paula is overjoyed to be able to continue life with her best friend by her side, and is giving Winnie all the love in the world as she recovers and cares for her new family.

When you make a gift to the McVitie Fund, you can also send a thoughtful e-card featuring Winnie and her puppies to someone you love. Your donation will help more animals like Winnie receive life-saving veterinary care when they need it most. 

Simply click on the “in honour of” button in the “Dedication” section of the online donation form. 


Your love will keep families like Paula’s healthy and together.

Categories
Urgent Care

Urgent care for Olga

Donate toward Olga’s care

Donate to help Olga this Valentine’s Day


When food-motivated kittly Olga lost interest in her food, Linda quickly took her to the animal hospital. There, vets determined that Olga is suffering from painful cysts on her teeth and will need dental surgery to remove them. Without the surgery, Olga is at risk of serious infection, and may stop eating altogether.

Linda is a single mother managing a disability while providing for her child and Olga. Linda told the VHS she adopted Olga when she was going through a difficult divorce. “She has been a huge source of love and companionship,” Linda said.

When you donate today to help Olga, you can choose to make a donation in honour of someone special and send a thoughtful e-card to their inbox.

Simply click on the “in honour of” button in the “Dedication” section of the online donation form. 


Can you help Olga get the care she needs to come home to Linda?

Categories
Urgent Care

Ghost needs surgery!

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Donate toward Ghost’s surgery


Adventurous Ghost the kitten was born with a partially developed hind leg. Though Ghost’s guardian, Destiny, delights in watching Ghost grow and discover all the wonders of life, it has become clear that Ghost’s back leg is making things challenging.
 
Ghost is struggling to move without splitting open the end of her back leg, which has prompted several visits to the vet to treat the wound. Vets have recommended that Ghost’s partial leg be fully amputated, or Ghost will continue to re-injure herself.
  
Destiny told the VHS that upon adopting Ghost, the pair instantly became best friends. It is heart-breaking for Destiny to see anything get in the way of her beloved Ghost’s joyful spirit, and she can’t bear to see her friend in pain. With amputation, Ghost will be free to move around on her other three legs without her partial leg getting in her way.
 
Trying to make everything work while living on a low income, Destiny has already spent all she can spare on Ghost’s previous vet visits. With help from the Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie Fund program, Ghost began getting the care she needed right away and will have her surgery as soon as possible.

Can you donate towards Ghost’s care today?

Categories
Urgent Care

Opi needs life-saving surgery!

Donate toward Opi’s life-saving care



Christine woke up to find her dog, Opi, lying on the floor, trembling and breathing unsteadily. His food and water bowls were untouched. When he did stand up, wobbling on his feet, he vomited. Christine rushed Opi to the vet.

There, x-rays found that Opi has swallowed a small bouncy ball that will need to be urgently removed from his intestines to save his life.

Christine lost both her partner and son within months of each other. Opi was Christine’s son’s dog and meant the world to him. Christine knew immediately that she would take Opi in as her own after her son passed away. It gives her comfort to be able to care for the dog her son loved so dearly.

“Opi is my life and the one thing I have left of my son. I can’t lose him too,” Christine told the VHS.

Christine is facing the immense challenge of grieving the loss of her family members while managing her recent cancer diagnosis. Though she’s relieved to learn Opi isn’t suffering from a serious illness too, Christine is devastated that she cannot afford the emergency surgery he needs to survive. Living on income assistance and unable to work, Christine has reached out the VHS for help.

With surgery, Opi is expected to quickly recover and go on to enjoy companionship with Christine for years to come.

Can you donate towards Opi’s life-saving care today?


Categories
Urgent Care

Handsome needs life-saving surgery!

Donate toward Handsome’s life-saving care



Every night, Handsome the cat curls up in bed nose-to-nose with his guardian Marlena and purrs her to sleep. When Marlena wakes each morning, Handsome is snoring peacefully by her feet.

Handsome has been Marlena’s steady support since she left home due to difficult circumstances at 18 years old. She took sweet Handsome in from a relative who could no longer care for him five years ago and the pair have been inseparable since.

Recently, Marlena noticed Handsome was frantically grooming between his legs while sitting by the litter box. When she approached him, he growled at Marlena in pain. Terrified for her friend, Marlena rushed Handsome to the vet.

There, Handsome was treated through catheterization for a urinary blockage twice, but the procedures were unsuccessful. Now veterinary staff have recommended urgent PU (perineal urethrostomy) surgery for Handsome to save his life.

Marlena is distraught. Having already spent all she can spare on Handsome’s initial treatments, she cannot afford the estimated $3,500 his surgery will cost.

Marlena can’t imagine a life without her boy. “Coming home and not seeing him while he’s been in the emergency vet has been heartbreaking and I’m hoping he’s not too scared or stressed being there,” Marlena told the VHS.

Your gift today can help Handsome get the life-saving surgery he needs to return to his home with beloved Marlena.

Can you donate towards Handsome’s life-saving care today?


Categories
Urgent Care

Finn’s happy homecoming!

Your gift helps families like Finn and Ginny’s today

Finn’s terrifying tale turned happy ending

Curious puppy Finn, wound up in a life-threatening situation with some socks recently. Luckily, thanks to supporters like you, the McVitie Fund was there to help.

When Finn’s guardian, Ginny, left her room to take clothes to the laundry, Finn took the opportunity to investigate a few socks that had fallen out of Ginny’s laundry hamper.

When the pair left the house for Finn’s usually treasured walk, Finn stopped, sat down, and threw up two socks.

After they came back inside, Finn still appeared lethargic and could not drink water. Ginny rushed him to an emergency veterinary hospital where initial x-rays showed Finn’s intestines were obstructed with socks. To survive, Finn would need $2,500 to cover diagnostics, surgery to remove the obstruction, and a three day stay at the veterinary hospital.

Ginny was distraught. Since rescuing Finn she has delighted in caring for him and spending her days by his side. The pair have become inseperable, and Finn’s loss would be devastating.

Difficult circumstances mean Ginny is currently living in temporary housing and had no funds available for Finn’s surgery. A trusted worker at Ginny’s temporary housing helped connect her with the McVitie Fund and she quickly filled out an application for Finn.

Because of supporters like you, the McVitie Fund was able to provide funding to get Finn the life-saving care he needed.

Ginny was astonished and overwhelmed with gratitude when she heard this news. She wrote to us, “thank you so very much!!! I’m so grateful and relieved!!! I love my puppy very much, this is wonderful news.”

Finn’s surgery went well, and after his hospital stay, Ginny got to take her dear friend home to recover and get a good night’s sleep by her side.

“Due to your support, he is thriving, happy and healthy again. I keep all the socks in a closed basket and out of reach, as this was a terribly traumatic experience for him and I, but you got us through it,” Ginny wrote.

“I truly appreciate the generous funding support you provided and will give back to the Humane Society when I’m able to. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart for your compassion and financial help in our time of need.”

Finn and Ginny are just one of hundreds of families helped thanks to thoughtful gifts from supporters like you this year. The McVitie Fund relies on your generosity to continue supporting low-income pet guardians across B.C. seeking emergency help for their beloved animal friends. Could you support families like Ginny’s with a donation today?

Categories
Urgent Care

Copper needs life-saving surgery!

Donate toward Copper’s life-saving care


Should you have any trouble making a donation on this page, please click here. In the Message to VHS portion of the donation form, you can write McVitie to let us know this gift is for animals in need of urgent care.

Sweet young Copper is full of life and loves to climb everything he can find. Sadly, his curiosity landed him in a difficult situation recently when his guardian, Janine, came home one day to find that he was limping on his back leg. After a trip to the vet for some X-rays, it was determined that Copper’s femur is badly broken. Janine believes he likely fell from a high surface while climbing.  Copper currently has very limited mobility and is experiencing a great deal of pain.

Due to the severity of the break, the vet has recommended a full amputation to mitigate the risk of a potentially life-threatening infection occurring.  As a senior on pension, Janine is unable to afford this costly procedure. She knows it is the safest route of treatment to ensure that Copper lives a happy and full life. With help from the Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie program, Copper will get the care he needs as soon as possible. 

Can you donate today toward the surgery that will help Copper get back to moving around and enjoying life?