An Alberta woman is calling for changes to the way pets are dealt with under provincial family law, after similar changes in B.C. earlier this year.
An advocate in Alberta has launched a petition asking that the Alberta goverment follow B.C.’s lead in considering pets as more than property under family law.
The provincial government in B.C. made changes to the Family Law Act this past January. With these changes, pets are no longer treated as “property” in divorce and separation proceedings, recognizing their safety, well-being, and place as part of the family.
Animals still considered property under Canadian Law
Animals are still considered property under federal law. The Vancouver Humane Society, along with animal protection organizations and experts across the country, is calling on the federal government to recognize animals as sentient beings with a new petition.
Can you support this important initiative and help strengthen legal protections for animal well-being?
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?
Your gift helps us say YES to pets in need of life-saving care today
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.
The sad truth is, we can’t keep up
Every day, animal guardians desperate to save their pets’ lives reach out to the Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie Fund program for urgent veterinary support. With applications to the McVitie Fund having increased more than tenfold since 2020, demand has far outstretched the donations we’re able to bring in to help animals in need.
Recently we spent $1,600 to help sweet Lily, a dog who required emergency care. I’m sharing Donna and Lily’s story with you in the hope that you can help retroactively cover the cost of Lily’s care so we can continue saying yes to more animals like her today.
Donna’s application to the McVitie Fund struck me deeply. Her words—“I really need help. I’m praying that we can get help”—echoed with such raw urgency and fear. I could almost feel her trembling hands and racing heart as she typed them.
Donna explained in her application that she is a senior who struggles with her health and lives paycheque to paycheque on disability payments.
When a friend could no longer care for Lily, Donna happily offered to take the darling pup into her home. Lily has since become fast friends with Donna’s cat, Stripey, and Donna’s daughter, Katie. Katie has special needs and lives with and is cared for by Donna.
Donna rushed to the vet having noticed a dip in Lily’s energy along with bloody-looking discharge. There she learned Lily was suffering from a pyometra infection.
The chance of a pyometra infection resolving itself without surgery is extremely low, and if surgery is not performed quickly, the infection will often prove fatal. I called Donna and the vet to let them know, yes, we will cover the cost of Lily’s life-saving surgery.
A few days later Donna called me, her voice full of joy and relief. She let me know that Lily was recovering well from her surgery. Both Katie and Stripey had rushed to greet Lily with kisses as soon as she got home.
Through tears of gratitude Donna said, “a million thank yous are not enough for what you have done, and my gratitude will never be enough! Thank you for saving my Lily!“
Donna’s plea is mine too: on behalf of low-income pet guardians across B.C. who find their pets in crisis, can you help? Could you spare any amount and be the reason a pet returns home healthy this fall?
With gratitude, Brooklyn Fowler-Moros, Program Manager – McVitie Fund
Brittney and her son love to guess what their chatty cat, Bodie, is trying to say with his delightful chirps and playful meows.
When a much different noise, a loud and desperate crying, startled both Brittney and her son awake, they immediately knew something was wrong. Rushing to Bodie’s side, they found him straining in his litter box. Bodie looked up at his guardians with wide, terrified eyes.
At the veterinary clinic, Bodie was treated for a urinary obstruction that didn’t resolve itself. Vets have urgently recommended bloodwork and x-rays to determine whether Bodie needs surgery.
Brittney is a single mother who fiercely devotes herself to caring for both her son and Bodie. Brittney’s son is experiencing challenges that require full-time care and leave Brittney unable to work. Having already spent more than $1,000 on Bodie’s initial treatment, Brittney has no additional funds to spare. Can you donate today toward Bodie’s urgent medical care?
An anonymous donor is currently generously matching all donations toward the VHS’s McVitie Fund, up to $25,000! This means your donation to help Bodie will have double the impact.
Senior Man Sitting On Sofa At Home With Pet Labrador Dog
Read or watch the story on Global News: As animal shelters across the country are in crisis with an overflow of animals, animal organizations are pushing to end pet restrictions in rental housing.
“A recent parliamentary petition started by Humane Canada is asking the House of Commons to include a specific provision for tenants with pets in the new Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights that was proposed in the 2024 federal budget.”
Read more about how pet-friendly rental housing helps animals and the humans who love them, and sign the petition from the Parliament of Canada website!
Canadians love, value and rely on the emotional support of their pets; yet most provinces in Canada still allow pet restrictions in rental housing that split people up from their beloved companion animals.
One of the top three reasons people surrender their pets to animal shelters is loss of suitable housing, which is increasing across the country due to national economic challenges.
Meanwhile, animal shelters across the country are in crisis and are at their capacity.
A new federal e-petition calls for legal changes to ensure tenants with pets are no longer excluded from rental housing.
Can you sign the petition help animals stay with their families?
Join MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Humane Canada, the Vancouver Humane Society, and animal organizations across the country in asking the federal government to include Canadian tenants with pets in a legally binding, nationwide Canadian Renters’ Bill of Rights with a specific provision for companion animals, voiding any “no pet” clauses in tenancy agreements so that tenants with pets are no longer excluded from rental housing.
Sign the federal e-petition on the Parliament of Canada website before November 2nd at 7 am.
Important: After you sign the petition, be sure to check your email and click the confirmation link to ensure your signature is counted.
This past weekend, I was in the Downtown Eastside sharing emergency veterinary resources and handing out pet supplies as part of the Vancouver Humane Society’s Because They Matter event. The tables were laden with bright new leashes, harnesses, and toys, tempting treats, and sturdy carriers and litter boxes.
I spoke with a man who carefully fitted new shoes onto his dog’s feet, telling me how she would now be safer walking around on the sidewalks. As one person switched her dog’s collar for a well-fitting harness, she turned to me and said, “You folks are angels.” A sweet pup walked over carrying a new toy in his mouth and rested his paws on my knee when I bent down to greet him. His tail wagged until he and his smiling guardian rounded the corner out of sight.
The Downtown Eastside is one of Canada’s most placed-at risk communities, where many residents spend their days on the streets. Folks are either unhoused or seeking relief and community away from the under-resourced single room occupancy buildings (SROs) where they live. Many people are living on extremely limited incomes, like disability assistance or pensions, and can’t afford the ever-rising cost of living in our city.
In the heart of the Downtown Eastside, where life’s hardships often loom large, there’s a remarkable testament to love and resilience in the form of pet guardians. Each year, I hear stories of connection, family, sacrifice, and unconditional love from people with pets. I have heard people say they didn’t know how they would afford groceries that week, but they had bought a new bag of pet food with their last $30. In turn, their animals provide companionship and joy that helps get them through difficult days.
A youth who stopped by the event shared that she had been precariously housed with roommates for several months. Recently, she lost her housing because of having a dog. She chose to keep her beloved companion with her rather than to be housed without him. She is not alone in this difficult decision; unhoused individuals who have pets are often forced to choose between shelter and their animal companions and, as a result, are more likely to sleep unsheltered than those without pets.
For a long time, a common public opinion has been that pet guardianship should be limited to people deemed wealthy enough to “afford” it. But human-animal families come in all shapes, sizes, and income levels. The “don’t get a pet if you can’t afford the vet” mentality ignores circumstances beyond a pet guardian’s control, while dismissing the profound trauma that both pets and their guardians can be subject to when forced to separate. It also does not account for the many animals who come into their guardians’ lives unplanned.
One couple I spoke with had taken in a dog and her litter of puppies twelve years earlier from a friend who could no longer care for them. They spent long nights caring for the newborns and ensuring they were all receiving enough food. Eventually, they rehomed all but one of the dogs. The runt of the litter, Remy-Roo, became like their own baby. When she was afflicted with a life-threatening pyometra infection before they had a chance to have her spayed, they scraped together funds for her emergency surgery. As I saw the three of them together, Remy-Roo snuggled into them, licked their faces, and looked at them like they were her whole world. Her bright eyes and slightly greying fur spoke of a lifetime of happy memories.
Their story – taking in a pet from someone who didn’t have the capacity to keep their animal at home anymore – was echoed by nearly everyone I spoke with at Because They Matter. A man had taken in a cat from his ailing mother. A woman was regularly watching and walking a dog whose senior guardian had limited mobility. A man cared for his neighbour’s dog each time she had to work.
Research tells us that this phenomenon is well understood by people from low-income communities. In a recent study, one participant stated, “A lot more people who live in poverty or are low-income are more willing to rescue animals, because there’s this greater sense of community.”
This mutual aid within the community is sorely needed. In the wake of rising costs of living, people living in poverty face a growing number of barriers to keeping their pets. Financial struggles continue to be one of the top reasons people surrender their pets to shelters. And with animal shelters across Canada still struggling to meet the surge in demand, there is often nowhere for animals to go.
The solution for animals in loving, low-income families is not to hand them off to people with more resources, but to make more resources available to the people who already care for them.
The Vancouver Humane Society’s McVitie Fund program is one such resource. The program provides life-saving veterinary support to pet guardians living on a low income, saving them from the heart-wrenching decision of watching their pet suffer or giving them up to get the help they need to survive. Demand for the program has skyrocketed over the past five years, rising from about one animal helped each week in 2019 to an average of 15 each week in 2024.
The stories I heard this weekend are a testament to the deep, unwavering commitment that loving guardians in the Downtown Eastside have to their animals, despite facing their own hardships. These animals are essential members of the community; they are family members who provide love, companionship, and a sense of purpose.
By embracing a culture of empathy and support, we can ensure that these human-animal families stay together, because they matter.
Help Nylah recover from dangerous bleach poisoning!
Nylah is a sweet young dog with a penchant for adventure. Unfortunately, this has landed her in a difficult situation as she accidentally got into a cupboard and knocked over a bottle of bleach. Her guardian, Hope, made sure to clean up the spill and wash Nylah’s body thoroughly. She was advised to monitor her for any adverse symptoms.
Nylah initially seemed unharmed, but closer to the end of the day she began displaying symptoms of discomfort followed by vomiting and a bloody bowel movement. Hope rushed Nylah to the emergency vet where they found that she is suffering from pancreatitis due to toxicity.
Hope is a full-time student who is also the caretaker and guardian for her family. Her limited funds mean she is unable to afford the costly in-hospital care that Nylah needs.
An anonymous donor is currently generously matching all donations toward the VHS’s McVitie Fund, up to $25,000! This means your donation will have double the impact.Can you donate today toward Nylah’s life-saving medical care?
Your donation to help Milo the cat will be DOUBLED
Spending every day by Milo’s side, Christine was quick to notice his trouble urinating and loss of interest in playing with his favourite mouse toy.
Troubled, Christine rushed Milo to the vet where it was discovered that Milo is suffering from urinary crystals. He will urgently need to be treated with hospitalization, urinary cathererization, and IV fluids.
Christine has had to make many adjustments to her life since she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Through it all, her love of Milo has never wavered.
Despite painful days and uncertainty about her future, being able to care for Milo and keep him happy and healthy gives Christine a sense of peace.
Unable to work, Christine’s only income is received through the very limited Persons with Disabilities payments she receives. Having spent what little she had to spare on determining the cause of Milo’s suffering, Christine has run out of funds for his emergency treatment.
With Milo in need, Christine can’t sleep. “To me, he’s family,” she told the VHS.
An anonymous donor is currently generously matching all donations toward the VHS’s McVitie Fund, up to $25,000! This means your donation will have double the impact.
Could you please consider donating towards Milo’s life-saving care today? Your gift today is a gesture of love that will help return Milo home to Christine.
Princess needs treatment for a severe ear infection!
Princess is a cuddly 14-year-old cat who recently developed an ear abscess. After an initial vet appointment and treatment, the painful abscess returned and is severely infected. Without treatment, this could be fatal for Princess.
Her guardian, Anna, does everything she can to ensure that Princess is well taken care of. The two have been inseparable ever since Anna rescued Princess as a kitten. Unfortunately, Anna has been facing some health challenges of her own and after using the last of her remaining funds on the first vet appointment and treatment, she is now unable to afford treatment for this severe infection. She has reached out to the Vancouver Humane Society for support.
Can you donate today to help Princess get the care she needs to live out her golden years without pain?
