Vet Care Subsidies

PAWS programs fund needed pet care when people are desperately seeking a way to avoid losing a family pet to a shelter or euthanasia.

Members of the public with inadequate income (per published Low-Income-Cutoff data) who are unable to afford the cost of required, medically necessary veterinary care can apply for a subsidy. PAWS allowances improve access to preventive and critically-needed vet care.

Subsidy Coverage

We Subsidize:

Preventive care such as spays, neuters, vaccinations, parasite controls
Essential and urgent medical care
Our Subsidy Allowances are:
- Up to $150 for a cat’s preventive care (spay/neuter, vaccines)
- Up to $350 for a dog’s preventive care (spay/neuter, vaccines)
- Up to $400 per animal for diagnostics, essential and urgent medical care

We Don’t Cover:

Medically unnecessary procedures not for the benefit of the animal e.g. declaw, tail dock, etc.
Procedures that are not veterinarian-recommended
Applications from breeders or anyone convicted of animal cruelty.

Subsidy Eligibility

We are currently only able to service the follow counties in Ontario: Middlesex, Brant, Hamilton, Waterloo.

We hope to expand our coverage as more funds become available.

If you live within our service area and are struggling with low income, are unhoused or displaced or fleeing violence, you can apply for a vet care subsidy for your cat or dog.

If you don’t meet the qualifications, please Read these tips to find help.

Size Of Family Unit	LICO – 12 Months	LICO – 6 Months
one person	$28,217	$14,109
two persons	$35,128	$17,564
three persons	$43,187	$21,593
four persons	$52,434	$26,217
five persons	$59,470	$29,735
six persons	$67,073	$33,536
seven persons	$74,675	$37,337
If more than seven persons, for each additional person, add	$7,602	$3,801

Subsidy Criteria

Individuals must meet at least one of the following criteria to apply for vet care subsidy:

Meet the CRA’s Low Income Cutoff Criteria for household income; proof of income must be shown via CRA Notice of Assessment.
Be a resident of a temporary shelter, including women’s shelters and homeless shelters.
Be a person in-crisis, including but not limited to:
- Homelessness
- Fleeing violence
- Medical crisis requiring temporary care in a medical facility, including mental health
- Addiction crisis requiring treatment in a residential facility
Receiving government assistance, and able to show proof of registered program membership, including but not limited to:
- Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
- Ontario Disability Support Payment (ODSP)
- Canada Pension Plan Disability Payment (CPP Disability)
- Ontario Works Program (OWP)
- Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) (for those whose main residence is neither at university or with their parents, or who are aged 25 and over).

Community agencies and Veterinary clinics may apply on behalf of their clients who meet the above criteria.

How to Apply

A pet owner may apply for a maximum of two animals. Each animal requires a separate form.

1 form per pet and a maximum of 2 pets.