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PetSmart Charities of Canada Helps Nova Scotia SPCA Expand Access and Education in Veterinary Care with New Funding  

Waterfront Media HFX Updated May 5, 2026 at 8:11 AM
PetSmart Charities of Canada Helps Nova Scotia SPCA Expand Access and Education in Veterinary Care with New Funding  
**** NS SPCA Release

PetSmart Charities of Canada Helps Nova Scotia SPCA Expand Access and Education in Veterinary Care with New Funding 

Funding Will Help Nova Scotia Veterinary Students and Pet Families Across the Region 
The Nova Scotia SPCA has received a total of $200,000 in grant funding from PetSmart Charities of Canada® to further expand access to veterinary care for local pet families in Northern Nova Scotia, and educate students at the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare about accessible care. The PetSmart Charities of Canada-Gallup State of Pet Care Study revealed 50 per cent of pet parents skipped or declined veterinary care, largely due to financial concerns. To expand care opportunities for local pet parents, half of this new funding will help the SPCA hire more staff to increase the availability of appointments at Tartan Tails Veterinary Hospital in Stellarton. The other half of the funding will support the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare in Dartmouth to educate students in both the Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Assistant programs about accessible animal care. The Nova Scotia SPCA follows “spectrum of care” principles at their three Tartan Tails Veterinary Hospitals, creating a framework that tailors veterinary medical options that consider the pet’s needs alongside each pet family’s circumstances based on their resources, finances, and goals. “The grant funding will not only expand availability of accessible care in the province, but will allow for the adaptation of both the Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Assistant curriculum to include access to care, embedding the principles into all courses,” says SPCA College vice-president, Marni Tuttle. “Students will have supervised rotations in the SPCA Tartan Tails Veterinary Hospitals, ensuring real-world application of access to care principles, learnings that they will take with them as they embark on their careers. We’re thankful to PetSmart Charities of Canada for funding that will support this important work.” Millions of pets across Canada lack access to the veterinary care they need. In 2023, PetSmart Charities of Canada responded to that reality with a commitment of more than $18 million over five years to dismantle the financial, geographical and logistical barriers standing between pets and the care they deserve. Through its Accelerator grant program, PetSmart Charities of Canada supports nonprofit and low-cost veterinary providers working to expand services and reach more families in need. “Pets are family, and access to veterinary care is critical in ensuring they stay healthy and remain in their loving homes,” said Aimee Gilbreath, president of PetSmart Charities of Canada. “When care is declined or skipped due to finances, small medical issues can become serious and far more expensive. We’re proud to partner with the Nova Scotia SPCA to help create practical, sustainable goals that meet the needs of their community.” Pets play an important role in the lives of those who love them, and the Nova Scotia SPCA is committed to keeping families together through veterinary medical education and hands-on care.
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About Nova Scotia SPCA  Proudly following no-kill principles, the Nova Scotia SPCA is a registered charity that helps companion animals in need. In 2025, over 25,000 pets were helped through animal rescue, progressive programs, rehoming opportunities, and veterinary hospitals. The Nova Scotia SPCA operates three public Tartan Tails Veterinary Hospitals, five social-enterprise thrift stores, six animal shelters, and the Nova Scotia SPCA College of Animal Welfare. The Nova Scotia SPCA does not receive any government funding for shelters, programs, college or hospitals, so the SPCA relies on community support to help care for local pets in need. To learn more, visit www.novascotiaspca.ca. About PetSmart Charities of Canada  PetSmart Charities of Canada® is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in PetSmart® stores across the country, PetSmart Charities of Canada has helped over 400,000 pets find loving homes. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter, and emergency relief. Each year, thousands of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada directly at PetSmartCharities.ca, while shopping at PetSmart.ca, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside Canadian PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $40 million since its inception in 1999. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity. To learn more or make a donation, visit PetSmartCharities.ca.
 
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