The City of Toronto is in Crisis – Families are Struggling with the Cost of Pet Care

| October 23, 2023

Toronto Humane Society Addresses the Soaring Costs of Caring for Pets in the City 

TORONTO, ON. – October 23, 2023 – In the second installment of their series, “Toronto in Crisis,” Toronto Humane Society highlights a pressing concern affecting pet guardians in Toronto: the skyrocketing costs of pet care. Families in the city are grappling with the harsh realities of accessing essential healthcare for their beloved pets.

“The burden of high costs can lead to heartbreaking decisions for pet parents, and in response to this crisis, Toronto Humane Society is dedicated to offering sustainable solutions. To address this challenge, we have increased our Public Veterinary Services aimed at providing preventive care, such as spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and microchipping, to the community,” explains Lauralee Dorst, RVT – Division Manager, Public Veterinary Services at Toronto Humane Society.

The cost of pet care has reached unprecedented levels, making it increasingly challenging for families to provide their companion animals with the essential services they need. Toronto Humane Society recognizes that addressing this issue is not only about animal welfare but also about supporting families in need.

By opening more appointments to families in need of veterinary services, Toronto Humane Society aims to ease the financial burden on pet guardians and ensure that preventive care remains accessible to all. Spaying and neutering services help control the pet population, vaccinations protect against preventable diseases, and microchipping enhances the chances of reuniting lost pets with their families.

Toronto Humane Society is committed to making a positive impact on the lives of both pets and their guardians. By providing these essential services, the organization aims to keep families together and alleviate the financial strain that often forces painful decisions.

This initiative aligns with the organization’s overarching mission: “To Improve the Lives of Animals.” Through accessible Public Veterinary Services, the organization takes a significant step towards ensuring that no pet parent has to choose between their pet’s well-being and their financial constraints.

Toronto Humane Society in Action

Toronto Humane Society is not only sounding the alarm on the crisis but is actively working to find solutions. In light of the growing concerns for animal welfare in Toronto, the charity has expanded their Public Veterinary Services. Between January and September 2023, Toronto Humane Society provided 7,871 veterinary appointments. In this same period of time, the charity served families with over $1.3 million in below market rate services. These numbers are significantly higher than previous years due to the demand for pet services while also considering that many pet guardians are facing higher costs of living.

For further information and to learn more about Toronto Humane Society’s Public Veterinary Services, please visit www.torontohumanesociety.com


About Toronto Humane Society

Toronto Humane Society’s mission is to improve the lives of animals. The organization excels in all ways an animal shelter should, with industry-leading shelter care, veterinary services, animal training and behaviour consultations. Toronto Humane Society believes in the importance of the human-animal bond, finds new homes for thousands of animals and helps keep families together.

Toronto Humane Society is more than an animal shelter. They are an educational resource and support system, a leading voice in animal welfare and accessible care. The organization is also a centre of excellence, a space where best practices and boundary-pushing knowledge meet with unyielding optimism and a love for animals to create something special. Toronto Humane Society is like no other. For more information, visit www.torontohumanesociety.com.

For more information, or to arrange an interview please contact Lucas Solowey at communications@torontohumanesociety.com or call 416-392-2273 ext. 2196 

Interviews can be booked for Monday October 23rd, Tuesday October 24th, Thursday October 26th and Friday October 27th with our spokesperson:

Lauralee Dorst, Division Manager of Public Veterinary Services, Toronto Humane Society – Available for in-person interviews. Lauralee can speak to the growing demand for veterinary services and what Toronto Humane Society is doing to help more pets see vets in Toronto.