Community Vitality 2025 - Progressive Animal Welfare Services
Community Vitality 2025
Progressive Animal Welfare Services
Affordable Veterinary Care for Pet Owners in Need of Support
Grant: $60,000 over 3 years
Grant Summary: Progressive Animal Welfare Services is dedicated to supporting the welfare of humans and their animal companions by subsidizing and improving access to veterinary care for members facing homelessness, domestic violence, and poverty, or living with disability.
Left to right: Deanna Vowels, Emily Birkner, Linda Armstrong
Progressive Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) is a volunteer-run organization that bridges the gap between animal welfare and human well-being by providing subsidized veterinary care to low-income and in-crisis individuals in London and Middlesex. Their $60,000 Community Vitality grant will help meet the growing demand for this service.
For many people facing homelessness, domestic violence, poverty, or disability, pets are more than companions—they are lifelines. When the cost of veterinary care becomes a barrier to keeping these animals healthy and safe, PAWS steps in to ensure that no one needs to choose between their own well-being and their pet’s health.
PAWS received over 1,860 applications for subsidized veterinary care in 2023-24, more than the years between 2020 and 2023 combined. While they’ve increased their outreach and visibility over time, this surge in applications is reflective of the growing need for financial support for people in Southwest Ontario. With this grant, PAWS will be able to help an estimated 300 people in London and Middlesex County by offering services for their pets such as vaccinations, diagnostics, spay/neuter procedures, and emergency treatments.
“Helping vulnerable people afford care for their pets greatly enhances their mental well-being, offers a bevy of benefits that are often directly aligned with the needs of those in addiction recovery and contributes to a more inclusive and equitable community,” said Board Chair Linda Armstrong. “PAWS fills an important gap in enhancing the health and well-being of a community.”
Aside from this work, PAWS has been working with local shelters like Anova since 2020 to help make their facilities pet-friendly, removing a major barrier for survivors of intimate partner violence seeking safety.
By supporting pet owners from marginalized communities, especially those affected by homelessness who are disproportionately affected by homelessness, PAWS fosters a more inclusive and compassionate community—one where everyone, regardless of income or circumstance, can experience the companionship of a pet.
Full list of 2025 Community Vitality grant recipients:
Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners: Dementia Support for Marginalized Communities ($232,400 over 3 years)
Forest City Film Festival: Vital Signs Program Support ($75,000 over 3 years)
Growing Chefs! Ontario: Learn to Grow, Grow to Give ($225,000 over 3 years)
John Howard Society of London & District, John Howard Society of Ontario, and Goodwill Industries: Fair Chances Employment Pipeline Project ($109,500 over 2 years)
Ontario Nature and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation: Cross-cultural Collaboration to Enhance Climate Resiliency ($170,000 over 3 years)
Progressive Animal Welfare Services: Enhancing Well-Being of London's Vulnerable Communities through PAWS ($60,000 over 3 years)
Southwest Middlesex Health Centre: Mental Health and Wellness Support for Indigenous Patients ($138,544 over 2 years)
STEAM Education Centre: Building Indigenous Equity in STEAM for the Jobs of Tomorrow ($225,000 over 3 years)
Type Diabeat It: Type Diabeat It Kitchen ($300,000 over 1 year)