The Companion Animal Wellness Foundation (CAWF) is a registered not-for-profit foundation dedicated to providing financial aid to economically disadvantaged pet owners whose companion animals are in need of emergency or specialty veterinary care.

CAWF was founded in 2006 by members of the veterinary community and by concerned pet owners, and is administered by a volunteer Board of Directors.  It is the mission of the foundation to assist both pet owners and veterinary practitioners in providing exemplary care for companion animals by lessening or eliminating the financial burdens of treatment, diagnostics and/or research. 

 Studies have shown that nearly 70% of Canadian households are pet owners yet the average income of these households is often not sufficient when faced with the potential for large veterinary bills associated with emergency, critical and specialty care. Though awareness has increased with regards to the treatment options available, this is not true of the costs of this standard of veterinary care, especially in Canada, where the general populace is not acquainted with the costs of healthcare. Pet owners are often unaware of the potentially high-costs of emergency and specialty veterinary care, and are therefore generally unprepared financially when a situation arises in which they require these services for their pets. When owners are not financially prepared it is the animal who suffers the most, without the ability to pay for these services euthanasia is frequently the only option.

Funding is currently provided on a case-by-case basis through the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Toronto (920 Yonge St) generally a referral from a primary care veterinarian is required. Cases funded must be emergency or specialty in nature with a good prognosis (and cannot be for a condition requiring ongoing care such as chemo therapy etc.) and pet owners must meet one of a variety of criteria.

If you feel you qualify for financial support from CAWF, provide your VEC veterinarian with all required supporting documentation. They will make the application to CAWF. Please see the “How We Work” tab for more details.

CLICK HERE FOR CRITERIA