The Pet Ready Fund is now open! 

There will be a total of ten (10) grants given out to shelters across Canada.  

  • Four (4) grants of $5,000 each to shelters that currently allow pets

AND

  • Six (6) grants of $20,000 each to shelters that don’t currently allow pets.

The funding must be used to make the shelter/TH more pet* friendly. Becoming “pet friendly” involves removing barriers that prevent people and their pets from staying together in the shelters through thoughtful spatial design of shelter facilities including, but not limited to:  

These funds cannot be used for pet clothing, vet bills, etc.   
* Pet means a companion animal such as a cat, dog, or caged rabbit and excludes animals with a hoof and farm and livestock animals.   

  • Conversion of existing shelter spaces,

  • Construction of new shelter spaces including co-sheltering with individual pet rooms,

  • Pet-friendly communal housing.

Your organization can apply if: 

  • You operate a VAW shelter/transition house in Canada whose primary mandate is to offer 24/7 residential services for women, children, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and/or gender non-binary people fleeing domestic violence and are in good financial standing.

AND EITHER

  • Your VAW shelter/transition house currently allows clients’ pets to stay with them on-site

OR

  • Your VAW shelter/transition house has plans to allow pets on site

The application period closes on Tuesday, May 27 at 11:59 PT.

Invitations have been sent to all violence against women (VAW) shelter and transition house organizations across the country. If you haven’t received an invitation, please check your junk mail folder for an email from Women’s Shelters Canada. Otherwise, please contact us at grants@endvaw.ca.

Read the FAQ document for more information.