Paws for Hope Animal Foundation is calling upon the provincial government to increase the number of seats funded at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine for BC veterinary students to avoid an animal welfare crisis that will result if the shortages of veterinarians across the province continues to increase. A recent labour market study reported an increasing veterinarian shortage in British Columbia. In a province where access to veterinary care is already an issue, this is alarming and unless something is done immediately, we will likely see the shortage increase dramatically over the next five to ten years.

In an already overburden sector, as the veterinarian shortage increases, access to veterinary care will decrease. This will create the potential for a crisis in animal welfare, particularly, in areas where veterinarian shortages are already impacting access to service.

About Paws for Hope Animal Foundation

Paws for Hope Animal Foundation is a BC animal welfare charity with a mission to shift the culture of companion animal welfare in British Columbia by creating new models of practice and remediating the underlying causes of harm through cross sector collaboration, education and advocacy.

We recognize the inadequate access to veterinary care is the number one animal welfare issue impacting companion animals and have established programs to increase that access, such as free animal health clinics, veterinary care grant funding and a low cost spay and neuter program.

Media Contact
Kathy Powelson, Executive Director
[email protected]
604-396-9297