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The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society (WECHS) and the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC) have launched a new mobile veterinary program designed to bring essential pet care directly to residents facing financial hardship and housing insecurity.
Helping Paws: Pet Health Access for Vulnerable Households will offer on-site wellness exams, vaccines, microchipping, flea treatment, deworming and spay/neuter referrals. WECHS says the pilot program is meant to fill critical gaps exposed during Windsor's 2024-25 parvovirus outbreak.
"The parvo outbreak showed how urgently accessible veterinary services are needed in our community," said Dr. Emily Durbin, WECHS's community veterinarian, in a media release. "Helping Paws provides preventative care where it's needed most, reduces disease spread, and helps keep pets with the people who love them."
According to Lynnette Bain, the executive director of the humane society, more than 30 animals died during the outbreak, and dozens more required costly treatment. These treatments often cost between $5,000 and $7,000 per dog. Many of the cases last year were concentrated in the Glengarry neighbourhood.
Bain says the mobile model is simple. Clinics will be set up directly in CHC buildings using community rooms or empty units.
"Helping Paws ensures that families don't have to choose between their own needs and their animals' well-being. By bringing services directly into the community, we're meeting people where they are," she explained. "They'll have tables and a separate spot for each vet to work with the tech to examine the animal and administer the vaccines."
The first clinic will run on Monday, Dec. 15, at 920 Ouellette Ave. from 11 a.m. to 1:50 p.m., and at 333 Glengarry Ave. from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. WECHS expects to visit 12 CHC communities throughout 2026.
Bain says WECHS hopes to serve at least 1,000 additional animals in 2026 through the Helping Paws program, with potential to expand if long-term funding is secured. Currently, WECHS performs approximately 6,000 spay/neuter surgeries annually through its shelter and community cat programs.
CHC CEO Fabio Costante says the clinics are fully funded. He added that tenants will be asked to show identification to confirm residency.
"We serve upwards of 12,000 tenants, many of which have a dog, a cat or many cats or dogs. And so this is of great need to the many tenants that we serve," he said. "For anyone who's ever owned a furry friend, you'll understand the bond and how they are essentially extensions of their own family."
For Glengarry resident Rose Grandmaison, who has lived in the building for seven years, the clinics are essential.
She has two dogs, Harley and Lily, as well as two rescue cats. She says she plans to use the clinic.
"It normally costs me $100 to get my shots and the nails clipped. But over here, being free, it helps me save that bit of money," she said.
Grandmaison says she hopes the program encourages more neighbours to vaccinate their pets.
"The majority of the people around here do not decide to get their pet shots," she said. "If people do come out, get their shots, it helps me not have to fear that my dogs will get sick from them."
Helping Paws is funded jointly by the Ontario SPCA Cares Fund, CHC and WECHS. The organizations say they are seeking long-term funding to continue and expand the program beyond 2026.