August 6, 2026

The Ontario SPCA receives $28,500 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada® to support animals impacted by wildfires 

Media Releases
media release ontario spca logo

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 

Stouffville, ON (Aug. 6, 2026) – In the wake of the devastating wildfires across Northern Ontario, the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society has mobilized to support evacuated families and the animals in their care. A generous $28,500 grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada® is helping strengthen those ongoing relief efforts, ensuring pets and the people who love them have access to the care and resources they need during this emergency. 

Working in close coordination with government agencies, communities, emergency response agencies, local municipalities, housing and social service providers, local Northern rescues, and regional animal welfare partners across the province, the Ontario SPCA is delivering comprehensive support to families displaced by the Northern Ontario wildfires and the animals in their care. The charity is helping keep people and their pets together by providing access to emergency sheltering, pet food and supplies, veterinary care, temporary accommodations and other essential supports. 

“The needs of communities affected by the Northern Ontario wildfires continue to evolve, and so does our response,” says Jennifer Bluhm, Vice President of Community Outreach Services, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “This grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada provides valuable support as we work alongside our partners to keep people and their pets together and ensure animals receive the care they need throughout this emergency.” 

“When families are impacted by disaster, pets are too. PetSmart Charities of Canada is proud to support the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society’s ongoing wildfire relief efforts through emergency grant funding,” says Marieke van der Velden, Manager, Canada Initiatives at PetSmart Charities of Canada. “Pets are family, and in times of crisis they need access to safe shelter, medical care, nutritious food and compassionate support. This funding will help provide those essential resources when they’re needed most.” 

Anyone affected by the wildfires who needs support with their pets is encouraged to call 1-888-ONT-SPCA (668-7722) and follow the prompts to be connected with available services. To learn more, visit ontarioscpaca.ca/emergency-response  

A large, fluffy dog with a thick tan, black, and cream coat stands on a leash outdoors on a gravel surface, looking directly at the camera.
A person wearing a disposable gown and gloves holds a tan puppy with white paws and a blue collar inside the back of a transport van.
A tan dog with one ear perked up and the other folded smiles at the camera while standing on a gravel lot.
A tiny brown puppy with a white muzzle and dark facial markings lies on a blanket indoors, looking curiously toward the camera.
Four young puppies of different coat colors gather around a food bowl on a white sheet in a kennel area, with a water bowl nearby.
Two puppies rest together on a towel, with a black puppy lying partially across a sleeping gray-and-white puppy beside a water bowl.
A man leads a German Shepherd on a leash through the lobby of an Ontario SPCA animal centre while a staff member stands behind the front desk.
Two veterinary staff members examine a gray-and-white Husky in a treatment room, with one gently holding the dog while the other performs a check.
A person wearing protective gloves and a disposable gown smiles while holding a black-and-tan puppy in front of an Ontario SPCA and Humane Society transport vehicle.
A person in protective gear smiles while holding two puppies as the puppies face one another in front of an animal transport vehicle.
Two veterinary professionals care for a Husky in an exam room, with one holding the dog steady while the other administers medication using an oral syringe.
A veterinary professional prepares to examine an orange cat on an exam table while another person offers the cat a treat to help keep it calm.

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Media Contacts: 

Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Media Relations 
905-898-7122 x 375 
[email protected] 

24-Hour PetSmart Charities Media Line:  623-587-2177 

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society   

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a registered charity that has been changing the lives of animals for over 150 years. The Society provides care, comfort and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario. It values all animals and advocates to treat them with respect and kindness. The Society strives to keep pets and families together and does so through a variety of community support services, such as sheltering and adoptions, including emergency sheltering, feral cat management programs, animal transfers, food distribution, humane education, animal advocacy, and spay/neuter services.  

The Ontario SPCA does not receive annual government funding and relies on donations to provide programs and services to help animals in need. To learn more, or to donate, visit ontariospca.ca. Charitable Business # 88969-1044-RR0002.  

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society Northwest Animal Centre, formerly the Thunder Bay & District Humane Society, is located on the traditional territory of Fort William First Nation, part of the Anishinabek Nation and signatory to the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850. We honour the long-standing stewardship of these lands and the connection Indigenous communities have with animals, and we are committed to nurturing respectful partnerships across the North. 

About PetSmart Charities of Canada 

PetSmart Charities of Canada is committed to making the world a better place for pets and all who love them. Through its in-store adoption program in PetSmart® stores across the country, PetSmart Charities of Canada has helped over 400,000 pets find loving homes. PetSmart Charities of Canada also provides grant funding to support organizations that advocate and care for the well-being of all pets and their families. Our grants and efforts connect pets with loving homes through adoption, improve access to affordable veterinary care and support families in times of crisis with access to food, shelter, and emergency relief. Each year, thousands of generous supporters help pets in need by donating to PetSmart Charities of Canada directly at PetSmartCharities.ca, while shopping at PetSmart.ca, and by using the PIN pads at checkout registers inside Canadian PetSmart stores. In turn, PetSmart Charities of Canada efficiently uses more than 90 cents of every dollar donated to fulfill its role as the leading funder of animal welfare in Canada, granting more than $40 million since its inception in 1999. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered Canadian charity. To learn more visit PetSmartCharities.ca.