08/07/2026
This past week, you may have noticed our RVT, Lisa R., wasn’t around the clinic.
Lisa had the opportunity to travel to Thunder Bay to volunteer with the incredible team from the Community Veterinary Program, courtesy of Vets Around the Corner, helping care for the pets of families evacuated because of the wildfires in Northern Ontario.
Once the immediate needs of the evacuee pets had been met, the team turned their attention to another urgent need—setting up a temporary veterinary clinic at the Matawa Wellness Centre. The clinic is providing free and low-cost veterinary care to local families, where access to veterinary services has long been a challenge. The veterinary professionals already serving these communities work incredibly hard, but there simply aren’t enough resources to meet the growing need.
Lisa came home deeply moved by the kindness, generosity, and resilience of everyone involved. She would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Community Veterinary Program, Vets Around the Corner, the Matawa community, Matawa Pets & People, Northern Reach Network, and the many volunteers and foster families who stepped up to help. The compassion shown by everyone made an incredible difference for both people and their pets.
If you’re able, please consider donating to the GoFundMe campaign to help keep this temporary clinic open for a few more weeks. Every dollar helps provide much-needed veterinary care to pets that might otherwise go without.
If you’re a veterinary professional interested in volunteering your time, please contact [email protected]
