Open
Last Update: May 15, 2026
Funding available
Varies by project
Timeline
- Open Date : February 3, 2026
Location
Canada
Overview
Cash grants support organizations responding to pets affected by major natural disasters. Funding helps cover immediate response costs such as shelter supplies, veterinary care, urgent repairs, and staff or volunteer expenses.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Train or support volunteers
- Renovate or expand facilities
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Timeline
- Open Date : February 3, 2026
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Emergency and Relief
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Emergency response for shelter, foster, and owned companion animals affected by natural disasters.
- Temporary support services for evacuated pets and their people.
- Community outreach to keep pets and people together during disaster response.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Authorized disaster responder animal welfare and human services organizations.
- Nonprofit and municipal or county pet shelters.
- Nonprofit veterinary clinics.
- Human service organizations with pet-focused programming.
- Canadian registered charities and Indigenous communities directly impacted by a disaster.
Who is not eligible
- Organizations that self-deploy without being requested by the Agency Having Jurisdiction.
- Organizations outside the impacted area.
- Requests for equine, livestock, or wildlife support.
- Individual pet owners requesting food or medical support.
- Requests unrelated to a declared natural or mass-care disaster.
Eligible expenses
- Shelter and fostering supplies and equipment, such as kennels, crates, carriers, food, waste management items, bowls, and leashes.
- Supplies and equipment for distribution to owned pets in the community.
- Veterinary care, including disaster-related treatment, vaccinations, and medications.
- Urgent temporary repairs needed to resume safe operations.
- Supplemental staff and volunteer costs, including overtime, lodging, meals, and transportation.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Permanent repairs and new construction.
- Spay/neuter services, grooming, and other non-disaster-related medical care.
- Support for equine, livestock, or wildlife.
- Emergency preparedness efforts, infrastructure purchases, or vehicles.
- Requests unrelated to a declared natural or mass-care disaster.
Eligible geographic areas
- Impact areas affected by the eligible disaster.
- Canada, for Canadian registered charities and Indigenous communities directly impacted by a disaster.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed after submission to confirm the request fits the disaster-response program.
- Support is limited to eligible disasters and must relate to the impacted area.
- Funding is not available for requests submitted after the 90-day window.
- Additional funding beyond the standard period requires approval.
Additional information
- Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the disaster.
- Funding is limited to response needs during the first 30 to 45 days after an eligible disaster.
- In exceptional cases, additional funding may be available for costs up to 60 days, subject to approval.
- Priority may be given to responses that support owned animals and keep pets and people together.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Disaster Response Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Disaster Response. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Disaster Response?
Cash grants support organizations responding to pets affected by major natural disasters. Funding helps cover immediate response costs such as shelter supplies, veterinary care, urgent repairs, and staff or volunteer expenses.
Who is eligible for the Disaster Response program?
To be eligible for the Disaster Response program, you must:
Authorized disaster responder or eligible pet-related organization
Directly affected by a natural disaster
Application submitted within 90 days
What expenses are eligible under Disaster Response?
Emergency response for shelter, foster, and owned companion animals affected by natural disasters.
Temporary support services for evacuated pets and their people.
Community outreach to keep pets and people together during disaster response.
Who can I contact for more information about the Disaster Response?
You can contact PetSmart Charities of Canada.
Where is the Disaster Response available?
The Disaster Response program is available across Canada.
Is the Disaster Response a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Disaster Response is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Disaster Response?
Disaster Response is funded by PetSmart Charities of Canada