mobile veterinary clinic

Helping Paws

The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society (WECHS), in partnership with the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC) recently launched Helping Paws: Pet Health Access for Vulnerable Households—a pilot mobile veterinary program designed to bring essential pet care directly to individuals and families facing housing insecurity and financial hardship across Windsor-Essex.

Led by WECHS’s new Community Veterinarian, Dr. Emily Durbin, Helping Paws removes barriers to essential veterinary and spay/neuter services for underserved communities. Motivated by the 2024–25 parvovirus outbreak in Windsor, the program tackles critical gaps in accessible pet wellness care and supports the many individuals who depend on their pets for emotional support, stability, and safety.

“The parvo outbreak showed how urgently accessible veterinary services are needed in our community,” said Dr. Emily Durbin, WECHS Community Veterinarian. “Helping Paws provides preventative care where it’s needed most, reduces disease spread, and helps keep pets with the people who love them.”

Many residents of CHC and frontline shelters face complex barriers such as domestic violence, poverty, and unstable housing. Some delay leaving unsafe environments out of fear of being separated from their pets or being unable to care for them afterward. Helping Paws seeks to keep families—human and animal—together by offering subsidized, accessible, and judgment-free care.

“CHC is committed to supporting the well-being of our residents, including the pets who are part of their families,” said Fabio Costante, CEO of CHC. “This partnership removes barriers, increases safety, and strengthens household stability. We are proud to support an initiative that helps people stay housed, supported, and connected.”

Through Helping Paws, WECHS will provide on-site veterinary support clinics in underserved communities, minimizing transportation barriers; offer education on responsible pet ownership and basic animal health; and connect clients to ongoing resources such as pet food banks and emergency boarding.  The first clinic was offered on December 15th in the Glengarry neighbourhood, where the Parvo outbreak of 2024 was concentrated.

“Pets are often the most constant source of love and support in people’s lives, especially during times of instability,” said Lynnette Bain, Executive Director of WECHS. “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.”

Helping Paws is jointly funded by the OSPCA Cares Fund, the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation and The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society. WECHS and its partners are seeking sustainable long-term funding to continue and expand the program beyond 2026.

Helping Paws: Frequently Asked Questions

How can I access this service?
Our Helping Paws program is currently limited to CHC residences. If you live in a CHC community, we encourage you to express your interest in bringing the program to your building to WECHC.
When the WECHS Veterinary Clinic opened, our goal was to reduce the number of stray animals and remove financial barriers to essential veterinary care. As our community’s needs have evolved — and to continue to align with our mission —we’ve had to make thoughtful changes to ensure the greatest impact with the resources we have. Today, our clinic focuses on Trap-Neuter-Return and targeted support for owned pets. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for community cats is the most effective way to humanely reduce outdoor cat populations. Targeted support for owned pets through referrals from trusted community partners and municipal-issued vouchers for low-income residents and feral caregivers, ensures help reaches those who need it most. This approach allows us to reduce suffering at its source, prevent future homelessness, and support vulnerable families — all while staying within our capacity as a charitable organization.
The Helping Paws program is currently funded in part by the Windsor/Essex Community Housing Corporation, and so services are focusing on CHC residences. We hope that future funding may allow us to expand our services to other communities in Windsor/Essex in the future.
Helping Paws is jointly funded by the OSPCA Cares Fund, the Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation and The Windsor/Essex County Humane Society. WECHS and its partners are seeking sustainable long-term funding to continue and expand the program beyond 2026.
You can apply to be an event volunteer under the Get Involved section of our website! You can express your specific interest in helping with Helping Paws events on your application.

Thank you to our community partners who support this program: