When Love Isn’t Enough in Canada’s Pet Care Crisis

The Hidden Cost of Care

A 2025 national study by PetSmart Charities of Canada and Gallup uncovered a startling truth—half of Canadian pet owners have delayed or declined necessary veterinary care. Of those, 67% cited financial hardship as the primary reason. Even among households earning over $90,000 a year, more than one in four admitted they’ve had to skip treatment due to cost.

Veterinary fees have surged 6–8% annually, far outpacing inflation. Today, the cost of caring for a dog ranges from $460 to more than $3,000 per year. A single emergency visit can push that bill up by another $2,000 to $5,600. Cat owners fare only slightly better, with annual expenses topping $1,380 and emergency costs exceeding $4,000.

Yet, just 21% of pet owners are offered payment plans. Two-thirds say that an interest-free option would significantly improve their ability to afford life-saving care.

“The cost of veterinary care has gone up tremendously post-pandemic for a variety of factors,” says Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, Chief Veterinarian at Kleinberg Veterinary Hospital. “All of that creates a perfect storm for a massive increase in the cost of owning a pet in Canada these days.”

At the heart of the crisis is a shortage of veterinarians. According to the Canadian Occupational Projection System, the country will face a shortfall of 700 veterinarians by 2031. Veterinary colleges produce only 450 graduates annually—and just 350 are Canadian citizens.

The gap continues to widen. Pet ownership surged during the pandemic, while many senior veterinarians are retiring. Nearly one in five vets has reduced their hours due to burnout or staffing constraints. In Quebec, 33% of clinics have shortened their operating hours. Half of all clinics are actively hiring—many unsuccessfully.

The impact is especially severe in rural and remote areas, where veterinarians are often on call around the clock. Provinces like British Columbia and Ontario have launched recruitment initiatives, offering support for telemedicine, mobile clinics, and innovation grants. But demand continues to outpace supply.

When Shelter Isn’t Secure

The growing housing crisis is forcing thousands of Canadians to make impossible choices—often at the expense of their pets. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) has tracked over 12,400 animal surrenders since 2014 linked directly to housing-related issues. In B.C., 31% of residents report difficulty finding pet-friendly rentals. These properties typically command higher rents and require larger deposits, placing them out of reach for many.

The PEI Humane Society recorded a 134% increase in pet surrenders in 2022. In Alberta, shelters regularly operate at full capacity.

“No pets allowed” clauses in leases are common, forcing some owners into precarious housing or even homelessness. Humane Canada is calling for a national Renters’ Bill of Rights that would prohibit blanket pet bans. According to polling, 73% of Canadians say they’ve been denied housing because of their animals.

The Geography of Inequality

Access to veterinary care varies dramatically depending on where you live. The PetSmart/Gallup study found that 54% of pet owners who live more than 10 kilometers from a veterinary clinic skipped care—compared to 46% of those who live closer.

Indigenous communities face the harshest barriers. Geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, and jurisdictional gaps mean many lack any form of veterinary service. The consequences are serious: increased disease transmission from free-roaming animals, untreated injuries, and declining animal welfare.

Emergency veterinary hospitals, once a last resort, are now in crisis mode. Operating much like human emergency rooms, these clinics prioritize the most urgent cases. Non-critical patients can wait hours—sometimes longer. For pet owners already in distress, the added burden is financial. A single emergency visit can cost thousands. Unlike routine care, emergency treatment cannot be postponed, forcing families to make heartbreaking decisions.

Insurance Isn’t the Safety Net It Should Be

With veterinary costs climbing, insurance might seem like a solution. But only 500,000 of Canada’s 16.5 million pets are insured. Monthly premiums average $89 for dogs and $46 for cats.

Many owners report limited coverage, high deductibles, and small reimbursements—leaving them with sizable out-of-pocket expenses. Regulation is sparse. Ontario became the first province to ban puppy mills in 2024, but enforcement remains weak. Meanwhile, shelters remain overwhelmed. Despite more than 150,000 spay and neuter procedures performed since 2009, overpopulation continues due to unregulated breeding and abandonment.

Food safety is an additional concern. In 2024, Canada experienced nine major pet food recalls, primarily due to contamination by metal fragments and pathogens. In January alone, the U.S. FDA received over 1,300 pet illness complaints—underscoring gaps in consumer protection and supply chain oversight.

A Call for Coordinated Action

What Canada’s pet care system faces is not a collection of isolated issues but a deeply interconnected crisis. Costs are rising. Clinics are overwhelmed. The workforce is shrinking. Access is unequal. Housing is unstable. And through it all, pet owners are being forced to choose between compassion and capacity. There are signs of innovation. Telemedicine platforms like PetsCare.com are expanding access. Grants from organizations such as PetSmart Charities are funding local solutions. But the scope of the crisis demands more.

A coordinated national response—one that includes governments, veterinary associations, housing advocates, insurers, and community leaders—is urgently needed. Without it, millions of animals and their owners will remain vulnerable, caught in a system ill-equipped to serve them.