OTTAWA, ON, January 6, 2023 – In the spirit of the late, great actress, Betty White, who was a life-long supporter of animal welfare and animal charities, Veterinarians Without Borders/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières (VWB/VSF) is inviting others to carry on Betty’s legacy of kindness by joining the Betty White Challenge and donating at least $5 to an animal charity of your choice, while encouraging others to do the same. This digital challenge runs until January 17, which marks what would have been Betty’s 101st birthday.
The need is greater than ever to support animals and communities across the globe through access to veterinary care and basic animal training and necessities. From Ukrainian animal shelters and pet owners, that are without heat and power this winter due to damaged infrastructure, to remote northern communities in Canada where the closest veterinarian is a plane-ride away, and farmers in sub-Saharan Africa who are in desperate need of access to agricultural veterinary care and training – particularly in our changing climate – your gift will provide life-saving support for animals and the people that depend on them.
Learn how you can join the Betty White Challenge at vetswithoutborders.ca/bettywhitechallenge
Media Contact
Charmaine Brett
Executive Director
E: charmaine@vetswithoutborders.ca
C: +1-613-880-1655
About Veterinarians Without Borders/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières
Using a One Health approach, Veterinarians Without Borders (VWB) works for, and with, communities in need to foster the health of animals, people and the environments that sustain us. VWB works in Africa and Asia to improve the living conditions of the most disadvantaged rural populations through veterinary and agricultural services, sustainable animal production, training, value chain development and sustainable natural resource management. Additionally, we support remote Northern Canadian communities to improve animal health through temporary spay and neuter clinics, reduce the spread of rabies, and work to create the conditions for long-term, community-led sustainable animal health services.
Learn more at vetswithoutborders.ca
-30-
Skip to Main Content
![]()
Veterinarians Without Borders joins Betty White Challenge, inspiring kindness for animals
Stories From Around The World
Inside the Household: How Gender Integration Is Strengthening One Health in Senegal
Based on field insights from Senegal, this blog examines how VWB’s COHERS program is helping drive early gender-transformative change at the household level — reshaping who decides, who acts, and how families respond to risks affecting both human and animal health.
VETS Volunteer Voices: Bridging Knowledge and Community in Laos
#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. Meet Hiya Goyal, a Communications Advisor who spent five months in Laos (November 2025–March 2026) with our local partner, Health Poverty Action, strengthening communications and knowledge sharing while exploring how listening and storytelling can bridge gaps between policy, research, and community experience.
When Veterinary Care Isn’t Within Reach: What access to care means for animals and communities
In many regions, the difference between a minor health issue and a serious condition comes down to whether care can be reached in time. This blog explores the practical barriers to veterinary access — from distance to disrupted systems — and what changes when care becomes available.
-
I have seen first-hand the benefits of capacity building and gender empowerment for smallholder livestock farmers, and stakeholders in the livestock sector.