Ottawa, ON (Sept. 25, 2025) – To mark World Rabies Day (September 28), Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord (VWB/VSF) has teamed up with six animal health partners across Canada, and with one on-the-ground partner in Ukraine, to host free animal vaccination clinics aimed at halting the spread of rabies and other preventable diseases.
“Rabies is 100% preventable through pet vaccination, yet it continues to remain a threat to communities with limited access to veterinary services,” says Janine Mitchell, Executive Director of VWB/VSF. “By partnering with incredible organizations from coast to coast to coast here in Canada, and with our partner overseas in Ukraine, World Rabies Day will become not just a day of awareness, but a powerful movement to deliver action, education, and life-saving care.”
In Canada, clinics are taking place in multiple provinces, offering free rabies and core vaccinations to pets whose families face barriers to veterinary care. Clinics include:
Ontario
- Ontario SPCA and Humane Society x VWB/VSF – Cornwall, Bracebridge
- Hamilton/Burlington SPCA x VWB/VSF – Hamilton, Simcoe
- The Leo Project x VWB/VSF – Kenora
Manitoba
- Winnipeg Humane Society x VWB/VSF – Winnipeg
Nunavut
- VWB/VSF – Gjoa Haven
Northwest Territories
- NWT SPCA x Tlicho Animal Care Society x VWB/VSF – Behchoko
Ukraine
- Patron Pet Center x VWB/VSF – Kyiv
Rabies vaccinations for these clinics are donated by VWB/VSF, made possible through generous financial support from Merck Animal Health.
In addition to clinics, VWB/VSF is also hosting a free World Rabies Day webinar on Monday, September 29 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET, titled: You, Me, and Community: Turning Action Into Impact. The webinar will feature leading animal health experts, including Dr. Gregory Pietsch from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Dr. Katinka de Balogh, former Senior Animal Health and Production Officer with the FAO Investment Centre, and Krystina Dragomaretska, Country Manager, Ukraine War Animals Relief Fund (UWARF) & 12 Guards team member. The webinar will highlight strategies to stop the spread of rabies, share lessons from frontline work, and explore how a One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnection between people, animals, and the environment, is vital to eliminating this disease worldwide. Register for the webinar here.
Interviews for clinics and the webinar are available upon request.
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About VWB/VSF: Founded in 2005, Veterinarians Without Borders/Vétérinaires sans frontières (VWB/VSF) is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to improving community health through enhanced animal health. Using a “One Health” approach, we work with diverse partners to strengthen community-centered animal health systems, directly benefiting the people and environments that rely on them. As the North American affiliate of VSF International, VWB/VSF operates independently, with ongoing programs in Africa, Asia, Northern Canada, and Europe. Our efforts focus on disease prevention, sustainable livelihoods, equitable access to resources, capacity building, and humanitarian relief, reaching over 1 million people annually. Learn more: www.vwb.org
Media Contact :
Laura Eley
Communications and Media Relations Manager
E: laura@vwb.org
C: +1 343-633-0272
