Press release | Spring Match Campaign Raises More Than $83,000 to Expand Access to Veterinary Care
Skip to Main Content

Spring Match Campaign Raises More Than $83,000 to Expand Access to Veterinary Care

Posted Jun 18th, 2026 in Country, Media Releases, News

OTTAWA, ON – June 18, 2026 – Veterinarians Without Borders North America / Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord (VWB/VSF) is proud to announce that its 2026 Spring Match campaign raised more than $83,000 to help expand access to veterinary care for animals and communities around the world.

From May 6 to June 17, supporters across North America came together to help bring veterinary care within reach where it is not always accessible. Thanks to the generosity of donors, along with matching support from Zoetis and an anonymous donor, the campaign will help strengthen animal health services in communities facing barriers to care.

“Across many of the communities where we work, veterinary care is not always available when it is needed,” said Janine Mitchell, Executive Director of VWB/VSF North America. “Distance, conflict, and limited access to veterinary services can all create barriers to care. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, more animals will be able to receive preventive care, treatment, and support through mobile veterinary clinics, local veterinary partners, and community-based animal health workers who help bring care closer to home.”

Funds raised through the campaign will support efforts to improve access to veterinary care in Northern Canada, Ukraine, and communities across Africa and Asia. This includes supporting mobile veterinary clinics in remote communities, strengthening local animal health systems, responding to urgent animal health needs in crisis-affected regions, and expanding community-based animal health services that help ensure care is available when and where it is needed.

Veterinary care plays an important role not only in animal health and welfare, but also in supporting livelihoods, food security, and community well-being. Through its One Health approach, VWB works alongside local partners to strengthen community-centered animal health systems that benefit animals, people, and the environments they share.

“We are deeply grateful to Zoetis and to the anonymous donor who helped extend the campaign’s matching opportunity,” added Mitchell. “Their generosity encouraged even greater participation and allowed donor support to go further, helping more animals and communities access essential veterinary care.”

------------------------------------------------

About VWB/VSF: Founded in 2005, Veterinarians Without Borders North America / Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord (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 

About Zoetis: Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture the world and humankind by advancing care for animals. With a legacy of nearly 75 years, Zoetis continues to pioneer ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness, supporting veterinarians, livestock producers, and pet owners in over 100 countries. They integrate deep scientific expertise, data-driven R&D, advanced manufacturing, and commercial excellence to deliver meaningful innovation across medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, biopharmaceuticals, and digital solutions. Guided by a vision to be the most trusted and valued animal health company, Zoetis is committed to setting new standards for the future of animal care. Learn more: www.zoetis.com

Media Contact:
Tanja Kisslinger
Director of Communications
VWB/VSF North America
tanja@vwb.org / +1 613 413 5776

Stories From Around The World

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: A Time to Listen, Learn and Reflect

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: A Time to Listen, Learn and Reflect

Posted Sep 24th, 2026

On September 30, VWB joins Canadians in marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. We reflect on the importance of listening, learning, and respectful relationships in our work alongside Indigenous communities in northern Canada, and share resources for continued learning.

Read more

Webinar Replay: World Rabies Day 2026 - Rabies is Preventable. So, What’s Stopping Us?

Webinar Replay: World Rabies Day 2026 - Rabies is Preventable. So, What’s Stopping Us?

Posted Sep 11th, 2026

Watch a replay of our World Rabies Day 2026 webinar, which brought together perspectives from Alaska, Ukraine, and Laos to explore why rabies persists despite being preventable — and what stronger access, local capacity, coordination, and resilient animal and human health systems can contribute to progress toward ending human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

Read more

VETS Volunteer Voices: The Doctor Who Kept Coming Back to Ghana

VETS Volunteer Voices: The Doctor Who Kept Coming Back to Ghana

Posted Sep 3rd, 2026

#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you stories of our passionate VETS program volunteers from the field. Meet Dr. Joseph Ansong-Danquah, a Ghanaian-Canadian veterinarian who has volunteered with VWB in Ghana since 2017. In 2026, Joseph is completing his final VETS placement after nine years of supporting farmers, communities, partner organizations and fellow volunteers across the country.

Read more

  • When an animal is sick, it is not only the animal. It affects food. It affects money. It affects the whole family.
    - Khadia Diallo (Community Animal Health Worker, Senegal)

Become A Part Of The Big Picture

By supporting Veterinarians Without Borders through donations or volunteering, you become part of the Big Picture solution. 

Volunteer  Donate  

+1(343) 633-0272 Contact