The Northern Animal Health Initiative is focused on improving animal health in Canada's North by providing services for underserved communities across Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
VWB's Northern Animal Health Initiative (NAHI)
Goal: Our goal is to build capacity for animal health care across Canada's North by providing veterinary clinics and training to remote communities that have no access to veterinary professionals. In doing so, we aim to help strengthen the health of both community members and domesticated animals living in Canada's territories.
Groups We Work With: Remote communities, including Indigenous communities, across northern Canada. VWB/VSF works with each community on an invite-only basis.
Where: Northwest Territories and Nunavut
The Situation
Those of us who live in large urban communities in North America are fortunate to have access to trusted veterinary professionals who can provide our animals with care, including vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, and general care when our animals are injured or sick. For the majority of pet guardians across Canada's remote North, these services are simply unavailable. In fact, a 2017 study conducted on behalf of VWB/VSF found 54 remote communities of 100 or more people in Canada’s three northern territories had little or no access to veterinary services. In the entire territory of Nunavut, there is not a single veterinary office.
What We Are Doing
VWB/VSF uses the One Health model to partner with remote communities in the Canadian territories upon their invitation. We work with each community to identify needs and build a plan with community representatives to build local capacity to address animal care needs year-round. This includes offering temporary veterinary clinics with a team of volunteers.
While at these clinics, we offer:
Community-driven Partnerships
We work with communities to understand their needs and then build collaborations among community members, VWB/VSF, veterinarians, and other stakeholders to address those needs.
Sustainable Veterinary Care
Sustainable veterinary care means more than flying in veterinarians once a year. Community members trained in certain procedures, access to telemedicine, and other solutions tailored for specific communities are essential components of sustainability.
Education & Research
Knowledge sharing, education and addressing community-identified research needs will promote safe and positive human-animal interactions. For example, teaching youth how to engage with unknown dogs or supporting the local government with bylaw development.
Resources for Northern communities
Access to Care awards program: With the goal to increase knowledge of animal care and science in northern communities the awards program supports northern residents in pursuing animal- and one-health related studies. We award more than $45,000 annually.
Nunavut Rabies Awareness & Prevention Education Program: A free grades 5 and 6 curriculum focused on rabies education for Nunavut schools. This educational kit can be used by any teacher in a northern community.
Northern Animal Health Resources: We work with communities to identify resources that will help strengthen animal health capacity. Find the resources in the available translations here.
Pet Emergency Preparedness Checklist: Ensure your animals are kept safe during extreme weather events and other emergencies.
Telehealth program: VWB/VSF is piloting a veterinary telehealth program, in partnership with PetSmart Charities of Canada and Animal HealthLink, for the communities of Gjoa Haven, NU, Tuktoyaktuk, NT, and Kugluktuk, NU by providing them with essential veterinary care via a phoneline. Their calls will be addressed by registered veterinary technologists and triaged to VWB/VSF staff, including veterinarians, as needed. Looking for more info? Reach out to info@vwb.org.
VWB/VSF’s northern work is made possible thanks to the generous support of these incredible partners.
Check out NAHI's latest stories
As VWB’s Executive Director, Charmaine Brett, prepares to step down in September, she reflects on four years of transformative global work, celebrating milestones in animal care, community resilience, and One Health initiatives. With its bold 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, VWB remains committed to advancing its mission and recruiting new leadership to build on this momentum.
When Hannah Liao, a Master of Science student at the Ontario Veterinary College, traveled to Gjoa Haven with Veterinarians Without Borders, she brought more than just research; she brought a vision for sustainable, community-led veterinary care. Her thesis on Community Animal Health Worker programs explores how local training and a One Health approach can transform access to animal health services in Canada’s North.
In remote areas, like the far North, dog bites are more prevalent. This Dog Bite Prevention Week, we're raising awareness about how reading dog body language and improving access to veterinary care can reduce bites—and prevent the spread of diseases like rabies.
Watch a replay of our webinar, held on Thursday, March 27, in recognition of Women’s Month 2025, to spotlight the diverse voices of women in VWB’s programs who are driving change in veterinary care, animal health, and One Health initiatives around the world. The panelists shared their experiences, challenges, and innovative solutions.
This year's Giving Tuesday campaign exceeded all expectations, raising an incredible $86,083! This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the generosity and compassion of our amazing community of supporters - just like YOU.
VWB is launching its second Animals & Ales Pet Photo Fundraiser Contest of 2025, which will unite pet lovers and craft beer enthusiasts across the U.S. and Canada
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#VETSVolunteerVoices brings you inspiring stories from the field, showcasing the impactful work of our dedicated VETS program volunteers. Meet Dr. Riley Bauman (DVM), an Animal Health Advisor who spent two months in Kenya (April–June 2025), working alongside smallholder dairy farmers and Meru Dairy staff to promote animal health, gender equity, and sustainable livelihoods.
