The program for 2024 is made possible by the generous donations from the Haida Gwaii Animal Hospital, Gwaii Animal Helpline Society donors, the Tow Hill Foundation, and participants’ contributions.
The program covers spay or neuter surgery, core vaccinations or booster, rabies vaccination, ID tattoo, parasite treatment, nail clipping and pain control.
The program will run for as long as funds allocated to the program are available. GAHS reserves the right to pause the program when funds are exhausted. You may apply for a maximum of two animals in a year.
Funds are limited. To stretch these funds to support as many families in need as possible, please contribute as much as you can afford. You must contribute a minimum of $50 towards the surgery. To give an idea of the value, the cost to spay or neuter a cat + vaccinations, tattoo ID & parasite treatment ranges from approx. $525. to $650. A dog is between $678. to $900. The cost varies according to size, maturity, obesity, previous pregnancies, or in heat. Your contribution will help extend the program.
To be eligible for the program, you must be the guardian of the animal for whom you are applying. You must qualify under a, b, or c.
(a) You are solely on income assistance (short-term disability; long-term disability, social income assistance, employment insurance, old age security guaranteed income supplement) and this is the only income in your household; or
(b) You are unemployed and do not/will not have an income at the time of the surgery; or
(c) You are working part-time but still meet the definition of low income according to the most current Low-Income Cut-off for rural areas + 10% to account for the fact that these statistics are normally a year or two behind the current cost of living.
Low-Income (Household Gross) Cut off rates:
- 1 person $20,225 + $2,022 = $22,247 per year or $1,854 per month
- 2 persons $25,178 + $2,518 = $27,696 per year or $2,308 per month
- 3 persons $30,953 + $3,095 = $34,048 per year or $2.837 per month
- 4 persons $37,582 + $3,758 = $41,340 per year or $3,445 per month
- 5 persons $42,624 + $4,262 = $46,886 per year or $3,907 per month
Application Process
- Fill out the application.
- Once your application is received, you will be contacted to determine eligibility within two business days. If you do not hear from us within two business days, please contact us to ensure that we have received your application.
- If you are approved, you will be emailed a certificate. If you are not approved, we will contact you to explain why that is the case.
- GAHS must receive your contribution before sending your certificate and notifying the Haida Gwaii Animal Hospital you are accepted for the program.
- The application process is complete once you receive your certificate. We will notify the HG Animal Hospital at that time. You will need to make your appointment for your animal’s surgery directly with the HG Animal Hospital 250-557-4468. If you are able, please bring a copy of your certificate with you for your animal’s appointment.
You must use the certificate within 6 months of approval. We advise you to make your appointment with the HG Animal Hospital 250-557-4468 well in advance.