The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA) has been awarded a $100,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to address barriers that prevent residents in historically excluded communities from accessing veterinary care, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The one-year Incubator grant will focus on neighborhoods near the Mark Center off North Beauregard Street, where rising costs and geographical, cultural, and systemic barriers have left many pet owners without adequate veterinary resources.
“Equitable access to veterinary care is a foundational need for healthy pets and families,” said Joanna Fortin, AWLA’s Director of Community Programs. “Together with community members, we will create and shape pathways for accessing veterinary care that don’t currently exist in these neighborhoods.”
While 70% of American households include pets, access to basic veterinary services has not kept pace with this trend. The disparity is particularly acute in underserved communities where cost, geography, and systemic inequities have placed veterinary care beyond reach.
The grant is part of PetSmart Charities’ broader $100 million commitment over five years to improve access to veterinary care nationwide. Early in 2023, PetSmart Charities, described as the top funder of animal welfare in the country, made this commitment with Incubator grants focusing on historically excluded communities that often lack access to community supports, including veterinary services.
The AWLA’s grant is designed to provide a one-year runway for building community relationships and developing culturally relevant veterinary programs. The organization will work with local changemakers to co-create care models alongside community members.
“Most people today consider pets to be family, yet we now know more than half of pet parents have skipped or declined veterinary care, with many more who haven’t been able to access it at all,” said Kate Atema, Director of Community Grants & Initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “This issue affects families in nearly every community across the U.S. — but becomes even more challenging for families living in places where other resources are also difficult to access.”
The initiative aims to foster healthy pets, empower and support families, and strengthen the community by providing services that meet the needs of residents. Pets are universally considered important family members, and keeping them together requires resources that are often missing in underserved communities.
Community members can learn more about AWLA’s supportive services for pets and their families by visiting the organization’s website, emailing [email protected], or calling 703-746-6001.
The AWLA has been hosting Pets & People Community Wellness Events as part of its ongoing outreach efforts in the targeted neighborhoods.
