WisCares Information

We have subsidized cost veterinary care for low-income individuals. We have further subsidized cost services for individuals in Dane County experiencing homelessness. We have free social services for individuals experiencing homelessness. Wisconsin Companion Animal Resources, Education, and Social Services (WisCARES) is an outreach partnership at the University of Wisconsin that provides basic veterinary medical care, housing support and advocacy, and other support services to Dane County pet owners who are low income, currently experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, as well as those who are unable to pay for veterinary medical services needed for access to housing. WisCARES started in 2014, and we have grown every year! In 2019 year, we saw over 2500 pets. Over sixty pets entered our boarding and foster program, with a rate of reunification of families of 90%. This was achieved through the efforts of five full-time staff members, devoted student employees, volunteer veterinarians, veterinary techs, and veterinary, pharmacy, and social work students-and of course, with the help of our community of donors! Our services and programming focus on keeping pets with their owners, preventing surrender to animal shelters, empowering people to care for their animals, providing housing resources and aiding animals and their people to gain access to the social support services and healthcare they need. Our program provides concrete services in the following areas: Veterinary medical care Animal boarding and foster placement Case management assistance Housing resources Provision of pet food and supplies Education