The Les and Irene Dubé Good Samaritan Fund was established in 2011. Originally known as the Good Samaritan Fund, the animal care fund's name was changed in June 2020 to recognize the $1-million gift from Les and Irene Dubé of Saskatoon, Sask. Click here to read the article about the Dubés' generous gift. 

The fund's goal is to provide medical treatment for animals that are ownerless or owned by clients who can not pay for care due to circumstances beyond their control. In some instances, these medical cases also present a teaching opportunity for veterinary students at the WCVM.

Patients selected for support by the Les and Irene Dubé Good Samaritan Fund will:

• have a need for life saving procedures
• a reasonable prognosis for good, long-term recovery

Eligible patients will be:

• ownerless (including animals under the care of the Saskatoon SPCA)
• owned by clients who can not pay due to circumstances beyond their control (as determined by the attending clinician during the patient's appointment)
• attended by veterinarians at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC)

Requests for support: The patient's attending clinician submits a request for support to the WCVM's Les and Irene Dubé Good Samaritan Fund committee. 

The Northern Engagement and Community Outreach (NECO) program helps to improve access to veterinary care for northern, remote and Indigenous communities across Western Canada. Through strong community partnerships, donor support allows NECO to deliver essential veterinary services while giving students meaningful, hands-on clinical experiences in real-world settings.

These experiences help to foster cultural humility, strengthen communication skills, and prepare future veterinarians to serve diverse communities. NECO also helps introduce local youth to careers in animal health — inspiring the next generation of veterinary professionals.

The VMC Equipment Fund supports student learning and improves access to high-quality veterinary care by funding essential, advanced equipment at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre (VMC). Donor contributions ensure that veterinary students and graduate veterinarians are trained using leading-edge technologies that reflect current standards in practice.

These gifts also directly enhance the level of care provided to every animal treated at the college’s veterinary teaching hospital, helping to ensure better diagnostics, treatment and outcomes for patients across Western Canada.