Veterinarian Dr. Vincent Paradis is a leading figure in shelter medicine in Quebec. As director of clinical care and shelter medicine at Proanima, he works every day to improve animal welfare while supporting members of the community. His dedicated team recently received the 2026 Ani-Bon Award, presented by the Association des médecins vétérinaires du Québec en pratique des petits animaux.
Dr. Vincent Paradis, Proanima was founded in 2012. What circumstances led to its creation?
Proanima was created to meet the needs of municipalities while helping animals. Although we provide traditional shelter services, our mission goes much further. Through our three facilities in Boucherville, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and, since January 1, Montreal, we offer a wide range of services for both animals and members of the community.
What are Proanima’s most popular services?
We take in animals surrendered by owners who are no longer able to care for them. We also care for lost animals and animals found in public spaces, as well as animals requiring assistance in connection with public emergency services. One example would be a cat left behind in an empty apartment following a move.
Which of your services are less familiar to the public?
Among other things, we provide temporary shelter for animals whose owners are experiencing difficult circumstances. For example, this week, we took in the pet of someone who died following an overdose. The animal was later placed in the care of a family member. We can also care for animals when a mother and her children must leave their home to escape domestic violence. These services may be less well known, but they are essential to the community.
Proanima also offers an educational program. What does it involve?
Our teams visit schools to raise awareness about topics such as bite prevention and safe ways to interact with animals. Since the program began, we have reached nearly 20,000 students. It is a very important part of our prevention mission.
Do you offer emergency services?
Yes. We provide emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Naturally, these services are intended for certain types of situations, such as animal in distress, animals that have bitten someone and animals found dead in public spaces.
You recently received the 2026 Ani-Bon Award from the Association des médecins vétérinaires du Québec en pratique des petits animaux. The award recognizes an organization that has distinguished itself through its positive impact and concrete actions supporting animal welfare in Quebec. What does this honour mean to you and your team?
This honour means a great deal to our teams. It is a wonderful recognition of the work they accomplish every day. We now serve nearly 2.2 million people and care for between 15,000 and 20,000 animals each year. Receiving an award like this confirms that our efforts are making a real difference in the community.
Visit: https://www.proanima.com/ to learn more.
