Remote Community Vet Services
Our Commitment to Helping Communities
We’re dedicated to supporting northern and remote communities by bringing essential veterinary care where it’s needed most. Our team provides physical exams, vaccinations, deworming, and reproductive implants to help reduce overpopulation and promote healthier animals. We also assist communities through pet food and supply donations and telemedicine support. Together, we’re building stronger, healthier communities—for both people and their animals.
Meet Dr. Tammy Hornak, RRT, DVM
When she’s not traveling the world or on the road in a mobile clinic somewhere in Ontario, Dr. Tammy Hornak can usually be found with a cup of coffee in one hand and a dog leash in the other. A share owner of Grand River Veterinary Hospital and Lead Veterinarian for the Toronto Humane Society’s Rural Veterinary Services, Tammy has built a career that blends compassion, innovation, and a serious knack for logistics (ask her how many coolers fit in a mobile surgical unit — she knows).
A proud graduate of Mississippi State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Tammy has spent over two decades leading teams, mentoring students, and helping communities where veterinary care is often out of reach. She’s known for launching Ontario’s first accredited mobile surgical unit — a project that proved that big ideas can roll on four wheels.
Tammy is also thrilled to have recently joined the Hamilton Burlington SPCA, where she’s excited about the organization’s bright future and the new opportunities for growth and community development it brings. Balancing her three active veterinary roles — at Grand River Veterinary Hospital, the Toronto Humane Society, and the Hamilton Burlington SPCA — keeps her energized and inspired. Each position offers its own challenges and rewards, allowing her to learn, grow, and combine her knowledge in ways that make her an even better veterinarian.
Her passion for outreach runs deep: which started with Canon’s Cause Rescue, she’s helped hundreds of shelter pets — especially heartworm-positive dogs — get the second chance they deserve. Along the way, she’s picked up a few awards, a few travel stories, and a lifelong belief that a sense of humor belongs in every clinic.
When she’s not “out in the field,” Tammy enjoys time with her family, teaching, and dreaming up new ways to make veterinary medicine more accessible — preferably with good snacks and a cooperative Wi-Fi signal.
Our First Community Visit
During our recent visit to Northern Ontario, our team cared for 112 animals in just two days—a powerful reminder of how much can be accomplished when communities come together.
In that short time, we delivered 169 vaccinations, along with deworming and flea and tick prevention for every pet we met. Several animals also received much-needed treatment for injuries, ear infections, and other health concerns—including a resilient senior cat with a painful ingrown nail. We’ll be returning in November to reach even more animals and provide Suprelorin implants to help humanely manage pet populations.
If You’d Like to Make a Difference
Together, we’re creating healthier, happier futures for northern communities and their animals.
Our Land Acknowledgement
The Hamilton/Burlington SPCA acknowledges that our work takes place on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes in peace and friendship.
We recognize the enduring presence, knowledge, and contributions of Indigenous peoples—past, present, and future—on this land, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Six Nations of the Grand River, and other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities who continue to live and work here.
As an organization dedicated to the well-being of all living beings, we commit to learning from Indigenous perspectives on kinship, stewardship, and respect for all animals and the natural world.
The clock is ticking. Make your donation before December 31st to receive your 2025 tax receipt and support the cause.
