FAQs

Yes! The Nova Scotia SPCA does not euthanize animals for space. Thanks to our many life-saving programs, as well as our amazing volunteers & fosters, we are able to find positive options for 90% of animals coming into our care. Some animals may be too ill to recover or too aggressive to return to the community.

Learn more here.

You can find them right HERE on our website!  Or drop by your closest SPCA shelter location to visit these cuties in person.

Adoption fees are actually an amazing deal when you consider the cost of all the medical care we put into each and every animal.

All cat adoptions from the SPCA include: FeLV test, complete physical exam, 1^st Distemper Vaccine, flea treatment, worm treatment, 24Hour Pet Watch Micro-Chip, 8-week trial of Pet Insurance, spay/neuter surgery and lots of love!

For dogs, your new friends comes to you: with a Physical Exam, 1^st Distemper Vaccine, flea treatment, worm treatment, 24Hour Pet Watch Micro-Chip, 8-week trial of Pet Insurance, spay/neuter surgery and with lots of love!

The Nova Scotia SPCA is a registered charity that helps companion animals in need.  There are six SPCA animal shelters across the province as well as several foster regions.  We provide shelter, medical care, rehabilitation, spay and neuter services, re-homing opportunities for thousands of abused, neglected, injured and abandoned animals every year.

Learn more here.

We believe in five pillars:

Animal Rescue

SPCA Enforcement Officers work on the front lines seven days a week, 365 days a year rescuing animals who are lost, injured, neglected, abandoned or abused.

Rehabilitation

Dedicated staff and volunteers work one-on-one with every animal to rebuild their trust in humans, ensuring they are well prepared for the next stage of their life.

Community

The SPCA runs progressive programs aimed at solving root causes of pet homelessness to help not just animals in need – but families and communities, too.

Sheltering

Through shelter and foster services, the SPCA provides a safe haven for animals with nowhere else to go.  During their stay, pets receive healthy food, comfy beds, daily exercise, and endless love and affection while they wait to be adopted.

Veterinary Care

The SPCA ensures essential medical care to every animal that comes through our doors.  Through our three veterinary hospitals and clinics, we are able to perform surgeries and treat medical needs in-house, keeping costs as low as possible.

There are so many ways to get involved with the Nova Scotia SPCA like donating, fundraising, fostering, volunteering and adopting.

Volunteering: Did you know that the Nova Scotia SPCA has won “best place to volunteer” for 7 years in a row?! There are many ways to volunteer: events, shelter, admin, TNR and at our thrift stores. Ready to put your hand up and volunteer?

Fostering: Some animals need a little extra TLC before finding their new forever home or are too young to be ready for adoption. Foster parents provide a temporary home for these animals. We supply all food, bedding, litter trays and everything else to help the animals have a comfortable stay in your home. Interested in becoming a foster parent?

Adopting: When you adopt from the Nova Scotia SPCA, you have rescued an animal and created a space for more animals in need to be rescued. Our goal is to make their shelter stay just a drop-in, on their way to their forever home. Check out some of our adoptables here.

Fundraising: We currently receive $0 in government funding to support operating our animal shelters and we require $4.3 million annually to operate (note this is a number that includes enforcement which is funded partially). We rely heavily on the support of our community to sustain our day to day shelter operations and provide for our animals. Give today. We graciously accept all monetary donations to help provide the means to care for animals in need.

Please report cruelty by calling 1-888-703-7722. We also have an online complaint form that you can access here. All complaints filed and information you provide is kept confidential.

The Nova Scotia SPCA follows open-admission principles meaning we accept animals into our care regardless of their age or health.  You simply have to call and arrange an appointment so the shelter can learn about what is the most suitable type of home for your pet.   The appointment also allows the shelter to prepare a cozy space for your pet to make the transition as smooth as possible.

We truly hope that all pets would only ever have one home, but we understand that unexpected life situations happen.  Maybe the owner is going into a nursing home, or perhaps a loved one needs urgent medical assistance due to health concerns; these things happen.  We can take in the pet and find him a new home quickly.  Unexpected life situations happen and the SPCA strives to be approachable, non-judgemental and understanding.  Call us – we can help!  Learn more here.

Not sure where your closest SPCA shelter is?  Click here.

There is no fee to surrender an animal to the Nova Scotia SPCA, however, we are always in need of monetary donations to assist with the cost of operating our shelters and helping more animals in need.

Please check out our Lost & Found page for tips on what to do if you find an injured stray animal here.

Accidental litters can happen and we are here to help. If you have a pregnant pet and are unsure how you will manage the cost and work involved with caring for a litter of unexpected puppies or kittens please check out our P.U.P program here.

We will rehome and care for the puppies and kittens and spay your mama pet at no cost to you.

The Nova Scotia SPCA operates three high-volume spay and neuter clinics across the province. Available to low-income families and individuals, our Low Cost Spay & Neuter Program helps to reduce over-population and is an affordable option to have a happy and healthy pet! Click here for more info and to apply.