Pet Transport Program

Driving Animal Welfare Forward

The Nova Scotia SPCA is launching a NEW International Pet Transport Program. When space and resources permit, this program will bring pets into our province from shelters who struggle with high homeless pet overpopulation.

This will help reduce overcrowding which is an important factor in ending the needless euthanasia of adoptable pets due to lack of resources. Effective relocation partnerships not only help the shelters in need to reduce overcrowding but also allows them to focus on the development of best practices and new programs to improve animal welfare and save more lives in their communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

ASPCA Partnership

By partnering with the ASPCA transport program we can ensure that the source shelter has agreed to and follows high ethical standards in disclosure and adheres to agreed upon medical care protcols.

The ASPCA follows strict transport guidelines that dictate mandatory rest periods for drivers and the animals, with temporary shelter facilities for rest periods for the animals during longer trips, and the safest kennels during transport. Partners agree to terms that specific the testing and preventative medicine required to ensure the risks of transporting disease is as low as possible, and that behaviour concerns are fully disclosed.

What the SPCA requires from a transport partner:

Full disclosure of past history (medical and behaviour)
Current temperament testing using an agreed-upon standardized format
Recent veterinarian exam
Routine dewormers
Core Vaccines administered immediately upon intake at the source shelter
Testing specific to the sending region, based on common illnesses in that area
Safe and secure transport methods that avoid overstacking, sharing of kennels in non bonded pairs, etc
Visual inspection of the animals being transported every four hours
No longer than nine hours of driving without a break

The Nova Scotia SPCA provides:

Access to in-house veterinarian services to receive medical care that may not be available at the animals’ current location
A chance at a loving home that might otherwise not be available
Support to the sender shelter if required to meet the SPCA’s transport requirements
Ongoing access for adopters to support from the Nova Scotia SPCA
Full disclosure and education to the owner of any medical or behavioural considerations
Open and transparent information on any risks associated with adopting a transported pet
30-day money-back guarantee on adoption fee if the pet needs to be returned

Minimize Risk & Maximize Life-Saving Capacity

Transport isn’t without risks, requiring a high standard and maintaining an ethical transport program will help to mitigate those risks. Open and honest disclosure to adopters will help prepare for the small chance of a health concern not noticed or apparent during the multiple veterinarian exams throughout the transport process.

The Nova Scotia SPCA believes holding ourselves to a high standard and open and honest communication with adopters will result in even more lives saved and a better outcome for many animals.

Every year the Nova Scotia SPCA transports over 1,000 cats, dogs, and critters between our network of five shelters so these animals can either get closer access to in house veterinarian care or have more access to potential adopters.

Moving in the Right Direction

The Paw Print

For many pets, animal transport is a life-saving measure. Here at the Nova Scotia SPCA, we transport pets for several reasons! Rescue from Unsafe Conditions – Our SPCA Enforcement Team is constantly on the road rescuing animals from dangerous and deplorable conditions. Enforcement Officers currently travel over 165,000 kilometers a year...

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