| What can you
expect when you apply to adopt a pet from a reputable Nova Scotia Rescue
Group or Shelter?
- You will need to fill out an adoption
application
- Personal references will be required
- They will want the name of your vet and
contact information for their animal clinic
- You'll be asked about the pets you have
now, as well as the ones you have had in the past
- Yes ... they will ask about your living
accommodations and whether you own or rent
- Most will probably ask what you feed
your pets and where your pets sleep
So why would anyone want to go to all that
trouble?
- your new best friend will be vet
checked and vaccinated and spayed or neutered,
- known health issues are not swept under
the rug,
- any behavior issues will be fully
disclosed
- follow up advice and support is
available, and
- if things aren't a success for any
reason, you will not have to wonder what to do .... the pet
must be returned to the rescue.
In other words .... reputable rescues make
every effort to match the right pet to the right human so that the
relationship can last a lifetime. The free online ad sites, pet
stores and backyard breeders can only offer a curbside guarantee and
often offer unnecessary heartache and expense to pet owners.
Webmaster Note: If you adopt a pet
from a rescue listed on this website, and your experience does not meet
the abovementioned criteria, please let us know.
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|
Animal Rescue Coalitions , often referred to as ARC, usually have a
least a couple of cats in their care, but their primary focus is dogs of
all breeds, sizes and ages. ARC does not have a shelter and all their
adoptables are in foster care. Their website has both online
adoption and foster applications.
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Sheltering Helpless Animals In Distress, more commonly known as
SHAID, is a small shelter for cats, dogs, rabbits and rats. It is
located just outside Bridgewater, and is augmented by a network of foster
parents. Adoption applications are available at
the shelter or by emailing SHAID. |
| Companion Animal
Protection Society, or CAPS, are quick to tell visitors to their
website that they are 'cat and dog people. That being said, CAPS does
have the largest listing of cats of any NS group or shelter.
All their adoptables begin their journey at Annapolis County Animal
Control and are either fostered at their lovely Cat Cottages or in
private foster homes. |
| The LA Animal
Shelter is located near Amherst and primarily focuses on cats and
dogs. Some of their adoptables are in foster care, so visitors
interested in a specific pet should inquire before visiting.
Contact information for their Cat and Dog adoption agents is available
on their website. |
| Bide Awhile is located in
Dartmouth and , while they do accept a few dogs at the shelter are
primarily focused on cats. Prospective adopters must phone the
shelter for an appointment to visit. Adoption applications are
filled out at the shelter. |
| The TLC Animal
Shelter is located just outside Digby and rescues both dog and cats.
Potential adopters must make an appointment to visit the shelter and
fill out an application. Adopters are encouraged to
demonstrate their committment by visiting the pets as often as possible,
to ease the transition for everyone. |
| Pick of the Litter
Society is located in the HRM area and specializes in neonatal care
for orphaned kittens and puppies. They are the 'go to'
experts in this field in Nova Scotia and often collaborate with other
rescues. Anyone interested in adopting kittens when they are old
enough to leave foster care should email the rescue to discuss the
adoption procedure and the current infants available. |
| Atlantic Small Dog Rescue
works with a network of foster homes. While they normally
specialize in finding homes for small dogs of all ages, they do have the
occasional 'honorary' small dog available. Their adoption
application is available on their website. |
| Hope for Wildlife Society
do NOT adopt out animals. They are a wildlife rehabilitation and
educational center that is operated on a volunteer basis.
They are listed here on this site primarily as a resource for questions
and concerns. It should be noted that none of the other private
Rescue Groups, Breed Rescues or SPCA branches are mandated to rescue
wildlife. |
| Ssafe Haven
Society fill a specialized niche. They rescue and rehabilitate
reptiles and amphibians. In addition, they provide education and
hands on training for Nova Scotia Reptile owners. Each fall
they put on an annual Reptile Expo that is well worth the visit.
Adoption applications are available on their website. |
| PET Projects is
located in Shelburne County and rescue cats and dogs in the community.
In addition, they have a 'Roof over Rover' campaign, work to rehome
chained and penned dogs, provide community support for pet retention and
are engaged in TNR. Adoption applications are available on their
website. |
| Atlantic All
Dog Rescue are a foster network focused on rescuing dogs of all
sizes and ages in the Maritimes. While many of their foster homes
are located in PEI, they do adopt to Nova Scotia residents.
Email them for an adoption application. |
| The Valley
Animal Shelter is located in Wolfville and is operated out of the
Wolfville Animal Hospital. They are focused on cats and often
rescue abandoned cats through Kings County Animal Control.
There is an adoption application on their website, but they still want
interested adopters to come in to the shelter to meet the cat(s) they
are interested in. |
| Tiny Paws Dog
Rescue Canada - Nova Scotia Chapter are a foster based network that
often have adoptable small dogs in foster in Nova Scotia. They
rescue mixed breeds 20 lbs and under and purebreds when breed rescue is
unavailable to assist. Email them for an adoption
application.
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| IMPORTANT NOTE: All
reputable rescue groups will keep all information in adoption
applications private and confidential.
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