University is out, the days are longer, and trips to the lake sound like a great idea. For some, it’s also the perfect time to bring a four-legged friend into the mix.
Liz Sangollo, foster coordinator at the Nova Scotia SPCA, says there are currently 126 animals in the foster system. “This number is isolated to just the Dartmouth location,” she says. Across the province, there are thousands of animals looking for either a forever or temporary home.
For many people, adopting isn’t a viable option. Kate Fleming, a second-year university student at Saint Mary’s University, says she’s always loved cats. “Growing up, I always had a cat… Halifax was kind of lonely for me when I just moved here.”
Moving away from home was a big change, and she was looking for a sense of normalcy. “That is when Muffin [her foster cat] came into my life,” says Fleming.
With questions about where she’ll be living in the future—and whether cats will be allowed—she says fostering was a better fit than adopting. “Adopting is something I would love to do, but I think at the moment fostering is the right choice for me.”
She adds that Muffin has provided companionship and “a reason to get out of bed on days I am not feeling my best.”
Sandra Flemming, the provincial director of animal care for the Nova Scotia SPCA, works to ensure domesticated animals stay off the streets and in loving homes. She notes that limited shelter space makes community support essential.
The Nova Scotia SPCA follows a no-kill principle, meaning animals are not euthanized to make space. That’s not the case everywhere: high euthanasia rates in some shelters highlight a systemic issue.
According to the American Humane Society, 56 per cent of dogs and 71 per cent of cats in non-no-kill shelters in North America are euthanized.
Sarah Lyon, the SPCA’s chief communications and marketing officer, says the top two reasons pets are surrendered are housing restrictions and financial pressures. “We know surrendering a pet is difficult, and we try to provide resources like food to the families who are unable to afford their pets,” she says. “We are only able to do this through generous donations.”
Back at the Dartmouth SPCA, Sangollo highlights the PUP (Prevent Unwanted Pregnancies) program, which offers free spaying for female dogs and cats. “We also offer assistance programs for individuals who foster a pet. These include a pet pantry at each of its six shelters in the province… food and litter are provided,” says Sangollo. This support helps reduce the financial burden for foster families.
This spring and summer could be the perfect time to open your heart—and your home—to an animal in need. Sangollo thanks the donors who make this work possible and encourages more Haligonians to consider fostering a furry friend.
This article appears in May 1-31, 2025.