10 Surprising Canadian Pet Adoption Statistics & Facts (Updated in 2024)
Updated on
Click to Skip Ahead
Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
Having pets in our lives provides us with companionship and unconditional love. When you look at the number of people who brought pets into their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, it only confirms how important they are for our mental health.
In Canada, pet adoption has been at an all-time high! There’s something about bringing home an animal that has had a rough start in life and giving them the attention and love that they should have had all along that brings people such joy and fulfillment.
Here, we researched Canadian pet adoption and pulled together these interesting facts and statistics.
The 10 Canadian Pet Adoption Statistics
- There are 175 animal shelters in Canada.
- Ontario has the most animal shelters, with 47 altogether.
- In 2021, over 60,000 cats and 21,000 dogs were taken into shelters across Canada.
- The largest category of the outcome of dogs and cats in shelters was adoption.
- As of 2022, 60% of Canadian households own at least one cat or dog.
- In 2020, 3.7 million Canadians brought dogs and cats into their homes.
- 3% of Canadians became first-time pet owners during the pandemic.
- The number of pets surrendered to Toronto animal shelters was up 75% from 2021 to 2022.
- In 2021, 55% of cats were adopted in Canada, making them the most adopted pet.
- In 2021, 65% of Canadian pet owners adopted their current pets.
Canada’s Animal Shelter Statistics
1. There are 175 animal shelters in Canada.
(Humane Canada)
These numbers are found in the 2021 Humane Canada report and are a combination of Humane Society and SPCA shelters. But out of these 175 shelters, only 92 responded to the survey.
2. Ontario has the most animal shelters, with 47 altogether.
(Humane Canada)
Following Ontario, B.C. has the second most shelters with 37, and Alberta and Quebec are tied for third with 20 shelters. The Northwest Territories, P.E.I., and Nunavut all have the fewest, with 1 shelter each.
3. In 2021, over 60,000 cats and 21,000 dogs were taken into shelters across Canada.
(Humane Canada)
The good news is the number of cats and dogs taken in has been declining for the past 10 years and was at a historic low in 2021. Beyond cats and dogs, almost 13,000 animals of different species were taken into shelters, such as wildlife and exotic species.
4. The largest category of the outcome of dogs and cats in shelters was adoption.
(Humane Canada)
About 44% of dogs and 62% of cats in animal shelters were adopted, which was a historic high. The number of animals euthanized was also at a historic low of 11% for cats and dogs.
Pandemic Pet Adoptions Statistics in Canada
5. As of 2022, 60% of Canadian households own at least one cat or dog.
(CAHI)
These numbers reflect an increase in pet ownership as a result of the pandemic. From 2020 to 2022, cats went from 8.1 million to 8.5 million and dogs from 7.7 million to 7.9 million. That’s 600,000 more pets in 2 years.
6. In 2020, 3.7 million Canadians brought dogs and cats into their homes.
(Purina)
These numbers are directly related to the pandemic, with 10% of Canadians purchasing, adopting, or fostering a cat or dog.
7. 3% of Canadians became first-time pet owners during the pandemic.
(Abacus Data)
It’s estimated that 900,000 Canadians who didn’t own a pet before brought one home after the start of the pandemic.
8. The number of pets surrendered to Toronto animal shelters was up 75% from 2021 to 2022.
(CTV News)
This number is the intake of surrendered pets in the first half of 2022 as compared to the first half of 2021. 327 cats, 151 dogs, and 231 other species were surrendered in Toronto alone.
People having to go back to work after lockdowns ended are partly to blame, but there are also owners who didn’t research the breed enough before adopting and ended up with a high-energy dog that they can’t keep up with.
Â
Canadian Pet Adoption Statistics
9. In 2021, 55% of cats were adopted in Canada, making them the most adopted pet.
(Rover)
In the same year, 40% of Canadians adopted dogs, and 5% brought home both a cat and a dog.
10. In 2021, 65% of Canadian pet owners adopted their current pets.
(Rover)
About 43% of adoptions were done primarily through a rescue or non-profit organization, and 22% of adoptions were done privately with another family. However, 25% of Canadian pet owners purchased their dog or cat from a breeder.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Adoption in Canada
What Are the Top Reasons That People Surrender Dogs?
The top five reasons that people surrender their pets are allergies, moving to a new place, a change in finances, a change in the household (new partner, new baby, etc.), and not having time to look after or train the pet.
Therefore, before adding a new pet to your household, you should do the research and number crunch. A pet can be up to a 20-year commitment (sometimes more, if it’s a parrot or turtle). You don’t want to fall in love with your pet only to be forced to give them up. (Humane Canada)
How Important Are Pets to Humans?
Considering what we have all gone through during the pandemic, our pets have become a lifeline. About 93% of Canadian pet owners said that having a pet during the pandemic helped improve their physical and/or mental well-being.
The top reasons that people adopted a dog or a cat were for happiness and emotional support (37%) and for needing something positive in their life (36%). (Rover)
Can Canadians Adopt Dogs From Other Parts Of The World?
Normally, yes, but as of September 28, 2022, any dogs from countries with a high risk of rabies have been prohibited from entering Canada. This includes dogs for breeding, adoption, fostering, show or exhibition, or research or to be given to another person. (Canadian Food Inspection Agency)
How Does Pet Adoption Work in Canada?
This depends on where you adopt the pet, but the procedure is similar for most rescue groups and shelters. It usually starts by filling in an application form, followed by interviews.
The staff member will go over the pet that you’re interested in and ask questions to help them determine if the pet will be the right fit for you and your family. You can also ask questions about the pet if you have any concerns or are looking for something specific.
Most rescue groups will have you meet the pet at the facility or foster home so they can judge how well you bond. They may also want to see your home environment to ensure that it is appropriate for the animal.
Typically, if everything goes well on both sides, you pay the adoption fee and take the animal home. Be sure you have all the proper supplies, like food, bowls, toys, and anything else that the animal needs.
Do Canadians Keep Wild Animals as Pets?
It’s believed that there are approximately 1.4 million wild animals kept as pets. Ontario has the most, with 588,652 animals kept as pets, followed by Quebec, with 286,693 animals.
The most commonly kept wild animal are birds, at about 478,648, including cockatoos and parrots. However, the next most commonly kept wild animals are wild cats, at 186,104, which includes Servals and Caracals.
This practice is not recommended because wild animals suffer in captivity, so only adopt domesticated animals. (World Animal Protection)
Conclusion
There are thousands of animals in shelters and rescue groups all across Canada. If you’ve been considering bringing home a new pet, please look at these non-profit organizations and rescue groups that do such amazing work!
They look after homeless and unwanted animals and make them healthy and rehabilitate them. Now each animal just needs to find a good and loving owner. Most people who’ve adopted a pet will likely tell you that it was one of the best things that they’ve ever done.
Related Reads:
- 12 Incredible Canadian Cat Statistics & Facts
- 12 Incredible Canadian Veterinarian Statistics & Facts
Feature Image Credit: David Tadevosian, Shutterstock
