Montreal pet owners have faced a hard stretch: more animals are being surrendered to shelters, and capacity is under real pressure. If you are worried about housing, costs, or keeping a pet through a move, you are not alone—and you do have options besides leaving an animal at the shelter door.
This guide summarizes what public reports say about the Montreal situation, then walks through practical steps for Quebec owners who need to rehome a pet responsibly.
Understanding the Challenge
In June 2025, the Montreal SPCA reported 1,212 animals surrendered in the first four months of 2025—a 26% increase over the same period in 2024. The organization described it as the fifth consecutive year of rising abandonments. Later updates reported more than 2,000 surrenders in the first half of 2025 and year-over-year increases in the low-to-mid 30% range for that period.
Shelter leaders have pointed to the cost of living, veterinary expenses, and a shortage of pet-friendly rentals—not a sudden loss of affection for pets. Montreal SPCA leadership has also noted that surrender patterns that once spiked around July 1 moves now look more year-round as lease timing changes.
Those figures come from Montreal SPCA public statements and contemporaneous reporting by CityNews Montreal and CBC. They describe Montreal specifically; they should not be treated as a single national rate.
Practical Steps You Can Take Today
- Contact the shelter early. If surrender feels unavoidable, call before your deadline. Montreal SPCA has asked owners not to wait until moving day.
- Ask about keeping-pets-home supports. Some organizations help with pet food banks, temporary housing advice, or lower-cost care before intake.
- Try owner-led rehoming first. A complete listing with health history, behaviour notes, and photos can place a pet without adding to shelter load.
- Screen carefully. Meet applicants, ask about housing rules, other pets, and vet references. Keep written records of agreements.
- Avoid unmonitored classified dumps. Free “first-come” posts with no screening raise welfare and safety risks.
How Quebec Adopters and Owners Navigate This
Quebec’s rental market and moving culture make pet-friendly housing a recurring stress point. Owners who need to move should start housing searches with pet policies in writing, and document veterinary care so a new guardian can continue it seamlessly.
Adopters can help by considering adult cats and dogs, animals with treatable medical needs, and pets already living in foster homes—placements that free shelter space without requiring more kennel capacity.
How Pawsitive Placements Helps
Pawsitive Placements is built for structured, transparent rehoming across Canada. Owners can list a pet for rehoming with disclosures that applicants can review. Adopters can browse pets available for adoption and submit applications through a consistent process.
Keeping conversations and applications in one place makes it easier to compare homes and avoid rushed, informal handoffs.
When to Seek Extra Support
Reach out to a veterinarian if medical costs are the blocker—many clinics can discuss payment plans or referral to assistance programs. Local rescues and municipal animal services can advise on waitlists, foster options, and legal obligations. If you or someone you know is in a housing or financial crisis, community social services may also help stabilize the household so the pet can stay.
If you need to rehome now, start a rehoming listing. If you can open your home, view pets looking for placement.
Sources
- Montreal SPCA, “A Record Uptick in Surrenders in 2025” (June 10, 2025): 1,212 surrenders in Jan–Apr 2025 (+26% vs 2024).
- CityNews Montreal coverage of Montreal SPCA surrender trends (June–August 2025), including later mid-year totals and cost-of-living context.
- CBC News reporting on Canadian shelter surrender pressures tied to living costs and pet-friendly housing (2025).