Pet Adoption in Toronto
If you're ready to adopt a pet in Toronto, there are several shelters and rescue groups to help you find the right animal for you.
It's important to do your research before adopting a new family member - the Pets channel on About.com offers a wealth of information about caring for many kinds of animals. If you're thinking of adopting a dog and it's the right time of year, a trip to summer or winter Woofstock is a great way to talk to people from breed-specific clubs and rescue groups.
Toronto Animal Services operates four Animal Care Centres where surrendered and unclaimed stray animals are available for adoption. The centres always have many cats and some dogs available; there is usually rabbits and some other smaller animals in the system, although dogs and small animals may not be available at all four locations. When you adopt from Toronto Animal Services, the annual City of Toronto animal licensing fee is added to all dog and cat adoptions. Check the website for current licensing and adoption fees.
Before visiting one of the centres, you can browse the available animals online through the Toronto Animal Services website. The website listings are updated throughout the day. You can also simply visit one of the centres, which are open seven days a week (except for some holidays - call ahead to check).
Call Toronto Animal Services at 416-338-PAWS (7297)
The Toronto Humane Society's facility at the corner of River Street and Queen Street East (west of Bayview/the DVP) serves as a temporary home for all manner of pets - cats, dogs, and small domestics. The Toronto Humane Society's adoption process involves filling out an application and taking part in an adoption interview. Adoption fees are reduced for both senior adopters, and for people who are adopting special needs animals. If you are interested in caring for an animal but can't make a long term commitment, the THS also uses volunteers to provide foster homes for some animals.
Visit the website to look at the profiles of animals currently available, and to learn more about the adoption process.
The Toronto Humane Society (THS)
11 River Street
416-392-2273
www.torontohumanesociety.comMore »
The Etobicoke Humane Society is entirely volunteer run, and adoptions are done by appointment only. The EHS always has cats available and generally has several dogs. You can see what animals are currently available on the website, or just contact the EHS and let them help match you with an animal in their care.
• Learn more about the Etobicoke Humane Society
The Etobicoke Humane Society (EHS)
67 Six Point Road
416-249-6100
www.etobicokehumanesociety.comMore »
There are many volunteer-run animal rescue groups operating in the city which use a network of foster homes rather than running a shelter facility. These groups regularly take turns featuring adoptable animals in pet stores around the city. This can include PetSmart and PetValu locations, plus independent stores. You can inquire at your local pet stores to see if they'll be hosting an adoption event any time soon, and get the name of the organization so you can research them ahead of time. You can also inquire with local veterinary offices to see if they have any animals available for adoption in their care.
If you would like to contact rescue groups directly, Speaking of Dogs offers a downloadable rescue directory for Ontario. If you're looking for cats, here are a few of the well-known cat rescue groups in Toronto:
If you do decide to adopt a pet or have previously adopted through a Toronto shelter or rescue group, share your Toronto pet adoption story! Tell everyone about your new family member, and share tips and advice gleaned from your adoption experience. More »
It's important to do your research before adopting a new family member - the Pets channel on About.com offers a wealth of information about caring for many kinds of animals. If you're thinking of adopting a dog and it's the right time of year, a trip to summer or winter Woofstock is a great way to talk to people from breed-specific clubs and rescue groups.
Toronto Animal Services
Toronto Animal Services operates four Animal Care Centres where surrendered and unclaimed stray animals are available for adoption. The centres always have many cats and some dogs available; there is usually rabbits and some other smaller animals in the system, although dogs and small animals may not be available at all four locations. When you adopt from Toronto Animal Services, the annual City of Toronto animal licensing fee is added to all dog and cat adoptions. Check the website for current licensing and adoption fees.
Before visiting one of the centres, you can browse the available animals online through the Toronto Animal Services website. The website listings are updated throughout the day. You can also simply visit one of the centres, which are open seven days a week (except for some holidays - call ahead to check).
Call Toronto Animal Services at 416-338-PAWS (7297)
- Toronto Animal Services - Animal Care Centre Locations:
- South Region: 15 Nova Scotia Avenue (Exhibition grounds)
- North Region: 1300 Sheppard Avenue West
- East Region: 821 Progress Avenue
- West Region: 146 The East Mall
The Toronto Humane Society
The Toronto Humane Society's facility at the corner of River Street and Queen Street East (west of Bayview/the DVP) serves as a temporary home for all manner of pets - cats, dogs, and small domestics. The Toronto Humane Society's adoption process involves filling out an application and taking part in an adoption interview. Adoption fees are reduced for both senior adopters, and for people who are adopting special needs animals. If you are interested in caring for an animal but can't make a long term commitment, the THS also uses volunteers to provide foster homes for some animals.
Visit the website to look at the profiles of animals currently available, and to learn more about the adoption process.
The Toronto Humane Society (THS)
11 River Street
416-392-2273
www.torontohumanesociety.comMore »
The Etobicoke Humane Society
The Etobicoke Humane Society is entirely volunteer run, and adoptions are done by appointment only. The EHS always has cats available and generally has several dogs. You can see what animals are currently available on the website, or just contact the EHS and let them help match you with an animal in their care.
• Learn more about the Etobicoke Humane Society
The Etobicoke Humane Society (EHS)
67 Six Point Road
416-249-6100
www.etobicokehumanesociety.comMore »
Animal Rescue Groups
There are many volunteer-run animal rescue groups operating in the city which use a network of foster homes rather than running a shelter facility. These groups regularly take turns featuring adoptable animals in pet stores around the city. This can include PetSmart and PetValu locations, plus independent stores. You can inquire at your local pet stores to see if they'll be hosting an adoption event any time soon, and get the name of the organization so you can research them ahead of time. You can also inquire with local veterinary offices to see if they have any animals available for adoption in their care.
If you would like to contact rescue groups directly, Speaking of Dogs offers a downloadable rescue directory for Ontario. If you're looking for cats, here are a few of the well-known cat rescue groups in Toronto:
Toronto Pet Adoption Stories
If you do decide to adopt a pet or have previously adopted through a Toronto shelter or rescue group, share your Toronto pet adoption story! Tell everyone about your new family member, and share tips and advice gleaned from your adoption experience. More »