At Halifax Humane Society, we believe that prevention is key to helping more animals stay in their loving homes. That’s why we have created a series of programs that we call “Safety Net Programs” to help pet owners in need before they are faced with giving up their pets.
Here's why these programs matter:
- Keeping Families Together: Life happens—whether it’s financial hardship, behavioral challenges, or a temporary situation—our surrender prevention programs provide resources, guidance, and support to help families keep their pets. We offer behavior training, financial assistance, and even pet food support to help pets stay where they belong: at home.
- Reducing Shelter Overcrowding: By helping families resolve issues before they turn to surrender, we reduce the number of animals entering shelters, which in turn helps us focus on those who truly need a new home. It’s a win for both pets and the community!
- Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership: Our programs not only prevent surrenders but also educate pet owners on the responsibilities of caring for a pet, ensuring a long-lasting, healthy relationship between pets and their families.
- Saving Lives: Every time a pet stays in their home instead of entering the shelter system, it’s one more life saved. Our goal is always to keep pets out of the shelter and in the loving homes they deserve.
We are committed to being a resource for the community—working together to keep pets and families together for the long term. Thank you to everyone who supports our surrender prevention programs!
Explore Our Safety Net Programs:
PET FOOD PANTRY
We understand that sometimes life throws challenges your way—and that’s where our Pet Food Pantry program comes in. This vital resource is part of our Animal Safety Net, helping families keep their pets in their homes and out of the shelter.
Here’s why it matters:
- Preventing Surrenders: When families face financial hardships, feeding their pets can become a struggle. Our Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food to those in need, ensuring pets don’t have to be surrendered because of food insecurity.
- Keeping Families Together: Pets are family. By offering temporary food assistance, we’re helping to keep pets and their families together, reducing the emotional strain of having to make the heartbreaking decision to rehome a beloved animal.
- Reducing Shelter Overcrowding: Every pet that stays in their home, rather than entering the shelter, helps us focus on animals who truly need urgent care or adoption. It’s a crucial part of keeping our shelter spaces available for those in need.
- Community Support: The Pet Food Pantry is entirely supported by donated pet food from the community. You can organize a pet food drive to help us make sure every pet deserves has a full belly and a loving home.
We’re proud to be part of a Safety Net that supports our community and keeps pets happy, healthy, and in their homes.
TRAINING ASSISTANCE
We are excited to partner with local dog trainers like T M Canine Services to offer training assistance for families in need! This collaboration is an important part of our Animal Safety Net, ensuring that pets stay in their homes and out of the shelter. Here’s why this program matters:
- Preventing Surrenders: Sometimes, behavior issues—like leash pulling, barking, or separation anxiety—can make it hard for families to keep their pets. With the help of professional trainers, we provide families with the tools and support they need to resolve these challenges and keep their pets happy at home.
- Strengthening the Human-Animal Bond: Training isn’t just about fixing behaviors—it’s about strengthening the bond between pets and their families. Our program helps create positive, lasting relationships, which leads to more stable, long-term homes for pets.
- Reducing Shelter Overcrowding: By offering training assistance, we reduce the number of pets who might otherwise be surrendered to the shelter, helping us keep our space available for those in urgent need.
- Empowering Pet Owners: This program empowers pet owners by giving them the confidence and skills to address behavioral concerns, leading to a happier and healthier life for both pets and their families.
We’re so grateful for our amazing local dog trainer partners who make this program possible and help families keep their pets in the homes they love. Together, we’re building stronger bonds and brighter futures for pets and their families!
TRAINING CRATES & EDUCATION MATERIALS
We believe every pet deserves a happy, healthy home. That’s why we provide training crates free of charge to families in need, along with educational materials to help correct common behavioral challenges. This is an important part of our animal safety net, helping to keep pets in their homes and out of the shelter. Here’s how it helps:
- Supporting Behavior Management: Training crates are an effective tool for housebreaking, creating a safe space for pets, and preventing destructive behaviors. By providing them at no cost, we’re helping families overcome challenges and avoid the difficult decision of surrendering a pet.
- Empowering Pet Owners: We don’t just provide the tools—we also provide educational materials that guide pet owners through positive reinforcement techniques and tips for correcting common behavioral issues. You can find all of our resource guides for behavior and training help here: https://www.halifaxhumanesociety.org/services-for-pets/pet-help-resources/
- Preventing Shelter Surrenders: By offering this support, we reduce the number of pets who might otherwise be surrendered due to behavior issues, helping to keep our shelter space open for animals in urgent need.
Building Stronger Pet-Owner Relationships: With the right training tools and guidance, families are equipped to create a more positive, stable environment for their pets, ensuring happier homes for both pets and their owners.
We’re proud to provide these resources and support to our community, and we’re grateful to our generous donors who make it possible! Together, we’re keeping pets safe, healthy, and in their loving homes.
PET DEPOSIT & RENTAL ASSISTANCE
We believe that pets are family, and when unexpected life changes occur, when funds are available, we can help a family stay together by helping with rental fees or pet deposits. Here’s why this program is so important:
- Removing Financial Barriers: Many families with pets face challenges with an unplanned move due to the cost of pet deposits or additional rental fees. Our assistance helps ease the financial strain, allowing pets to stay with their families, where they belong.
- Preventing Surrenders: By providing this support, we’re helping to prevent pets from being surrendered or rehomed simply because their families can’t afford the extra costs.
- Keeping Families Together: We believe that the bond between pets and their families is invaluable. Our assistance ensures that pets can stay in the homes they love, reducing the heartache of separation and allowing families to remain together.
- Part of Our Animal Safety Net: This program is a crucial part of our overall animal safety net, helping to address the root causes of pet surrender and ensuring pets don’t end up in the shelter due to circumstances beyond their control.
We’re proud to offer this vital service and grateful to our supporters who make it possible. Together, we’re building a stronger community where pets stay with their families, where they belong.
VETERINARY CARE
We understand that pets are family, and sometimes unexpected emergencies or illness can make veterinary care seem out of reach. That’s why, when funds are available, we can provide veterinary assistance to families in need, helping them afford emergency or care when that care will help keep a pet in a loving home and out of the animal shelter. This service is an essential part of our Animal Safety Net, and here’s why it matters:
- Emergency Care for Pets: When a pet faces a sudden illness or injury, sometimes a family cannot afford an unplanned veterinary bill and that family is forced to relinquish their loved pet to the animal shelter for the only chance of emergency care.
- Preventing Surrender: By offering veterinary assistance, we’re keeping pets in their homes, where they belong, and reducing the number of animals who end up in the shelter.
- Supporting Families: Pets are part of the family, and when a family is struggling financially, they shouldn’t have to choose between their pet’s health and their own well-being. Our assistance helps alleviate this burden, making it possible for pets to stay with their loving owners.
- Part of the Animal Safety Net: Our veterinary care assistance program is a vital piece of our animal safety net, ensuring that pets in our community have access to the medical care they need to stay healthy, happy, and at home.
We’re proud to offer this crucial support, and we’re so grateful to our generous donors who make it possible. Together, we’re helping pets get the care they need, when they need it most.
