Press release—for immediate release
A Record Uptick in Surrenders in 2025
The SPCA sounds an urgent call to action
Montréal, June 10, 2025 – It’s all over the news: animal surrenders have reached unprecedented highs. In the first four months of 2025, 1,212 animals were surrendered to the Montreal SPCA—a 26% increase over the same period of 2024. This year is the fifth in a row that abandonments have significantly increased. In 2023, the numbers had already approached pre-pandemic levels. They were outstripped in 2024, with over 3,000 surrenders. And in 2025, the trend is steadily worsening.
“During the pandemic, many families adopted an animal, and the spare time available at the time made it easier to commit,” explained Laurence Massé, executive director of the Montreal SPCA. “The feared wave of surrenders did not happen immediately; the increase was gradual. What surprises us is how the curve continues to rise. We keep hoping it will level off, but no! We can now say that the end of the pandemic had an impact on animal surrenders, but it came much later and was much greater than we had anticipated.”
“The cost of living is forcing many families to make heartbreaking choices,” she went on to explain. “More than one family a day is forced to surrender their animal to us because of a move, while veterinary expenses are also becoming increasingly unaffordable. The situation is worsened by a tight rental market and families affected by inflation. Animals are going to need our support to get through the crisis.”
A call for help
With moving season fast approaching, the Montreal SPCA is urgently appealing to the public for help in getting through a wave of surrenders that is likely to be critical. As a non-profit organization, the Montreal SPCA relies primarily on its donors’ generosity to meet its protégés’ basic needs, including veterinary care, housing, food and rehabilitation. It receives no government funding, although it does have some service contracts, which, however, cover only a fraction of its expenses. The care trajectory costs between $500 and $1,750 per animal on average, depending on the species.
Help in avoiding critical overload
The Montreal SPCA is asking anyone forced to give up their animal to contact them immediately, rather than waiting until their move.
“It’s normal to want to keep your animal until the very last minute,” stressed Laurence Massé. “However, every year around July 1, the Montreal SPCA takes in hundreds of animals in a very short time. With advance notice, we can better support your animal—and sometimes even avoid having it spend any time at the shelter at all.”
Also, the SPCA staff are trained to support people who are looking for new housing with their animal.
Reduced adoption fees to free up space and help even more animals
To free up space to accommodate an ever-growing number of surrenders, the Montreal SPCA will hold several reduced-fee events for certain species.
This week, from June 11 to 15, adoption fees for adult cats will be only $50, and adoption fees for rabbits will be waived on certain conditions. By promoting shelter adoption and with people’s support, the Montreal SPCA will be able to help more animals in need.
The Montreal SPCA is asking for donations to help it get through the crisis:
• Online: www.spca.com/en/emergency-surrenders/
• By phone: 1-866-888-7722
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Source: Montreal SPCA www.spca.com/en/
Media information:
Tök communications 514-247-0526
Marie-Hélène Avon, mariehelene@tokcommunications.ca
About the Montreal SPCA
Founded in Montreal in 1869, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (now known simply as the Montreal SPCA) was the first animal welfare organization in Canada. The SPCA has come a long way since: it is now the largest animal welfare organization in Quebec and speaks on behalf of animals wherever they face ignorance, cruelty, exploitation or neglect.
