Intake
Our receptionists are on duty from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. They are tasked with answering calls for assistance with an animal.
Our receptionists are front-line specialists trained to deal with maybe tragic events that require compassion and composure. They offer advice, referrals and resources and, if necessary, make appointments to take in or pick up animals. Our phone lines are busy at the shelter, so we appreciate your patience and cooperation!
Need assistance with an animal?
Please refer to the scenarios below to learn the best way to proceed.
Patrol
The intake team is backed by patrollers who pick up animals in the boroughs served by the SPCA at the request of the authorities or concerned animal lovers.
If you are unable to bring us the animal who needs help and if the animal is contained,* please contact us so we can dispatch our patrollers. Please expect a reasonable delay before we arrive, during which time we ask that you please stay with the animal.
Our patrollers are trained to interact with all types of animals, including urban wildlife.
Patrollers – the animal must be contained
We serve a large area so we cannot come out if the animal is not contained (in fenced yard, a closed room, a cardboard box or a carrier).
Thank you for helping animals in distress!
Over the last year...
Need assistance with an animal? Please refer to the scenarios below to learn the best way to proceed.
STRAY COMPANION ANIMAL
Are you sure the cat is lost? Maybe they are just roaming outdoors without a collar. If you have found a collarless cat, a dog or other stray companion animal who looks in need help, please follow these steps:
1 – Check our lost and found list to see if the animal’s family is already looking for them.
If so, please contain the animal in a safe place. Then, contact us at 514–735-2711 or info@spca.com with the animal’s file number (and a photo if you can). We’ll get in touch with their family.
2 – If the animal is not listed on our site, please fill out a found animal form as soon as you can. For dogs, please call us at 514-735-2711, ext. 0, to complete the form.
3 – Once you’ve reported the found animal, please keep them safe in your home until they can be reunited with their family. You can also bring the animal to the Montreal SPCA to see if they’re microchipped and, if necessary, to get food and accessories while they are with you temporarily. There’s a good chance the animal lives in your neighbourhood, and their family will surely be glad to come get them up close by. If you have other animals at home, please keep them separate.
4 – If you are unable to temporarily house the animal or bring them in to us, please call us at 514-735-2711, ext. 0, so that we can coordinate their care.
COMPANION ANIMAL – SURRENDER
If you wish or are forced to surrender your companion animal, please consult the Surrender section. We’ll make an appointment for you to bring your animal in to the SPCA.
If you are unable to bring your animal in, we can send our patrollers to you for an additional fee. Please note that you must be at home when our patrollers arrive.
INJURED COMPANION ANIMAL
If you find a companion animal who is injured or unwell, please call us as soon as you can at 514-735-2711, ext. 0, so that we can advise you and decide on the next step together.
Try to contain the injured animal in a box, carrier, closed room or other safe place.
If you are unable to bring the injured animal in to us and the animal is contained, please contact us so that we can send our patrollers to you. Please expect a delay before we arrive at your home or location. It’s important you stay with the animal until we arrive.
In the case of an injured stray dog, if you are unable to stay with the dog, you can contact the Ville de Montréal’s police department directly at 911.
Your safety should come first. Never attempt to intervene directly with an animal who could bite or otherwise injure you.
If you have found a kitten who appears to be orphaned, consult this page.
INJURED WILDLIFE
If you find a wild animal who is in very bad shape (obvious injury, bleeding, breathing difficulties, inability or difficulty to move or stand, excessive vocalizations, etc.), please call us as soon as possible, at 514-735-2711, ext. 0, so that we can advise you and decide on the next step to take together.
Your safety should come first. Never attempt to intervene directly with an animal who could bite or otherwise injure you.
DEAD ANIMAL
If you find a dead animal on the street in the areas listed below, please call us at 514-735-2711, ext. 1. We will send a patroller to pick up the corpse.
- Town of Hampstead
- Borough of Saint-Laurent
- Borough of Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie
If you find a dead animal on the street in any other Ville de Montréal borough, please call the city at 311.
If you find a dead animal on your property (parking lot, front/back yard, etc.) in one of the boroughs served by the SPCA, please call us at 514-735-2711, ext. 1. We will send a patroller to pick up the corpse.
ORPHANED WILDLIFE
Before removing an animal from its natural habitat, please consult our Wildlife section and read our specialized articles on baby squirrels and chicks.
If you have applied the advice in our articles and you have determined that the animal is indeed an orphan, here are the next steps you should take:
- For squirrels, please contact Écureuil Land via their Facebook page or group.
- For all other orphaned wildlife, please contact us at 514-735-2711, ext. 0. We’ll guide you through the next steps.
Some additional resources:
- Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (all animals except birds): 1–844–523-6738
- Union québécoise de réhabilitation des oiseaux de proie (UQROP) in Saint-Hyacinthe (birds of prey): 514–345-8521 or 450–773-8521
- Le Nichoir (all birds except pigeons): 450–458-2809
- Ge Cherche Charly (support and coordination service for lost dog searches/reporting of dogs who have been spotted but not captured)
- Écureuil Land: all squirrels, babies and adults. Facebook support group here.
