Montreal SPCA Sees Rising Pet Surrenders Amidst Housing and Economic Challenges

Traditionally, Montreal's Canada Day was associated with moving day, marked by discarded belongings and the physical strain of moving. A significant consequence of this annual event was a surge in abandoned animals at local shelters.

However, the Montreal SPCA is no longer experiencing a dramatic increase in animal surrenders around July 1st. This shift isn't due to a decrease in pet abandonment before moves, but rather a change in the timing of these surrenders. Fewer residential leases now terminate at the end of June, leading to a more consistent flow of abandoned animals throughout the year.

The SPCA reports a rising number of surrendered pets, a trend attributed to the high cost of living and a scarcity of pet-friendly rental options. The executive director of the Montreal SPCA, notes a significant change from past years, where a large increase in surrenders was observed in July. Now, the increase is spread out throughout the year.

In the initial four months of 2025, the Montreal SPCA recorded 1,212 animal surrenders, a 26% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The organization received 3,000 surrendered pets in 2024. The Montreal facility was already at or exceeding capacity for cats and dogs.

The SPCA is committed to caring for every animal, utilizing resources like foster families when necessary. While concerns existed about a post-pandemic surge in surrenders, the anticipated wave never materialized. Instead, abandonments have been increasing due to a combination of factors.

A major contributing factor is the prevalence of no-pet clauses in leases. Despite a significant percentage of Quebec families owning pets, and a large percentage of those pets being dogs, only a small fraction of landlords permit dogs in their apartments. This makes finding suitable housing challenging, leading to pet surrenders.

The SPCA has advocated for legal changes to ban no-pet clauses. The Quebec Landlords Association suggests that allowing landlords to collect deposits for potential pet-related damages could encourage more landlords to accept pets.

In 2015, Quebec legally recognized animals as sentient beings, but the rules surrounding no-pet clauses remained unchanged. A legal challenge against these clauses has been launched by the SPCA, but a resolution is years away. Other regions, like France and Ontario, have already invalidated no-pet clauses in residential leases.

The financial strain on pet owners is increasingly a factor in surrenders. Rising inflation makes it difficult for people to afford basic necessities, including pet food and veterinary care. The SPCA offers programs to assist struggling pet owners with supplies.