What to know
- Adoption fees are reduced from $280 to $25 until Aug. 22.
- All pets are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped.
- Staff will help match pets with families, including meet-and-greets with other pets.
- Foster-to-adopt options are available, with medical costs covered during the fostering period.
Whether you’ve been inspired by International Cat Day, CatVideoFest, or have always dreamed of adopting a furry friend, Mississauga Animal Services is making it more affordable to bring home a dog or cat over the next few weeks.
Until Aug. 22, adopting a pet from Mississauga Animal Services is going down from $280 to $25.
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Manager of Animal Care and Wellbeing Greg Madeley told Now Toronto that the shelter has launched this promo due to a lack of space for strays, aiming to avoid overcrowding. He says he has been saddened by the number of pets living in the same kennels for years and hopes this initiative will finally allow them to find a forever home.
“We don’t have the space to perform our job, which is to take in strays, because there’s no room for them,” he said. “We also have dogs that have been here for almost three years, and we would like to get them out of the kennel environment.”
“We will absorb [the financial loss] so these animals can live in a proper home instead of a kennel,” Madeley shared.
All pets have been neutered/spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated.
Since the promotion started on Aug. 8, five of the 22 available dogs have been adopted over the weekend, and many cats have been adopted into loving homes. At the time of publication, one kitten remains up for adoption, and Madeley shared that more cats will be in the shelter before the promotion expires.
Mississauga Animal Services is also offering pet lovers the opportunity to foster-to-adopt, where they can help an unwell animal get healthy; the shelter will cover the cost, and they can later adopt the animal if they fall in love with it.
A 10-15 year commitment
Madeley explained that those considering adopting should remember that the price reduction doesn’t remove the 10-15 year commitment.
“This is a life commitment. You cannot enter this without doing your homework. Are you going to give them a life, or just a place to eat? Are you going to be able to take them out and socialize them?” he said.
To ensure pets go to a proper home, kennel staff will have potential pet parents book an appointment with their entire family and bring in any other pets they may have to see if they vibe with the potential adoptee.
He asks those thinking about becoming pet parents to consider their lifestyle, if their residence has any restrictions on pets, and if they are prepared for the commitment.
If you’re ready to bring your pet to the cottage or spend time with this new pet, visit the shelter before the promo ends.
