Walking through an animal shelter can often be an emotional experience as you gaze into the eyes of countless furry friends, knowing you can only take a few home. However, at Bide Awhile Animal Shelter in Nova Scotia, this isn’t a dilemma anyone has to face—because the cages are completely empty!
“It’s quite unbelievable, but today we actually have no animals available for adoption,” shared Sam Cole, the communications and marketing coordinator at the shelter, during a chat with CTV News. “Every pet has either been adopted or is waiting for their veterinary health certificate.”
The team at Bide Awhile is amazed by the remarkable rise in demand for furry companions. Despite the chilly January weather, they have already found homes for 30 animals this month alone, and their website listings rarely last more than a day!
The longest any pet has stayed at the shelter this month is just 21 days, while most are adopted the same day they become available. “Last year at this time, adult cats, senior cats, and those with medical issues tended to linger a bit longer in the shelter compared to the playful kittens who found homes quickly. But this year is different—our adults, seniors, and those with special needs are all being adopted almost immediately,” Cole noted. “It’s been a whirlwind since January began!”
This enthusiastic trend isn’t new; last year, the shelter saw an impressive total of 500 pets find their forever homes, averaging around 41.6 adoptions per month. To manage the overwhelming interest, they’ve transitioned to a walk-in system after an online waitlist for kittens swelled to 300 eager adopters.
Bide Awhile encourages potential adopters to check their website before heading out to ensure their desired pet is still available. When CTV checked in, the shelter staff mentioned that for three consecutive days, a line formed outside even before they opened at 9:00 a.m.
While many businesses might find empty shelves concerning, Bide Awhile Animal Shelter celebrates their unique situation, as each empty cage represents a happy ending for a loving animal.
Let’s spread the joy of all these pets finding loving homes!
