Record Adoption Year

Bide Awhile Animal Shelter is celebrating a landmark in its 54-year history with the highest adoption rates on record; over 500 cats and dogs have found their forever homes and families in 2023. Over the years, over 10,000 animals have found their new families, but this is the first time the shelter has surpassed 500 adoptions in one year.

As one of Nova Scotia’s first no-kill shelters, Bide Awhile has strived to find homes for all companion animals that have come through its doors. The shelter has grown to promote animal welfare education and programming while continuing its focus on providing compassionate care, rehabilitation and a safe haven for companion animals in need. It also provides a low-cost spaying and neutering assistance program. This commitment to spaying and neutering has endeavored to prevent the suffering of thousands of animals in the HRM throughout the years it has operated.

“I want to thank our community, volunteers, Board of Directors and staff for helping us reach this milestone. That’s 500 families in HRM who have been helped by Bide Awhile taking in their companions due to unforeseen circumstances. 500 companions who were treated with respect, dignity and given the chance to have a happy life. 500 families whose lives are forever changed by adopting a new companion into their homes,” said Liesje Somers-Blonde, Executive Director at Bide Awhile. “We could not do what we do without your continued support in donations, purchasing our calendars, sharing our social media and bringing awareness to our work. You’ve all played a role in helping us reach this historic moment!”

The shelter was established in 1969 by a small group of concerned citizens wanting to address the growing number of stray and abandoned animals in the Halifax area. Over the years, the shelter has grown consistently in the number of adoptions, but this year has seen a huge increase in animals finding their forever homes. Ranger and Micky, a bonded pair of cats who happened to be the longest residents at Bide Awhile, marked the 499th and 500th adoption of the year.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the fantastic work the shelter has done and the impact that it has had on the community,” said Aaron Veinotte, President of Bide Awhile’s Board of Directors. “This is a moment the shelter has worked towards for many years, and it shows what we can accomplish when we work together with local communities to promote animal welfare.”