Montrealers struggle to keep pets as costs climb

As expenses for pet food, vet bills, and grooming climb, shelters like the Montreal SPCA are seeing a growing number of abandoned pets.

He provides emotional support, and he’s her best friend.

“He doesn’t judge. He doesn’t criticize. He just listens to me. He’s amazing,” says Ania about her furry companion.

For the retiree, RBG - also known as Rory Bader Good Boy - is more than a dog.

However, like anything worth having, his unconditional love comes with a price. It’s a price many pet owners are paying this year as the cost of caring for a pet has soared.

“I have insurance in case [he] gets sick, so that’s pet insurance every month. And then, you know, the flea meds like from March till end of september. Yes, so that costs a bit too. But the biggest cost is his grooming,” Ania says.

Every five to six weeks, Rory goes to the spa, but it’s a luxury that some pet owners can only dream of.

According to the Montreal SPCA, vet fees, lack of knowledge and landlords imposing no-pet clauses are leading some to abandon their furry friends.

Since January 2025, the shelter says it’s received over 1200 pets at its counter compared to roughly 975 pets at this time last year.

Vet technician Alexandra Yaksich says the price of pet food is yet another factor that’s pushing pets to shelters.

“The food costs have increased quite substantially. Some of that had to do with COVID supply chain issues, and a lot of it has to do with general inflation as well. There’s no government help,” Yaksich says.

As for life beyond the animal shelter, a pet may wind up at a place like Café Chato. The cafe cares for cats awaiting adoption through a partnership with Refuge Animex.

Refuge Animex volunteer Brigitte Croteau says there are “sometimes five, sometimes 20 [cats…] usually when we have more it’s because we have more, younger kittens.”

“We see less and less dogs in the rescue than cats. Cats, we have a big problem - we don’t sterilize them enough. So what happens? The cats are let outside, they reproduce, they get in very bad condition and then they end up in the rescue,” she says.

While the cafe is a better option than the street, Croteau says some animals may find the environment stressful. The best course of action for owners is to be truly aware of the responsibility that comes with giving a pet a home.