Best Dog Rescues in Nova Scotia (2023) – Top 6 Picks

Note: There are a wide variety of dog breeds available for adoption, but the rescue we have put together isn’t exclusively specific breed rescue centers. In fact, many dogs who need homes end up at general animal shelters. If you’re looking to adopt a specific breed of dog, it’s important to contact breed-specific rescues as well as your local animal shelter to see if they have any dogs in need of homes.

Nova Scotia SPCA was established in the year 1877 and is based on five major principles that are sheltering, animal rescue, rehabilitation, veterinary care, and community.

As a nonprofit organization, it does not receive any government funding. Their service is solely reliant on the community’s help and donations.

What’s unique about this organization is that it can enforce the Animal Protection Act of Nova Scotia against animal cruelty.

Nova Scotia SPCA is helping more than 12 thousand pets every year, through progressive programs, animal rescue, and providing homes to pets in need.

Every animal deserves a second chance to spend the quality of life that they deserve. This is why, Nova Scotia SPCA is helping homeless, abused, injured, and abandoned pets and providing them with all that they need.

The rescued animals are also provided with training so that they can trust the humans again. In this way, they will easily adjust to the families who will adopt them.

To ensure the health and safety of these pets, they are regularly taken to the vet for regular checkups.

Moreover, the organization also strives to find forever-loving homes for pets where they can spend the rest of their life happily.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Nova Scotia
Email: info@spcans.ca
Phone: 902-835-4798
Website: Nova Scotia SPCA

This is a place where animals are loved, cared and they can feel safe. It is special for animals where they live with all facilities until they find permanent homes.

The staff here is also dedicated and makes sure that every animal is treated with kindness and is respected.

Special efforts are made for finding a perfect match for pets because finding a great fit is important for Bide Awhile. This is important because in this way the lifestyle of the adopter’s home will complement the animal’s personality.

Due to all these things, the adoption process may take some time. The organization needs to know that the animal will be loved and treated well in its new home.

Unwarranted euthanasia is never performed here as it is a no-kill shelter. The pets stay here until the staff finds a perfect place for every pet no matter how long does it take.

The option of euthanasia is only for the worst conditions when an animal has severe behavioral problems or it is critically ill.

Bide Awhile is also working hard and is committed to educating the public about pet ownership, guiding about animal-related issues, and the importance of spaying and neutering.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Email: shelter@bideawhile.org
Phone: 902-469-9578
Website: Bide Awhile

It is a volunteer-based organization and anyone working here does not receive any compensation or salary for its work. People can volunteer for being foster parents, flight companions with dogs, etc.

The organization has a volunteer application that you can fill out to be a part of it. It runs on the donation of the community and all these donations go directly for saving the lives of dogs.

These donations are usually used for fostering, rescuing, or transportation. Moreover, medical expenses are also covered with public or community donations.

They rescue dogs, provide them immediate care and help and then look for homes where these dogs can live happily forever.

They rescue dogs that usually suffer from abuse, neglect, and a variety of other situations.

Dog Rescue Nova Scotia Info:
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Email: flywithme.animalrescue@gmail.com
Website: Fly With Me Dog Rescue

These volunteers have dedicated their effort and time to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehoming abandoned and unwanted dogs.

It is a foster-based non-profit dog rescue where they rescue animals, provide care and love, and keep them in foster homes until they find a new home for them where they can live happily forever.

All the rescued dogs live within homes with fosters. Moreover, they are properly vaccinated, spay or neutered, and microchipped as well.

Before adoption, the potential adopter and the dog are screened properly. This is done to ensure that the personality of the dog matches best with the lifestyle of the adopter. In this way, both the dog and the family will not face any problems.

The organization does not receive any donations from the government but is operated with the help of private contributions. Therefore, if you want to help it, you can do it by donating, volunteering, or sponsoring a dog.

Dog Rescue Info:
Location: Nova Scotia
Email: tori.goodbones@gmail.com
Website: Good Bones Dog Rescue

It is an all-breed dog rescue where they pay attention to all dog breeds. They assist the dogs and fulfill the needs of dogs in the Nova Scotia area.

The board of directors and volunteers of this organization are compassionate about saving animals and rescuing them. It’s a small dog rescue society and they provide services to limited dogs.

This is to ensure that the need of each dog is being fulfilled properly. They thoroughly assess the dog, evaluate and then rehabilitate those that are in care.

The assessment of the dog is done thoroughly because it helps in placing the dog in the right home where its personality matches with the lifestyle.

They have a multistage application and screening process that adopters have to follow. Moreover, they are also committed to working along with other rescues in the area so that the living conditions for dogs can be improved.

Dog Rescue Nova Scotia Info:
Location: Nova Scotia
Email: misfitmanordogrescue@gmail.com
Website: Misfit Manor Dog Rescue

Puppies: No one can deny that raising a puppy is not an easy task, just like raising children. The thing about getting a puppy is that they’re not easy to train because they’re still young.

Puppies also require much hard work than adult dogs and can’t be left alone for long periods of time without needing any care. However, puppies need lots of attention and socialization when they first come home so it’s important to take the time with them so they grow up well adjusted.

Rescue Dogs: The best thing about rescue dogs is that you’re helping out your favorite furry friends by giving them a second chance at life. Many rescue dogs come with basic training so you don’t have to spend more time on training.

Research: Do some research online and ask other people in the area about their experience with different rescues. This will give you an idea of what kind of services they provide and how responsive they are when contacted.

Reviews: Check out reviews before making any donations or signing agreements with them – even if they seem like the perfect match! Rescues often go through financial hardships so be sure to check their website often to see if there has been any change in contact information or hours of operation.

Vaccinations: Make sure you check the vaccinations of any dog before rehoming them, and if they will not be vaccinated it’s best to find another shelter.

Dogs Safe for Rehoming: Rescue dogs are amazing, but they come with some challenges. It can be hard to find a good re-homing center that tests the temperament of their animals before letting them go into homes or foster care.

Reputable centers work hard to ensure that all of the prospective pets they receive have been temperament tested before adoption, providing you with detailed information about each dog as to how it will affect your home environment if you adopt them in as well as any specific requirements needed from owners who adopt these dogs.

Home Checking: All reputable rescue centers will perform a home check before they let you take on any dog. This is because it’s important to make sure your place of residence can accommodate the dog you want to adopt that may be living there. Most rescue centers will expect potential adopters like you who live inside with at least one securely enclosed outdoor area where pets can play without running off too far every day.

Consultation & Support: Some of the best re-homing centers will offer you advice and support throughout your pet adoption process. If you don’t have any experience with adopting dogs, for example – then when taking on a new furry friend home there are certain things that might go wrong in which case you may get any types of help you need.

Don’t forget – adoptions don’t come without commitment they take time and patience as well as financial resources, but if all these things fit your needs- adopt today! The dogs rescued from shelters are generally older and have dealt with a lot in their lives. You’ll have to be a little more patient, loving, and understanding with them if they struggle. Being prepared for any situation is the most effective way to make sure that you are able to handle it effectively.

The most important thing is that you should know that most rescue dogs have been mistreated by their previous owners. They might have come from puppy mills where they were mistreated or not properly cared. It is possible that they came from homes where there are too many animals and they are not being properly cared for which they need It’s not easy being adopted.

Some dogs have been abused or neglected by their former owners, but luckily there are caring people out there to save them! These dogs may be angry with humans at first because they’ve had a hard time in the past.

Don’t be deterred by these dogs’ sad pasts, but over time, when you give lots of love and attention to these beautiful dogs. You will become their favorite person and they’ll learn to trust humans again – but it doesn’t happen right away!

If so, please let us know in the comments below. We would love to hear from you.

We want to make sure that our list is as comprehensive as possible, it really helps others who are looking to adopt a Dog or puppies in Nova Scotia.

Please watch “How to Prep for a Rescue Dog” below before adopting a dog from a rescue shelter in Nova Scotia.