Hill’s Pet Nutrition has released its 2025 Canada State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report. Based on input from 500 current and prospective Canadian pet owners, the findings provide insight into public attitudes toward adoption, the challenges that prevent people from adopting, and how Canadian perspectives compare with trends in the United States.

The study examines factors such as financial considerations, emotional barriers, and adoption behaviors to better understand the realities facing prospective pet owners and animal welfare organizations.

Key findings include:

• Shelter adoption remains the preferred option in theory, but not in practice. While 58% of Canadians say they would likely choose a shelter when adopting, most pets currently come from family or friends (29%) or breeders (28%).
• Costs are a major deterrent. Forty percent say the initial cost of adoption makes ownership difficult to consider, while 57% cite overall affordability as their greatest concern.
• Veterinary expenses are the biggest obstacle. Eighty-three percent list veterinary care among their top three expenses, and 72% say these costs directly affect their willingness to adopt.
• Fostering faces financial and emotional hurdles. Twenty-three percent believe they cannot afford to foster, while 40% worry they would become too attached and adopt the animal themselves. Only 8% of Canadians report having fostered before.
• Interest in fostering increases with support. Although 59% view fostering as a positive way to test pet ownership, younger Canadians (68% of Gen Z and Millennials) and 44% of older generations say they would foster if care costs were covered.
• Younger generations express higher intent to adopt. Among past adopters, 87% of Gen Z and Millennials and 64% of Gen X and Baby Boomers would consider adopting again.
• Large dog adoption skews younger. One-quarter of Gen Z and Millennials say they are likely to adopt a large dog, compared with 10% of Gen X and Baby Boomers.

“The findings from our first Canada State of Shelter Pet Adoption Report are crucial for understanding the unique landscape of pet adoption here,” said Frances Cheslo, RVT, Shelter Engagement Manager, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada. “It’s clear that while Canadians love pets, the perceived and actual costs, particularly for veterinary care, are major deterrents to shelter adoption.”