Nova ScotiaThe Nova Scotia SPCA says the number of calls for animals roaming at large in Cape Breton Regional Municipality has more than doubled in the past year, partly because of increases in the cost of living and veterinarian bills.Agency urges people facing hardship to get in touch before turning their pets looseTom Ayers · CBC News · Posted: Dec 03, 2025 3:45 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.SPCA says cost of living forcing some to abandon petsThe Cape Breton Regional Municipality is seeing a large increase in roaming dogs this year. The Nova Scotia SPCA says in some cases, people are setting their pets free because they cannot afford to keep them. The CBC’s Kyle Moore has the story.The Nova Scotia SPCA says some people in Cape Breton Regional Municipality are abandoning their pets because they cannot afford to keep them.In a one-page report to council this week, the SPCA said the number of calls for animals roaming at large in CBRM has more than doubled in the past year.Chief inspector Kevin Strooband said that’s partly because of increases in the costs of living and veterinarian bills.In an interview, he said people need to know they have options.”If there is a problem and your animal is going to be in some kind of distress and you can’t provide for it, then at least reach out,” Strooband said. “Have a conversation with us and we’ll see if there’s a way we can work with you to hopefully retain your animal, but to at least provide the animal the care it needs so that it’s not in distress.”The SPCA enforces CBRM’s animal control bylaw.Nova Scotia SPCA chief inspector Kevin Strooband says there are a number of reasons for the increase in call volumes, including better reporting and increased awareness, as well as financial challenges. (CBC)In its report, the agency said the number of calls about dogs running at large went from 129 last year to 285 so far this year.It also said calls for barking dogs rose from 23 to 44, feces complaints went up from two to 11 and there were 45 complaints about fierce or dangerous animals last year, but 118 this year.Strooband said there are a number of possible reasons for the increase in call volumes, including better reporting and increased awareness about the SPCA’s animal control services.In the report, he also said some animal owners are turning their dogs loose due to a lack of housing or other financial challenges.Deputy Mayor Glenn Paruch says he’s not sure why it’s happening, but he’s noticed an increase in complaints about animals at large in CBRM this year. (Tom Ayers/CBC)Deputy Mayor Glenn Paruch, who represents an urban neighbourhood in Sydney, said he’s noticed an increase in complaints about animals, but he is not sure of a cause.Paruch has a rescue dog that was a runaway 13 years ago.”I don’t think it’s a new problem, but it is happening more and maybe it is related to incomes and people having to make hard decisions,” he said.Strooband said the SPCA operates a number of vet clinics and tries to make them affordable, but pet ownership can still be a challenge for some people.”It’s difficult to care for your pet properly, to provide that level of veterinary care that might be necessary, and if people can’t do that we try to work with them to make sure that the animal is looked after,” he said.Mayor Cecil Clarke says he hasn’t heard complaints from residents, but CBRM will be monitoring the numbers and the topic may be a “broader” issue for the provincial government. (Tom Ayers/CBC)Strooband said the SPCA has three full-time and two part-time animal control officers in CBRM, plus one auxiliary officer, and he expects to double that number soon to deal with the increase in calls.Mayor Cecil Clarke said he hasn’t heard complaints from residents, but CBRM will be monitoring the numbers and the topic may be a “broader” issue for the provincial government, which oversees veterinarian regulations.”What I consider the abandonment of an animal is an issue that must be addressed,” the mayor said.”If those numbers speak to that, then we have to talk to the SPCA and also look at the fact that what we’re seeing elsewhere is stresses on the capacity and availability of veterinarian services and the cost of those services.”MORE TOP STORIESABOUT THE AUTHORTom Ayers has been a reporter and editor for 39 years. He has spent the last 21 covering Cape Breton and Nova Scotia stories. You can reach him at tom.ayers@cbc.ca.With files from Kyle Moore
SPCA says rising costs of living, care, mean more abandoned pets in Cape Breton
