Dozens of ‘pocket pets’ looking for homes in N.S.

Hundreds of small animals end up in shelters each year – and need homes – just like dogs and cats.

The Nova Scotia SPCA is full of animals, including dozens of small critters looking for their forever homes.

“Those can range from our smaller, what we call pocket pets, because of their size. Pets like guinea pigs or hamsters or rats as well, to domestic birds,” said Nova Scotia SPCA Chief of Animal Operations Heather Woodin.

While it is not as common for the Nova Scotia SPCA to receive those types of animals, many still end up in its shelters each year.

“We get about 350 critters in our shelters, compare that, we get over 1,000 dogs a year and over 3,000 cats a year,” she said.

The most common critters of that bunch are rabbits and bunnies.

“They may be stray. They do breed quite rapidly and have larger litters, so it can quickly get overwhelming for someone,” said Woodin. “Also, the commitment for owning a rabbit is something you have to be prepared for.”

The Dartmouth shelter’s manager Brianna Fahie said the most important thing to know when getting a small animal is socialization.

“They can’t be left for long periods without having human interaction, and sometimes it’s beneficial to have a friend. Like guinea pigs, they really do thrive with having a friend with them at all times. Rabbits can be kind of hit or miss,” said Fahie.

Fahie has had small pets of her own, including guinea pigs, and said they make a great addition to the family.

“They just have so much to give,” she said. “They do have a shorter lifespan than a cat or a dog, but really, guinea pigs or rabbits can be really cuddly.”

The SPCA recommends turning to adoption whether someone is looking for a “pocket pet” or something bigger.

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