The PEI Humane Society saw nearly a nearly 75% increase in companion animal intakes in 2021 over the previous year.

In 2021, PEI’s only animal shelter saw 1526 companion animal intakes – a huge increase over 2020’s final count of just 1129. This is the highest year-over-year increase the shelter has seen since it opened in 1974.

Adoptions increased by 15% at the shelter with 896 animals successfully adopted into the Island community and beyond. The shelter broke records in November and December for adoptions and there was a 35% decrease in animal returns, all signs that bode well for companion animals on PEI, looking into the new year.

But it wasn’t just adoptions that kept shelter staff busy this past year. Demand for Safe Haven, the shelter’s emergency animal housing services increased by 135% in 2021. The shelter also saw an increase of 36% in animals returned to owners, indicating that more positive outcomes have arisen in the last year than ever before.

“It’s been a busy year,” says Ashley Travis, Development and Communications Coordinator for the PEI Humane Society, “but it has been gratifying in ways we couldn’t have predicted. We saw the community rise to support us and we saw an increase in donations across the board – it has been wonderful to see Islanders step up and help companion animals in need. Our whole team are so thankful.”

With demand for all their services on the rise, PEI’s only animal shelter is bracing for what they predict be another busy year in 2022. But they’re optimistic about their ability to weather to the storm thanks to the support of the Island community.