What is a Facilitated Adoption? A Stress-Free Way to Rehome Pets
Keeping animals comfortable while helping them find new homes

At the PEI Humane Society, our mission is to find loving, permanent homes for animals in need—while ensuring their physical and emotional wellbeing along the way. One way we do this is through our Facilitated Adoption program.

This unique program helps us reduce the number of animals living in the shelter, while still offering them the same adoption support and visibility as our in-shelter animals.

How Does Facilitated Adoption Work?

In a facilitated adoption, the animal remains in their original home while being listed as available for adoption on the PEI Humane Society website. This means:

• The animal stays where they’re most comfortable until adopted

• We can post more adoptable animals without taking up kennel space

• The transition to a new home is smoother and less stressful for the pet

• Once accepted into the program, the animal is considered to be “owned” by the PEI Humane Society, meaning any veterinary care, etc is provided by the shelter

Before being accepted into the program, every animal must meet specific criteria:

• They must have seen a veterinarian recently and received a clean bill of health

• There must be no major ongoing medical issues or behavioral concerns

• Medical records must be submitted in advance and reviewed by our team

• All animals will be seen by the PEI Humane Society’s Shelter Veterinarian before being listed for adoption

Once approved, the pet is posted to our website, and our staff manage the adoption process just like we would with an animal at the shelter.

Why Is This Good for the Animals?

Coming to a shelter—even a caring one like ours—can be confusing and stressful for animals. Facilitated adoptions allow pets to stay in the comfort of a familiar home while waiting to be matched with a new family. It’s less anxiety for them, and it keeps our kennels available for animals with more urgent needs.

Why Is This Good for the Community?

• More pets get adopted, faster: With more animals available for adoption online, potential adopters have a wider selection to choose from without overwhelming shelter space.

• Shelter space is preserved for emergencies: Animals who are abandoned, homeless, injured, or at risk. Thanks to Facilitated Adoptions, these animals get more access to our facilities, faster.

• Animals get matched with appropriate homes: All adoptions, even those facilitated from the original home, go through our standard screening process. While previous owners are involved in the transition, they do not choose the new home—our staff ensure every placement is the right fit.

Thinking of Adopting?

If you’re browsing our adoptable animals and see a note that says an animal is categorized as a “Facilitated Adoption,” rest assured: they’ve been fully vetted, medically cleared, and are just waiting for the right home—possibly yours!

These pets come with the same support and care as all PEIHS adoptions, just with a slightly different starting point.

By supporting or choosing a facilitated adoption, you’re helping us save more lives while reducing stress for pets in transition. Learn more about our adoption process or view available animals at peihumanesociety.com/adopt.