Fostering Pets

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his wife Laureen play with Stanley, the newest member of the Harper family

View featured pets for adoption

All too often, family pets such as dogs and cats find themselves in shelters as a result of being abandoned or rescued.

The Harpers are proud to support and participate in the Ottawa Humane Society’s Foster Program, which provides temporary homes for pets in the community who are not yet ready for adoption.

The program fosters out animals with mild health or behaviour issues who need individual care and nurturing to help them recover before they are adopted by new, loving foster families. 

Laureen and Stephen have been foster parents to many cats during the past year. At any given time, the Harpers have provided foster care to numerous cats at their Ottawa home. 

Similar programs are in place across Canada. Foster pet programs help thousands of animals – including cats, dogs, birds and rabbits – each year. These programs allow:

  • Those who want to make a difference for an animal to do so, without making a long-term commitment.
  • Foster parents to see if they are ready for long-term pet ownership.

Contact your local SPCA or Humane Society to find out if they offer a foster pet program.

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  • British Columbia SPCA - 604-681-7271
  • Alberta SPCA - 780-447-3600
  • Saskatchewan SPCA - 1-877-382-7722
  • Manitoba Humane Societies - 204-982-2021
  • Ontario SPCA - 1-888-668-7722
  • SPCA Outaouais - 819-243-2004
  • Quebec SPCA (Montreal) - 514-735-2711
  • SPCA New Brunswick - 506-458-8208
  • PEI Humane Society - 902-892-1190
  • SPCA Nova Scotia - 902-835-4798
  • Newfoundland and Labrador SPCA - 709-726-0301
  • Humane Society Yukon - 867-633-6019
  • NWT SPCA - 867-669-0068
  • Nunavut (Iqaluit) SPCA - 867-979-4800