Donate a Dog

Are you faced with the difficult decision to rehome a beloved pet, through no fault of their own? Or are you a rescue or shelter looking to place a dog that could be a great candidate for service dog work?

At Wellness Wags, a non-profit organization that places service dogs with Nova Scotians, dogs that have experienced challenging circumstances are given a second chance. The availability of suitable dogs for service work is the limiting factor contributing to long wait times for people with disabilities who are waiting to be matched with a service dog. Donating your dog to our program can help reduce that wait time, creating a positive outcome for all involved.

While we do not purchase (or pay any fees for) dogs from rescues, shelters, or individuals, for the right fit, we are able to take on the care of, and ongoing cost of care, for a dog that is donated to our program at no charge. Wellness Wags offers the promise of a loving, caring home and a meaningful purpose for these dogs, helping a Nova Scotian connect with their life-saving companion a little bit sooner.

They receive top notch training from certified trainers who only use the most ethical and humane methods, along with exceptional veterinary care and support. Our dedicated team prepares these dogs to become service dogs, ultimately matching them with Nova Scotians in need. We also ensure that our clients receive thorough training in the best practices for caring for their future companions, holding them to the highest standards of care for the life of the dog.

We are always willing to assess dogs who are:

Located in Nova Scotia, Canada (and are able to be assessed by our training team in HRM)
Confident, social and friendly with all humans, kids, dogs and other animals
Even keeled temperament, with an “off switch” ( an ability to settle/relax)
Comfortable in a crate, x-pen, kennel or dog-proofed bedroom in a home
Large breed (over ~50 lbs)
Under ~2 years of age
Housebroken (no accidents in the home)
No known health conditions
No daily medications or specialty dietary needs
No behaviour concerns

The dog does not need to have any formal training for the assessment, as we are looking for the right temperament and potential for the dog to become a service dog.

Dogs not considered suitable candidates for service dog work:

Dogs who have shown any aggression, resource guarding, reactivity or spook barking towards any human, dog, or other animal
Dogs who are fearful, shy, aloof or standoff-ish
Dogs who experience car sickness, separation anxiety or isolation distress
Dogs who have extreme prey drive, or dogs who chase vehicles or people
Dogs with any congenital or genetic health concerns
Dogs who have any food sensitivities, or food or environmental allergies

If a dog passes our assessment, we will accept the dog into our training program, on a 2-week trial basis. If the dog passes the 2-week trial, we will take over ownership, care, and control of the dog. If the dog does not pass the trial period, you must be willing to take the dog back and continue your search for the right home for the dog. Unfortunately, the dog passing the 2-week trial period does not guarantee they will graduate, but at that point, we can honour taking the dog into our care, and adopting them out into a loving pet home through our adoption channels if they do not complete the training program to graduate as a service dog.

If you think you have a suitable dog for our program to assess, please email sydney@wellnesswags.ca!

Donate a Puppy

We are always willing to explore relationships with new breeders.

We utilize various large breed dogs, with the most common being Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers, but we are willing to explore other breeds or lines with the right temperaments for service dog work.

We prioritize dogs who have breed specific health screening, even keeled temperaments, confidence for job, and an “off switch”.

Dogs not considered suitable candidates for service dog work:

Dogs who come from lines who have shown any aggression, reactivity, spook barking, separation anxiety, or resource guarding
Dogs from fearful or shy lines, or breeds who are naturally more aloof or standoff-ish
Dogs who have extreme prey drive, or chase vehicles or people.
Dogs who come from lines with any congenital or genetic health concerns
Dogs who come from lines with known food sensitivities or environmental allergies

If you think you have a suitable puppy for our program, please email sydney@wellnesswags.ca!