About us
For the ones who need us most.
The Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter is an independent shelter that proudly follows no-kill principles and believes all animals are deserving of a second chance and a loving home.
Our shelter cares for and re-homes stray, neglected, sick, and surrendered dogs and cats in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. We are located at 798 Smith Road, just outside Amherst.
At the shelter, we provide love and care, but we are not a replacement for the loving home that all companion animals deserve.
History
The Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter is an independent shelter founded over 30 years ago by a group of concerned animal lovers and has gone from taking in a few stray cats to a full-fledged shelter that can house 12 dogs and 30 cats.
The shelter has paid kennel keepers to provide consistent love and care for the animals, as well as many volunteers that keep things running smoothly.
Mission
To promote the welfare of animals for the benefit of the public by:
- Rescuing stray, abandoned, abused, or surrendered dogs and cats; and
- Operating the dogs and cats adoption program.
To undertake activities ancillary and incidental to the attainment of the above-mentioned charitable purposes.
Vision
Our goal is to continue saving animals every year and encourage and support other shelters in a united mission. We want to continue raising awareness and providing programs to the public.
Intake
How do animals come to the shelter?
The dogs we care for come primarily from animal control officers of the three municipal units of Cumberland County. They are picked up as strays or from owners who surrender them for various reasons. For cats, many of them are simply deposited at the shelter, but some owners surrender them.
Stray dogs may be at the shelter temporarily (if they are reclaimed by the owner before the holding period has expired) or for longer periods. After the holding period, dogs will be put up for adoption.
Holding periods
- Town of Amherst: 3 days
- Municipality of Cumberland: 3 days
- Town of Oxford: 2 days
Position statement
Humane training methods
The Lillian Allbon Animal Shelter supports humane training methods for dogs as suggested by the Nova Scotia SPCA and the Canadian Veterinary Association.
In respect to e-collar training and prong/pinch collars, the shelter does not and will not use these methods for training dogs in our care, and instead follows guidelines set out by these organizations, which favour positive, reward-based methods, and will seek out trainers who follow this philosophy.
Meet the board, 2026–2027
Executive
- President · Hal Davidson
- Vice-President · Karen Cormier
- Treasurer · Monique Sullivan
- Secretary · Robynn Hatton
Directors
- Donna Letcher
- Darlene Daly
- Anne Frances
- Gillian VanSnick
- Lori O’Connell
- Meagan Cormier
- Natalie Rayworth
- Nicole Burke
- Rob Hammill
- Sonya Siddall
- Sydney Calder
- Trina Wilson
Ex-officio
- Town of Amherst · Hal Davidson
If you wish to speak to one of our board members, please contact the shelter for further information.
Concept note: the wording on this page comes from the shelter’s current page, laanimalshelter.org/about-us-1.