Words Kelly Finerty
Photos Wind Gypsy Photography
A local non-profit on a mission to care for pets and their humans.
Innovative ideas filling an unmet need, defined simply as “acts restoring faith in humanity,” are my favourite. This is certainly the case in the story of two best friends and trailblazing women in healthcare, Priya Sharma and Kayleigh Busch. Together, they created a path to a solution for an unmet need, caring for individuals accessing recovery services and their pets across Vancouver Island – and that solution is called Recovery Tails Society.
Sparked by an observable gap in client recovery care plans while working in mental health and addictions for several years, Priya and Kayleigh saw many clients in the community declining life-saving treatment beds because they were unable to secure care for their pets. Realizing this simply wouldn’t do, they launched a local non-profit, “Recovery Tails Society,” a free program designed to support Vancouver Island residents receiving recovery-based healthcare who need beloved pets housed and cared for while their humans get better.
Since launching in January 2026, Recovery Tails Society has already fostered several dogs, cats and a bearded dragon with their roster of 24 volunteer pet foster homes. Meant to dovetail the BCSPCA’s “Compassionate Boarding Program,” which offers pet care up to two weeks, Recovery Tails Society provides fostering for pets needing care for more than two weeks, up to a maximum of 12 months. The timelines are aligned specifically with the entry and discharge dates from treatment facilities, and support Vancouver Island clients receiving care both on and off the Island.
The pets considered for the service match the accepted animals list on the BCSPCA website, and whether furry or scaly, care is individual and pet-focused, with flexible service provisions matching the needs of the client and their pet. Priya and Kayleigh always provide this service from the heart and walk alongside their clients and foster families through the entire process with consistent communication for every aspect of pet love and care.
Although currently focused on addiction recovery care, Recovery Tails Society hopes to expand its services to clients in surgical recovery or people displaced by tragic events such as fires or floods. For now, a sore spot in the healthcare system draws the Society’s attention to clients receiving ministry funding and living in supportive housing. When placed in a recovery treatment facility, these clients risk losing their funding and housing support, which results in vulnerable people without a home once their treatment program is complete. Attempting to smooth the process for clients reapplying for housing, Priya and Kayleigh write reference letters for pets in their care with the hope to expedite pet reunification.
Another goal for Recovery Tails is to build relationships within local communities Island-wide. Pet transition periods into foster care currently vary depending on the community’s access to pet clinics and the number of pet fosters available. A typical transition period for a pet in the South Island is about two weeks, while in the North Island, assessment periods can take up to six weeks due to the limited availability of pet community resources. Partnerships with businesses in grooming, veterinary and pet supplies can benefit Recovery Tails greatly, and creative fundraisers with local restaurants have proven successful with menu features highlighting the importance of Recovery Tails’ work.
As a non-profit society, Recovery Tails is always looking for funding opportunities and more volunteer foster families. The service is free of charge to clients, and with the program being so new, it is challenging to qualify for appropriate municipal, provincial or federal funding grants to support the cause. Though Priya and Kayleigh are hard at work sourcing grant programs every day, the Society relies on the generosity of donors and partnerships with businesses to provide the necessary love and care for pets in the program. Recovery Tails often provides food, leashes, collars, grooming and toys to their clients, with costs typically between $250 to $500 per pet for an average three-month foster stay.
If you would like to donate and/or register as a volunteer pet foster, and/or receive pet care services for your recovery needs, contact Recovery Tails Society directly. They would love to hear from you!
Email: recoverytailssociety @gmail.com
Website: recoverytails.ca
Follow them on instagram @Recoverytailssociety to stay up-to-date on fundraising efforts.
