Animal rescues are a vital part of our community. They help to educate the public on responsible pet ownership, humanely manage the overpopulation of strays in underserved communities, and most importantly, give stray and unwanted pets a second chance at a good life.
Local rescues are just as important to the communities they serve as their communities are to them. Get to know some of our local rescue partners and find out how you can get involved.
You’ve seen the community board at your local pet store, heard about fundraising events on the radio, and read the heartwarming stories in the news about pets that are desperately trying to find their forever home.
While adoption into a loving forever home is the goal, there are more ways to help if adoption isn't the right fit for you right now.
Many of us aren't prepared to take on the responsibility, financial burden, or headaches and stress of caring for a scared, sick or anxious pet. If you can't adopt, you can still help these animals in other ways; By supporting the people who can save them.
You may be familiar with some of the rescues in your area and may have even rescued a pet yourself, but there are more ways you can help support these organizations if adoption isn't in the cards for you.
Most of what a pet rescue does involves the intake, assessment, and rehabilitation of these animals before they can be adopted out. It takes time, money, and compassion, which is where you can help chip in.
Our goal is to make a difference in our community. Rescues make a difference in our community, so we have chosen to work with our local rescues to provide assistance and support by collecting donations, promoting local fundraising events, and hosting in-store adoption events to help them reach a wider audience.
Can’t adopt? That’s ok, not everyone can, but there are many other things you can do to help these animals find a loving family.
Rescues need community support to do what they do, and there are plenty of ways that you can get involved.
Non-profit rescues rely on donations from the community. This money is used to cover vet bills, the cost of transportation, and the supplies needed to feed and care for them until they find their forever homes.
Not everyone can afford a donation, but that doesn't mean you can’t help. Rescues are always looking for volunteers to help organize events, help with rescue initiatives, pick up donations, and more.
Taking care of animals with a wide range of needs means that rescues go through lots of supplies. Check out the Rescue Profiles below to find out more about our local rescue partners and how you can get help and support them.
A lack of foster homes is one of the biggest limiting factors for most rescues today. Finding temporary placements that can accommodate animals with health issues, behavioural issues, and pets of all ages is something that rescues are always on the lookout for.
The more people hear about local rescues, the more support they will get. Sharing their stories and initiatives on social media, on local community boards, and even by word of mouth helps them get more donors, more volunteers, and in the end, more pets adopted.
Animal rescue services are available all over the country, and they all need the support of their individual communities. Below are some of the local rescues that we have been fortunate enough to work with.
Our stores in these cities serve as drop-off locations for food and supply donations for each of these charities. Get to know each rescue a little better and find out how you can get involved today!
Formerly known as the Prairie Pitbull Rescue, The Prairie Pets Rescue has changed and grown a lot over the years, but their mission has stayed the same - Helping pets and their communities thrive. Prairie Pet Rescue is fortunate enough to have an intake facility to assess and prepare animals for rehabilitation in foster homes while they search for the animal's forever home.
Last Chance Cat Ranch is the largest no-kill, not-for-profit cat rescue south of Calgary, Alberta. They work hard to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome cats that would otherwise be forgotten. By taking in unwanted cats, Last Chance saves cats and kittens from living in dangerous environments and finding them an enriching and loving forever home.
The Lethbridge & District Humane Society has been a safe haven for homeless and abandoned animals for decades. From its humble beginnings in private homes to its current shelter, the Society continues to grow with the community, offering compassion, care, and second chances to pets in need.
The humane animal rescue team (hart) is a non-profit organization that rescues stray, abandoned, and unwanted dogs from rural areas surrounding Edmonton, including first nations. Their rehabilitation efforts help to organize medical care and training so that these dogs can be placed in furever homes. In addition, the hart team advocate for responsible pet ownership and help to spread awareness of animal cruelty and the importance of spaying and nurturing initiatives to reduce the number of unwanted litters.
SCARS helps communities by taking in pets that are unwanted or slated for euthanasia. They collect pets from remote area dog pounds and veterinary clinics that act as the pound. They also take in stray and abandoned pets, many of which are sick or injured. Every animal is given a veterinary and behavioural assessment and any medical care or rehabilitation it requires. SCARS spay/neuter, vaccinate & microchip every animal that comes into our care.
Zoe's mission is to make positive change in the lives of pets, families, and communities in need. They believe that saving an animal helps more than just that one pet but has a ripple effect on the lives of all those involved. With a large network of supporters and volunteers, Zoe's is able to provide valuable services like a spay-neuter-return program, providing community education, and providing support and accessibility to marginalized communities.
Little Cats Lost may be small, but they have a big goal: To reduce euthanasia and the growth rates of feral cat colonies through a safe trap-neuter-return program in the community. In addition, they aim to raise awareness of the importance of these humane practices and to provide support to the community by working with Animal Control to rehabilitate and rehome unwanted kittens and strays.
Founded by a small group of concerned citizens, the Okanagan Humane Society has grown into a region-wide network of fosters and volunteers. By focusing on spay/neuter, medical care, and adoption, OHS works tirelessly to give every local animal the chance for a better life.
Saving Lives, One Dog at a Time Paws it Forward believes that every dog deserves a chance at a better life. Paws began in 2011 with a single goal; to help make the world a better place for dogs. Paws rescues dogs all across the Okanogan and beyond. By utilizing a trusted network of foster homes, Paws is able to give dogs the care, time, and rehabilitation they need to be placed into the best forever homes.
LAPS promotes the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of dogs and cats. Langley Animal Protection Society is lucky enough to have a state-of-the-art facility that allows them to intake, rehabilitate, and nurture pets until they can be adopted out to the right family. LAPS is the animal control service provider for Langley, giving them the opportunity to work in the community to make it safer for pets and people.
The Animal Rescue Foundation of Alberta is a non-profit, volunteer-driven rescue with a simple mission: better lives for dogs and cats in need. Through fostering, adoption, medical support, and community education, ARF advocates for animals who can’t speak for themselves.
Calgary Humane Society is more than a shelter—it's a lifeline for pets who can't speak for themselves. From adoptions and behaviour classes to rescue and protection, we’ve been serving vulnerable animals and their people for over a century, building a more compassionate community along the way.
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