Our Mission

Changing Lives Through Kindness

Our Vision

A compassionate world for all animals.

AARCS is a leader in the animal welfare community and Albertans turn to us for help. Over 4,000 animals come through AARCS programs each year. We have an exceptional veterinary medical program coordinated from our in-house veterinary hospital located at AARCS Safe Haven shelter in Calgary. Having a veterinary hospital onsite has given AARCS the ability to help the animals in most dire need of medical attention with onsite surgical suites and the ability to provide life-saving treatment. In addition, we operate an intake shelter and adoption centre in Edmonton. Both facilities are vital to the animal welfare landscape in Alberta. Unlike a traditional shelter, AARCS utilizes a vast network of foster homes across the province allowing us to care for 500 animals on average at any given time throughout the year.

Every day AARCS receives calls about animals in need of help — from broken bones, gunshot wounds, embedded porcupine quills, and mange to deadly diseases such as parvovirus. AARCS strives to ensure that these animals receive the medical care they need, along with the chance to recover in a loving foster home. AARCS’ onsite veterinary hospital is designed specifically to help homeless animals and provides medical care to the most vulnerable. Our shelters provide temporary housing so we can assess the needs of each animal prior to going into a foster home. Our certified Behaviour Specialists are there to support both the animals and the people and our Adoption Specialists ensure successful long-term matches. As well, our Edmonton location, houses 45 spots for adoptable cats and rabbits onsite. We are here to provide new beginnings for each rescued animal on their journey to forever, adoptive homes.

In addition to rescuing animals, AARCS provides numerous community support programs to improve animal welfare in Alberta. This includes facilitating a Pet Food Bank, Spay/Neuter Assistance, TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and Animal Disaster Response. By getting to the root causes of animal homelessness, we can help people and pets in our community live better.

The organization is supported by over 2,000 volunteers and foster parents across Alberta. We pride ourselves as a place where everyone is welcome — a place where individuals, families and businesses can come together to volunteer and give back in an area that is important to them. Whether that be as a caregiver in the shelter, as a foster family, a transport driver or part of our events team, there is something for every animal lover.

AARCS and the people who make up this amazing organization are making a difference every day in the lives of homeless animals, and there really is no greater feeling in the world than to save a life.