Changing Lives Through Kindness
Live Love Rescue
AARCS is a grassroots animal welfare organization based in Alberta. Our goal is to help homeless animals in our community and enact societal change, so that we may all witness a Compassionate World for All Animals.
AARCS is proud to be named one of Charity Intelligence’s Top 100 Charities in Canada!
OUR 2025 IMPACT
Updated: Feb 2026 ▪ Animals helped includes SNAP/TNR and Assistance Programs
Majority of surgical procedures are spay/neuter surgeries
Pet Adoptions
Surgical Procedures
Animals Helped
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is AARCS?
The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society is made up of a large network of volunteers, foster homes and animal loves. We are a non-profit animal rescue organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of animals in our community.
How is AARCS Funded?
We rely on donations from the public, corporations, fundraising events and adoption fees in order to operate. See our audited financial statements in our annual reports!
How does the adoption process work?
When you are ready to adopt a pet:
- Browse our available adoptable animals online
- Submit an adoption application
- Wait to hear from our adoptions team about next steps!
Please see our adoption process page for a more in-depth explanation.
Who cares for the animals?
Our animals come through our shelter where they are seen by our in-house veterinary team. Our shelter staff and volunteers care for the animals until they are placed in foster care with a loving volunteer family.
Our animals receive the majority of their veterinary care in-house at the AARCS Veterinary Hospital. Occasionally, certain surgeries or treatments need to be outsourced to our partner clinics.
How do I become a Volunteer?
Please see our volunteer page for more information on how to become a volunteer today!
How do I become a Foster Family?
Please see our foster page for more information on how to become a foster family today!
How do I make a donation?
We greatly appreciate your support! AARCS is a registered charity and provides charitable tax receipts for donations over $20.
We can accept donations in several ways:
- Online through our secure donation portal
- By e-transfer to [email protected] (please include your full name, email address and mailing address in the comment if you’d like a tax receipt!)
- Over the phone at 403-250-7377 (please leave a message if we are unavailable and we will call you back to process your donation!)
- Cash, cheque or credit card in-person at our shelter during business hours.
- Online through Canada Helps
Where do you rescue the animals?
Our focus is to rescue animals (cats and dogs) from rural communities in Alberta that have limited animal services. At the discretion of the shelter teams and when space in our programs allow, we may take in animals from private citizen for rehoming or transfer animals into our program from other animal welfare organizations.
What do I do if I find or rescue an animal?
AARCS is unable to accept stray animals.
If you find an animal in the City of Calgary city limits, he/she needs to go to Calgary Animal Services, or you can call 311. Animals found outside of city limits should go to the Calgary Humane Society.
Animals found in the City of Edmonton should go to Animal Care and Control or you can call 311. Animals found outside of city limits should go to the Edmonton Humane Society.
Outside of Calgary and Edmonton, please contact the local SPCA, Humane Society or police/bylaw for instruction.
Please remember, if you find an animal, never assume it is a stray or keep it or try to find the owners yourself. It is important they are turned into the local authorities, as that is where their owners will be looking for them. You can ask for a reference number and to be called if the owners do not claim their pet.
If you are unable to get to your local Animal Services or they are closed, you can contact your local veterinary office for assistance.
If I'm under 18 can I still help?
We can accommodate youth volunteers aged 10-16 if a parent or guardian volunteers with them. Youth aged 16-18 can volunteer independently with written permission from a parent or guardian.
We also offer a reduced rate for membership for anyone under the age of 18!
Will you take my pet that I need to re-home?
Please note that AARCS works at capacity most of the time as we are assisting communities across the province. This means we rarely have an open space in our shelters. Our teams are working hard to place as many animals as possible in foster care or adoptive homes.
All public intake requests require pre-approval and are not guaranteed. Intake approval will vary depending on the needs of the animal, the space we have available in care, as well as resources available to us to address any medical or behavioural needs.