Over the past five years, our Edmonton team has accomplished incredible work, touching the lives of thousands of animals and their families. The impact of their dedication, along with the support of our donors and volunteers, has been nothing short of remarkable. We are deeply grateful for their contributions and the difference they’ve made in the lives of animals and the people they’ve helped. Regretfully, after an extensive strategic review we have made the thoughtful and difficult decision not to renew the lease and as a result, the facility will close in March 2025.

As we look to the future, we want to share our vision for AARCS and the reasons behind this important step. While we’ve made great strides in expanding into Edmonton, Calgary remains the base of our operations. For several years now, we’ve recognized that to fully leverage our Calgary operations, we need to expand and enhance our facilities in Calgary, which serves as our main operations centre and veterinary hospital. To expand our services and meet the increasing needs of the communities we serve across the Province, we must prioritize enhancing and expanding this central hub. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to achieve this while also maintaining and operating the Edmonton facility. By centralizing resources in Calgary, we can maximize our impact, reduce costs, streamline operations, and ensure consistent, high-quality care across Alberta.

This vision reflects our commitment to creating lasting, meaningful change for Alberta’s animals. By focusing on one centralized facility, we can position AARCS to support more animals and their families for years to come.

Any questions can be directed to AARCS Executive Director, Deanna Thompson at [email protected]. We will be closing animal intake at the Edmonton location January 16, 2025 and will work to adopt out any of the remaining animals at the shelter. Any shelter animals not adopted will be moved to Calgary.

Thank you for your patience and support as we work with our team and volunteers as we make this transition.

FAQ’S

When will the facility officially close?
The facility will officially close on Friday, March 28th, 2025. This will allow time to remove supplies and equipment and clean the facility which will be handed back over to the landlord when the lease ends on April 30th, 2025.

Will the intake of new animals continue?
Animal intake to the Edmonton facility will cease immediately, notwithstanding any previously agreed-upon intakes and we will work to adopt out the remaining animals at the shelter. Any animals not adopted prior to Friday, March 28th will be moved to Calgary. We will continue to manage requests through Calgary and with the support of transporters and fosters as needed.

Can I still foster for AARCS if I live in the Edmonton area?
Yes, we will continue to have fosters in Edmonton and will work together to arrange transportation and supplies to all Edmonton and area fosters as we have done in the past prior to North Haven.

Can I still volunteer for AARCS if I live in the Edmonton area?
Yes, we will continue to have volunteers across the province who can assist in transport, SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program), TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) and virtual tasks like adoption screening, etc.

Will volunteer shifts continue?
Yes, we hope volunteers will continue to come to care for the animals until we can find them new homes. Should the remaining animals be adopted or moved earlier than anticipated, we will notify all volunteers. Volunteer support will be essential as we work through packing, inventorying supplies, and other related tasks.

What will happen to the Food Assistance Program?
We will continue as long as we have a stock of food and supplies and enough staff/volunteers to manage any requests, however we will need to advise clients of the closure and provide referrals to other resources.

How is it possible to support animals across Alberta from only one location in Calgary?
By centralizing resources in Calgary, we can maximize our impact, reduce costs, streamline operations, and ensure consistent, high-quality care across Alberta. Our ultimate goal is to establish a modern and central facility in Calgary in the coming years—a space we can call home long into the future. This facility will allow us to broaden community support programs, address the root causes of animal overpopulation and homelessness, expand our veterinary hospital to offer more accessible lifesaving medical care, provide improved, high-quality housing for dogs, cats, and critters in our care and enhance human space for our growing team of staff and volunteers.

Of course, with our dedicated volunteers and fosters across the province, we can continue to support animals from across Alberta while focusing on a central hub of care and support.