About US
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VALUES | THE NEED | IMPACT | WHO WE ARE | HISTORY | STRATEGIC DIRECTION | LEADERSHIP
OUR MISSION + VISION
CHANGING LIVES THROUGH KINDNESS
The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) is a leading animal welfare organization in Alberta built on a foundation of compassion and kindness. Our values are embodied by our hard-working staff, dedicated volunteers, loving foster homes and generous supporters. Our goals are to help homeless animals in communities across Alberta, and to provide community support programs to address the root causes of animal overpopulation and homelessness.
Our vision is A Compassionate World for All Animals.
OUR VALUES
COMPASSION
Compassion is at the core of all our interactions with animals and people. We seek to be open-minded, inclusive and non-judgemental, respecting others in all we do. Compassion forms the foundation of our commitment to public service, meaningful work and our responsibility to help make our communities better places for all to live.
COLLABORATION
We believe our communities are best served by organizations that work together to make a difference. We believe in cooperation and helping others to achieve a world of kindness for animals and people. We seek to build relationships and networks that help communities address animal welfare.
INTEGRITY
We are committed to ethical practices, fiscal responsibility and transparency that builds trust in our organization and our people. We strive for and ask for honesty in our work in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.
LEARNING
We learn from every situation and from the people, places and organizations with which we interact. We contribute to knowledge-building in the animal welfare sector. Together we can meet the needs of animals, individuals and communities.
ADVOCACY
We are committed to strong stewardship of our resources and to leadership in the area of animal welfare. We believe that the world will be a better place when all creatures are treated with kindness and compassion.
LEARNING
We learn from every situation and from the people, places and organizations with which we interact. We contribute to knowledge-building in the animal welfare sector. Together we can meet the needs of animals, individuals and communities.
ADVOCACY
We are committed to strong stewardship of our resources and to leadership in the area of animal welfare. We believe that the world will be a better place when all creatures are treated with kindness and compassion.
THE NEED – WHY ARE WE HERE?
Because of Canada’s wide-open spaces and lower human population density, we don’t necessarily see them on our streets like we do in other countries; however, there are thousands of homeless animals in Canada creating a significant demand for the services provided by animal shelters and rescue organizations.
AARCS is here to help these animals by offering a safe haven for stray, abandoned, or homeless animals. We act as a temporary residence, ensuring animals receive appropriate care, medical support, and love while awaiting adoption into forever homes.
Below are just some of the reasons why animals end up in shelters:
CHANGES IN CIRCUMSTANCES
Change in circumstances including divorce, death, new baby, financial situation, or moving are some of the most common reasons cited for pet rehoming.
COST OF VETERINARY CARE
The growing cost of veterinary care makes the choice to spay or neuter pets more challenging, resulting in unwanted litters. The average cost for a large breed spay now exceeds $1,000 and waitlists at veterinary clinics can be months long. The lack of available veterinary resources is partially due to a serious shortage of veterinarians across the country, especially in rural areas — over 840 vacancies in Alberta alone according to a 2022 report by the ABVMA.
SHELTERS ARE FULL
Shelters are full and therefore have to turn animals away. As a result, animals are sometimes abandoned in rural areas, join local pet populations and reproduce without control, creating overpopulation problems.
BEHAVIOUR ISSUES
Behaviour issues in pets that owners are not equipped or are unwilling to manage include aggression, separation anxiety, and inappropriate urination for cats.
UNREGULATED BREEDING OPERATIONS
Unregulated backyard breeding operations are contributing to the problem. These breeders often produce animals without any regard for temperament or health, causing a great deal of heartache, frustration and expense for new owners. Without any return policies, many of these pets end up in shelters.
LACK OF AVAILABLE HOUSING
Lack of pet-friendly, affordable housing has contributed to an increase in re-homing requests citing housing challenges. Vacancy rates in most urban Alberta centres are below 5%. Only about 20% allow pets, and many have size, species, breed or quantity restrictions and require additional rent or deposits. Conversely, Stats Canada indicates that 77% of Canadian households have a pet of some kind and 50% have a cat, dog or both. AARCS is seings all of these trends reflected in our own operations with a 262% increase in dog rehoming requests between 2019 and 2023 (268 in 2019; 971 in 2023). Approximately 44% of AARCS 2023 dog rehoming requests are a result of a change in housing, living or financial circumstances that prevent owners from being able to keep their beloved pets, and about 29% are a result of behaviour challenges they have been unable to manage.
AARCS also plays a vital role in enhancing community well-being by tackling systemic issues like pet overpopulation and by providing community support programs that keep pets in their homes and out of shelters. Our community support programs are designed to maintain the bond between pets and people, reduce the number of animals entering shelters and ensure public safety. Beyond our immediate impact on individual animals, we contribute to the broader societal goal of fostering compassion and empathy towards our fellow creatures, promoting a harmonious coexistence between humans and animals.
OUR IMPACT
WHO WE ARE
AARCS is proud to be a leader in the animal welfare community and a place Albertans can turn to for help. We are a federally registered charity run by a volunteer board of directors and incorporated as a society in the province of Alberta. More than 6,000 animals come through our programs each year. We are here to provide new beginnings for each rescued animal on their journey to forever adoptive homes and provide community support programs aimed at addressing the underlying issues of animal welfare in our province.
Our shelters in Calgary and Edmonton provide temporary housing, allowing us to assess the medical and behavioural needs of each animal. Our Edmonton location also facilitates adoptions on-site for cats and critters. We have an exceptional veterinary medicine program, coordinated through our in-house Veterinary Hospital at our Safe Haven shelter in Calgary. As a partner with the University of Calgary Veterinary Medical School AARCS clinic is a teaching hospital providing practical experience for student veterinarians. Having a full-time team of veterinary staff and a full-service hospital onsite gives us the ability to help homeless animals in dire need of medical attention. Every day, AARCS receives calls about animals in need of help – from injuries to deadly diseases, we strive to ensure each animal receives the medical care they need along with the chance to recover in a loving foster home.
CALGARY - SAFE HAVEN
AARCS opened the first-of-its kind Safe Haven and Veterinary Hospital in 2017. This location is designed as a temporary, emergency and quarantine shelter for rescued animals, with an onsite veterinary hospital to help thousands of homeless animals each year. Safe Haven also operates as a shared office space, donation centre and storage facility.
Our Veterinary Hospital is fully staffed with veterinarians, registered animal health technicians and tech assistants. With two operating suites, a dental suite with dental x-ray, a full-body x-ray machine, and a fully functional laboratory and pharmacy, AARCS can perform almost anything a private practice can perform. This facility is designed and licensed only to help animals in AARCS care and is not open to the public. In 2023, our AARCS Veterinary Hospital performed more than 3,200 surgical procedures in-house, with the majority being spay and neuter surgeries.
AARCS Safe Haven is located at 5060 74 Ave SE, Calgary AB.
EDMONTON - NORTH HAVEN
Our North Haven facility in Edmonton opened in 2020 to increase our capacity for intake and housing for newly rescued animals. This location provides temporary, emergency and quarantine housing for homeless animals. It also acts as a donations and adoption centre, as well as shared office space and as a storage facility.
North Haven is open six days per week to facilitate on-site adoptions of cats and critters.
AARCS North Haven and Adoption Centre is located at 8108 Coronet Rd NW, Edmonton AB.
By addressing the root causes of animal homelessness, we can help people and pets in our community to live better. As a member of both Humane Canada (formerly the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies) and the Animal Welfare Coalition of Alberta, AARCS supports professional standards in the animal welfare industry and collaboration between agencies so that together, we can elevate the status of animals in Alberta.
As a registered non-profit, donations are tax-deductible. We are not government-funded and rely on the public’s generosity to continue to do this vital work. From 2021-2024, we were assessed by Charity Intelligence and received the honoured Top 100 Charities in Canada!
You too can help by partnering with us in our life-saving work. Check out our Get Involved page or make a donation today!
AARCS is supported by more than 3,000 compassionate volunteers and foster families across Alberta, ranging from young children to seniors – all animal lovers looking to make a difference. We pride ourselves as a place where everyone is welcome; where individuals, families, businesses and communities can come together to support a cause that is important to them. From shelter caregivers to foster families to transport drivers to event support, there is a way for every animal lover to be involved. AARCS and all of the incredible people who make up the organization are making a difference every day in the lives of homeless animals.
Our History
The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society began in 2006 as a small but mighty team of volunteers and foster homes. A school teacher who worked in a remote community noticed a large number of strays, and was handed a puppy one day and asked to find it a new home. Noticing the lack of animal services in remote communities, AARCS was established, helping 52 dogs in the first year of operations strictly through volunteers and foster homes.
In 2012, AARCS opened our first shelter in Northeast Calgary, designed to provide temporary housing, emergency shelter and quarantine for newly rescued animals. With a physical space, support for the organization grew, and within a few short years, we quickly outgrew the space.
In 2017 we moved into a new (to us) facility in southeast Calgary, dubbed AARCS Safe Haven & Veterinary Hospital. We outfitted a brand new onsite veterinary hospital, which allowed us to bring all veterinary care in-house, reducing costs, providing better care and improving program efficiencies. We still rely on foster homes to care for our animals, but these facilities have provided a space to provide much-needed care and emergency intake. Safe Haven is also our head office and donation centre.
Our work spans the entire province of Alberta; therefore, in 2020, we expanded our operations to include an additional facility in Edmonton, Alberta. This facility, named North Haven and AARCS Adoption Centre, handles both intake and housing for newly rescued animals, as well as an onsite adoption facility with 45 adoption spaces for cats and small animals. With teams working to rescue animals in remote northern communities, this facility is vital to ensuring temporary housing for animals, and it has allowed us to further grow our programming.
We strongly believe a foster home is the optimal setting for housing rescue animals, especially for dogs, as opposed to a traditional shelter setting. Despite our best efforts to create a comfortable atmosphere, shelter environments can be scary. By using foster homes, we can care for our animals in a home setting, allowing us to familiarize ourselves with their personalities and needs. This enables us to form a deeper understanding of each animal and facilitate a more accurate match with the ideal adoptive home. The foster home environment not only reduces stress for the animals but also enables us to care for a greater number of animals than a shelter could accommodate.
Strategic Directions
A strategic plan is essential for us to provide direction, optimize resources and ensure long-term success in fulfilling our mission of caring for animals and serving our communities. AARCS’ current strategic plan is for the years 2023 – 2028. The top priorities include:
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
1: New facilities to meet needs for improved service
2: Strengthen Relationships and Partnerships
3: Diversify revenue to meet expanding needs and increase financial sustainability
BUSINESS PRIORITIES
2: Ensure and expand veterinary capacity to serve more animals and pet owners
3: Improve communication with stakeholders to increase organizational profile and financial sustainability
Our Team
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The AARCS Board of Directors is a group of elected volunteers responsible for overseeing the organization’s activities and ensuring its mission is carried out effectively. The board plays a crucial role in governance, strategic planning, and financial oversight.
| Lisa Makinson | President | Brieanna Bridgeman | Director |
| Brian Churchman | Vice President | Vanessa Salopek | Director |
| Alison Steeves | Treasurer | Marita Zouraviloff | Director |
| Karin King | Secretary | Jonathan Robins | Director |
| Angela Cyr | Director |
STAFF TEAM
The AARCS team stands out with its remarkable make-up of diverse individuals, all with a passion for helping animals. On staff, we have an array of professionals, including a full team of veterinary professionals, accounting, animal behaviour, fundraising and communications, administration, human resources, and animal care and adoption professionals. Taking care of our people is our top priority so they can take care of the animals. Working in animal welfare is not easy, but the staff are committed to making a difference in the lives of each and every animal, and providing the best service to our human clients. To see available career opportunities at AARCS, check out our Careers page.
EXECUTIVE / LEADERSHIP TEAM
Executive Director: Deanna Thomspon, B. Mgt
Deanna Thompson has been the driving force behind AARCS as its Executive Director since 2010. With a background that includes a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge and experience in the oil and gas industry, Deanna’s path shifted toward the non-profit sector, where her commitment to animal welfare and community found its true home. Under her leadership, AARCS transformed from a small volunteer group rescuing just 52 dogs in its first year to one of Alberta’s leading animal welfare organizations. Today, AARCS operates two shelters, a veterinary clinic, and multiple programs benefiting animals and the community alike, helping over 7,000 animals a year.
Deanna is a strong advocate for professionalizing the animal welfare industry and is deeply committed to fostering partnerships that inspire positive, lasting change. Her leadership has earned her recognition, including Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 and Global Woman of Vision awards. She also serves as Chair of the Animal Welfare Coalition of Alberta and is a member of Women for Humane Canada. Outside her professional role, Deanna finds joy in traveling, trail running and shares her home with her husband Jay, along with an extended family of three adopted AARCS dogs, three AARCS cats, and a myriad of rescued farm animals, including donkeys, goats, pigs, and chickens.
Director of Finance & Facilities: Niki Wilson, CPA
Niki Wilson serves as the Director of Finance and Facilities, playing a pivotal role in ensuring AARCS’ financial health through strategic management, transparent practices and meticulous record-keeping. Niki has been involved in animal rescue for many years; first volunteering in parrot rescue for several years before becoming a part of AARCS in 2012. She began as a volunteer and board member and eventually joined the staff team in 2015. Niki earned her accounting designation in 2001, and after spending more than 25 years in the oil and gas industry, she realized her true ideal was working for animals.
Despite the demands of leadership, Niki remains deeply connected to the animals and is quick to jump in during times of crisis – notably, she missed the formal presentation of her Alberta CPA Achievement Award in 2019 in favour of responding to the Wabasca wildfires. Her leadership encompasses diverse responsibilities, including integral contributions to the design and renovation of AARCS facilities in both Calgary & Edmonton. Married with one adult son, Niki enjoys spending down time in her travel trailer and wandering the back trails of the foothills with her adopted AARCS dogs.
Director of Programs: Rachel Cote
Rachel Cote serves as the Director of Programs, overseeing critical initiatives such as the dog program, cat program, volunteer program and various outreach efforts. Her strategic vision has been instrumental in the growth and success of these programs.
Rachel began her journey with AARCS as a foster home in 2010, which evolved into a significant change in her career trajectory. Rachel officially joined the staff team in 2012 as the Volunteer Manager and played a pivotal role in building AARCS volunteer community following the opening of AARCS shelter that year. She has since completed her Certificate of Human Resources, Business Administration Diploma with a major in Human Resources, and Certified Talent Management Practitioner (CTMP) designation. She is currently on a path to achieve her CPHR designation and is currently a CPHR Candidate.
Outside of her professional endeavours, Rachel remains deeply committed to advocating for animal welfare. She is an active member of Women for Humane Canada and sits on the License and Community Standards Appeal Board for the City of Calgary. You can frequently find Rachel in a spin class, on a mountain, or on a plane ready to explore a new destination. The rest of her downtime is spent with her husband and beloved AARCS alumni: two dogs, Charlie and Emma, and three cats, Kirby, Stella and Kora.
Director of Animal Health: Amy Corpe
Amy Corpe currently serves as the Director of Animal Health at AARCS, bringing with her extensive experience in the animal welfare and non-profit sectors since 2006. She holds an educational background in Social Work and is currently pursuing an Animal Health Technology designation.
Amy oversees the physical and emotional well-being of all animals under AARCS’ care, directly supervising the Veterinary Hospital staff. She bears the weight of ensuring the seamless daily operations of the medical teams in a high-volume, high-quality care facility. Amy also oversees the AARCS Critter Program and brings a particular focus to small animals including rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, hamsters and more. In addition to her regular duties, Amy has been actively involved in responding to disaster situations, providing critical assistance and care to animals in crisis.
Outside of her professional endeavours, Amy is an avid vegan, reflecting her commitment to animal welfare within her personal lifestyle choices. In her spare time, Amy is a true crime enthusiast: she enjoys watching documentaries and immersing herself in true crime novels. In addition, she loves live music and volunteers with the Canadian Animal Task Force for their Spay/Neuter Initiatives within First Nation Communities.
Human Resources Manager: Shannon Anderson
Shannon Mackay is our seasoned Human Resources Manager with a decade of experience dedicated to enhancing workplace efficiency and fostering positive cultures. Her background is rooted in the non-profit sector. In addition to her studies at the University of Calgary, Shannon has earned industry-recognized certifications including her Certified Talent Manager Practitioner title and Registered Professional Recruiter (RPR).
Shannon first became involved with AARCS in 2021 as she and her family became a dog foster home, blending her love for animals with her desire to make a positive impact on both pets and people in need. This experience ignited her passion for animal welfare and strengthened her resolve to advocate for causes close to her heart. In this role, she merges her expertise in HR management with her advocacy for animal welfare, creating a unique opportunity to contribute to both fields. She is committed to leveraging her knowledge and experience to support our workforce and organization, embodying the intersection of our core values: compassion, collaboration and leadership.
In her personal time, Shannon enjoys exploring new destinations and meticulously planning her next adventure, spending quality time with her husband, their four children, and friends playing games, conquering escape rooms, or listening to live music. A true water enthusiast, Shannon finds joy in lakes, pools, or seaside retreats. When it’s time to unwind, she often reaches for an audiobook, Netflix series, or a movie.
Edmonton Operations Manager: Leigh Melligan
Leigh Melligan currently holds the position of Edmonton Operations Manager, overseeing the day-to-day operations of AARCS’ North Haven shelter. Leigh holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Health from the University of Alberta, and after graduating she began work at the Edmonton Humane Society. She spearheaded the development of a cat behaviour assessment as well as best practices for the behaviour modification program. Leigh also spent time in Grande Prairie teaching therapeutic horseback lessons to adults and children with disabilities. In 2020, she was invited to see the new AARCS North Haven building while it was in the early stages of renovation, and joined the staff team shortly after in December of the same year.
From a young age, Leigh knew she wanted to work with animals. She grew up surrounded by numerous animals and enjoyed horseback riding and working with dogs through her local 4-H club. She takes pride in her role at AARCS, including her contributions to the expansion of AARCS North Haven and Disaster Response efforts in 2023. In her time off, Leigh enjoys making soap, playing D&D and is an avid curler, both as a player and a coach. She shares her home with her husband and her heart cat, Blue.
VOLUNTEERS
Our team of staff is supported by a large volunteer base of over 3,000 dedicated individuals and families across the province. The commitment of our volutneers, foster parents and an extensive network of supporters has been instrumental in our success, providing support in all areas of operation: animal care, adoptions, administration, events and fundraising, as well as all aspects of shelter management. If you’re interested in getting involved with this incredible crew, check out our Volunteer Opportunities!
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
You can become a member of AARCS and help guide our mission of Changing Lives Through Kindness. A membership with AARCS includes a tax-deductible receipt for the cost of the membership and voting privileges at the Society’s Annual General Meeting, allowing you to actively participate and have your voice heard.
LaNd ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
At AARCS, we are dedicated to honouring Indigenous history and culture. We are committed to working together with First Nations communities in the spirit of friendship to cultivate authentic and respectful, reciprocal relationships.
AARCS Safe Haven and Veterinary Hospital is located on the traditional territories of the Niitsítapi (Blackfoot Confederacy) and the peoples of Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksiká, Piikáni, Kainai, Tsúūt’ínà and Stoney Nakoda First Nation. Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta Region III.
AARCS North Haven is located on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional gathering place, travelling route and home for many Indigenous Peoples, including the Nehiyaw (Cree), Denesuliné (Dene), Nakota Sioux (Stoney), Anishinaabe (Saulteaux) and Niitsítapi (Blackfoot).
We are grateful for the stewardship over the land and waterways by all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit whose footsteps have marked these lands for centuries.
