Impounded animals in Calgary will soon be adoptable through the Calgary Humane Society.
The City of Calgary’s Animal Services will continue to provide pre-adoption medical care to animals, including vaccination, spaying and neutering, before transferring the animals to partner rescue agencies.
The City said they will continue to provide animals for adoption through Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) and the MEOW Foundation, but that the addition of the Calgary Humane Society will help to get “more animals find their forever homes faster.”
“Our goal is to reduce the time that adoptable pets spend in a shelter for the overall welfare of the animals,” said Tara Lowes, Leader of Animal Care and Pet Licensing for The City of Calgary.
The City held a three month pilot program with AARCS, before officially adopting that organization as a permanent partner for the adoption of animals.
The success of that program led to the addition of the Calgary Humane Society, and other smaller partner organizations when available to assist in the adoption process.
In the first half of 2022, the City of Calgary transferred 595 cats and dogs to partner agencies. During that same period, 52 animals were adopted directly from the City.
As of March 24, there were 27 dogs and 53 cats in the Animal Services impound. The longest staying animals were a seven-year-old border collie mix having been there for a month and 16 days, and a one-year-old tabby cat that had been there for one month and 19 days.
Improved Humane Society facility
The Calgary Humane Society said that they had recently completed an overhaul of their 44,000-quare-foot facility in order to provide an improved environment for animals before they are adopted.
"Studies have proven that when animals are provided with a more natural environment that offers them choice and provides the five freedoms of animal welfare, they are better able to manage the stress of a transition into a shelter setting," said Carrie Fritz, Executive Director of Calgary Humane Society.
"Our teams will ensure all adoptable animals receive the proper care and promotional efforts they need to find their next forever home."
Currently the society has 25 dogs, and 54 cats listed for adoption at www.calgaryhumane.ca/animals/animals-for-adoption.
Lowes said that groups like the Calgary Humane Society and AARCS were better equipped to handle the adoption side of animal care.
"Working with partners allows us to focus on getting the animals healthy and ready to be adopted – while letting our partners focus on adoption, which they do so well."
