Calgary non-profit organization, Parachutes for Pets, said they’ve helped in the rescue of 150 animals from wildfire-impacted communities in Northern Alberta — an effort that has put a dent in their budget. 

Since late May, the non-profit group has directly rescued 67 pets in addition to partnering with other agencies to bring animals located in the regions of Red Earth Creek, Peerless Trout First Nation, and Loon Lake to safety. 

Alberta’s wildfire season began shortly after April concluded, and by May 23, the province’s wildfire status grew to a level 4, just one point below high severity — the level that Manitoba and later Saskatchewan attained in both declaring a Provincial State of Emergency.

The surge in prairie fires came after warm and dry conditions blanketed the middle of the country, according to Natural Resources Canada. CEO of Parachutes for Pets (PFP), Melissa David, said that the early peak in wildfires meant that they had to work fast. 

“Now, we have four prairie provinces that usually rely on each other for support, but they’re fighting their own battles,” she said. 

“It was very quick — we needed to get into motion and figure out how we were going to do this.”

First, they coordinated the delivery of essential supplies to evacuation centres. Then, PFP was informed by nearby First Nation residents that several pets had been left in houses amid the commotion of being notified to leave, which David said is not uncommon. 

“In some situations, especially in remote areas where there’s one way in and one way out, you’re not always given the option,” she said. 

“It’s just not as simple as grabbing what you need and going.”

David said that they worked with first responders to get the pets out of the affected homes and into their safekeeping locations. Including dogs most often, but everything from cats to goats, she said that many of the animals required urgent medical attention. 

“One thing that was really different from other years is pets that were likely injured in the chaos of evacuation,” said David.

Not their first rodeo, says Parachutes for Pets

As a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, David said she started PFP in 2019 after recognizing a gap in emergency service programs catering specifically to animal welfare. 

“We would go to calls all day long, and we would have a lot of resources for the people, but we wouldn’t have anything if they needed their pet to have shelter,” she said. 

Since then, the organization has served as a middle ground between veterinary care and rescue facilities. Meaning, PFP does not personally house or provide medical services to animals, but rather ensures that pets are safe in the limbo between unprecedented circumstances. 

“We work to keep pets with their families, amongst different barriers and challenges,” said David. 

Based in both Calgary and Edmonton, PFP typically serves pets involved in homelessness and domestic violence. Their first wildfire rescue happened three years ago in Yellowknife, then Fort McMurray in 2016, Jasper in 2024, and Los Angeles earlier this year — a circumstance David described as “bittersweet.”

“It felt good that we were recognized for having a really great system in place, but it was just horrible to see the devastation,” she said.

As a non-profit organization, PFP hosts fundraising events to supply its programs. But over time, after gaining cross-continental appreciation and demand for their services, David said that the Northern Alberta rescue efforts shone a spotlight on their tight budget. 

“We helped as best as we could, but again, we saw some horrific injuries that we wouldn’t normally see,” she said. 

With the increasing costs of veterinary bills, David said that PFP is hoping to raise $100,000 in donations to continue their work in light of another anticipated severe wildfire season.