Animal Rescue Crew raising $20,000 to keep pets with parents who can't afford to keep them
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The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society says they were forced to close the program 'due to limited funding and unprecedented demand,' after originally opening in December 2024. On July 16, they announced their goal of raising $20,000 to reopen the program and keep pets in the hands of owners who already love and care for them.
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They've set a goal of $15,000 in public donations, with an additional $5,000 being matched by the City of Calgary. By the time of publication, they are nearly 50 per cent of the way there.
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'This $20,000 would last approximately four months, give or take,' said Deanna Thompson, executive director of the rescue crew society. 'It all depends on what cases we would be working with. It would help approximately 75 animals.' That averages to roughly $265 per pet.
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'We're talking about a single mom needing help to keep her dog, a senior trying to get vet care for her cat, or a family choosing between groceries and emergency surgery,' Thomson said.
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They most often get requests to provide assistance for spay and neuter procedures, or humane euthanasia. They also assist with broken bones, infections, vaccinations, other illnesses, and even food assistance for those struggling to make ends meet.
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'If the owner feels they are not prepared and still want to surrender, we will take the animal if we have space, provide the care and adopt them out,' Thomson said.
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The Calgary Humane Society also provides numerous services designed to keep animals with owners, and is also able to provide said programs thanks to charitable donations.
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Anna-Lee Fitzsimmons, their director of public relations, said the importance of keeping pets in homes as twofold.
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'It is stressful for that animal, to have to be moved from a home they're familiar with, and then be moved to a shelter setting,' she said. 'We also recognize that it's incredibly hard for the person, for the human involved with that animal, to have to surrender their animal when they feel they have no other choice.'
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'The relationship that humans and animals have is pretty extraordinary, they're wonderful companions to us. Companion animals aid in human welfare just as equally as we can provide to an animals welfare.'
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Some shelters are seeing more pet surrenders. They say the cost of living is a huge factor
A woman who can't afford her pets after her husband's death, despite working two jobs. A couple forced to downsize due to the financial strain of cancer. An owner who can't pay for the treatment for her cat's urinary condition. These are just a handful of the stories that Calgary Humane Society heard last week from pet owners forced to give up their furry family members. People having to surrender due to cost of living and cost overall — it's been literally every single intake we've done this week, Sally Johnston, director of community services, told CBC News. As costs creep up in Canada, some animal shelters and humane societies say they're seeing a worrying trend: More Canadians surrendering their pets because they simply can't afford them anymore. Others are seeing increased demand for their services like pet food banks. CBC News reached out to organizations across Canada. 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Troubling trend, staff say Pet surrenders aren't a new phenomenon, but Johnston says it's troubling to see more people having to consider parting with beloved pets because of financial burdens. Enlarge image (new window) Liz Retter, a Toronto Humane Society volunteer, is pictured with an adoptable dog named Princess. Shelters are seeing the financial stress of pet owners manifest in an increased demand for their community services. Photo: CBC / Alex Lupul She urged pet owners to reach out to their local humane societies before they reach a breaking point, as many shelters have supports such as programs for seniors, pet retention programs or discounted veterinary care. The sooner that we engage with these folks and come up with these solutions before they even have to consider surrender, the more likely we are to prevent it all together. Alexandra Mae Jones (new window) · CBC News Alexandra Mae Jones is a senior writer for CBC News based in Toronto. She has written on a variety of topics, from health to pop culture to breaking news, and previously reported for CTV News and the Toronto Star. She joined CBC in 2024. You can reach her at
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Some animal shelters in Canada are seeing more pet surrenders — because their owners can't afford them
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Animal Rescue Crew raising $20,000 to keep pets with parents who can't afford to keep them
The Compassionate Care Program originally launched with the goal of helping families being faced with the gut wrenching decision to decision to surrender their animals due to unforeseen or out-of-budget medical expenses. Article content The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society says they were forced to close the program 'due to limited funding and unprecedented demand,' after originally opening in December 2024. On July 16, they announced their goal of raising $20,000 to reopen the program and keep pets in the hands of owners who already love and care for them. Article content Article content Article content They've set a goal of $15,000 in public donations, with an additional $5,000 being matched by the City of Calgary. By the time of publication, they are nearly 50 per cent of the way there. Article content Article content 'This $20,000 would last approximately four months, give or take,' said Deanna Thompson, executive director of the rescue crew society. 'It all depends on what cases we would be working with. It would help approximately 75 animals.' That averages to roughly $265 per pet. Article content 'We're talking about a single mom needing help to keep her dog, a senior trying to get vet care for her cat, or a family choosing between groceries and emergency surgery,' Thomson said. Article content They most often get requests to provide assistance for spay and neuter procedures, or humane euthanasia. They also assist with broken bones, infections, vaccinations, other illnesses, and even food assistance for those struggling to make ends meet. Article content Article content 'If the owner feels they are not prepared and still want to surrender, we will take the animal if we have space, provide the care and adopt them out,' Thomson said. Article content Article content The Calgary Humane Society also provides numerous services designed to keep animals with owners, and is also able to provide said programs thanks to charitable donations. Article content Anna-Lee Fitzsimmons, their director of public relations, said the importance of keeping pets in homes as twofold. Article content 'It is stressful for that animal, to have to be moved from a home they're familiar with, and then be moved to a shelter setting,' she said. 'We also recognize that it's incredibly hard for the person, for the human involved with that animal, to have to surrender their animal when they feel they have no other choice.' Article content 'The relationship that humans and animals have is pretty extraordinary, they're wonderful companions to us. Companion animals aid in human welfare just as equally as we can provide to an animals welfare.'
