Calgary,
01
March
2021
|
09:32
America/Denver

Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) pilots management of pet adoption services for The City of Calgary

Today partner organization, AARCS, begins a three-month pilot managing pet adoption services for The City of Calgary. The City of Calgary’s Animal Services will continue to carry out medical and dental care, vaccinations (including rabies), and spaying and neutering adoptable animals before they are transferred to AARCS for adoption.

“One of our goals is to significantly reduce the time that adoptable pets spend in a shelter, for the overall welfare of the animals,” says Tara Lowes, Superintendent of Administration and Animal Shelter Services for The City of Calgary. “AARCS has an extensive fostering network, which increases the opportunity for animals to be cared for in homes instead of in our shelter, while they wait to become part of a new family.”

In 2020, The City of Calgary initiated a review of Animal Services’ shelter operations to identify efficiencies, cost savings and service improvements as part of the One Calgary Service Plan and Budget (2019 – 2022). The review focused on three areas: pet licensing, adoption services and hours of operation.

As an outcome of this review, the adoption pilot will allow The City of Calgary and AARCS to assess impacts and opportunities that will determine if AARCS will continue to provide this service beyond the pilot.

“Communities are best served by organizations working together to make a difference,” says Deanna Thompson, Execute Director of AARCS. “As a long-standing partner of The City of Calgary, we know that our aligned values compassionately support addressing the issue of animal homelessness in Calgary.”

“We look forward to identifying successes over the three-month period,” says Lowes.

Currently, 91 per cent of injured or sick feral or stray animals brought to Animal Services are able to be saved under the care of animal health technologists and veterinarians at the City. After medical care, recovering animals will now be transferred to AARCS’ programs for adoption into new homes.

The Animal Services Centre is expected to reduce public service counter hours of operation due to the service change during this pilot. Service changes will be updated at Calgary.ca/pets when those details are available.

The City of Calgary will continue to work with other partnering rescue agencies that have adoptable animals available, including the Calgary Humane Society and MEOW Foundation.

More information is available on Calgary.ca/pets and pets that are available for adoption can be found at aarcs.ca.

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Interviews are available and a b-roll opportunity will be available as AARCS makes the first animal pick up today at 11 a.m. at the Animal Services Centre: 2201 Portland St S.E.