What We Do
Pet Safekeeping Program
Safety for Animals & People in Crisis
Help For Pet Guardians Escaping Family Violence
The Pet Safekeeping Program is dedicated to helping victims of family violence leave abusive situations by providing temporary care for their pets. The Pet Safekeeping Program bridges the gap between animal services and human services to maximize the effectiveness of family violence prevention.
Learn how the Pet Safekeeping Program helps pets and their guardians:
How to Access the Program
If you are a pet guardian who is escaping abuse and are concerned about leaving pets behind, please contact us.
The Pet Safekeeping Program offers temporary care for pets whose guardians are seeking safety in a shelter. This service is available to anyone who lives outside Edmonton and Calgary. If you live in Edmonton or Calgary, see below for a list of Pet Safekeeping Programs in those cities.
Phone: 780-447-3600 extension 3750
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 780-455-5990
For Pet Owners who Live in Edmonton or Calgary
There are a number of Pet Safekeeping programs in the province that can also assist pet guardians who require a safe place for their animals while they enter a safe shelter or who face another crisis situation.
Cruelty Connection
A 2012 report by the Alberta SPCA highlights additional difficulties faced by victims of domestic violence when animals are involved. The report, Inside the Cruelty Connection: The Role of Animals in Decision-Making by Domestic Violence Victims in Rural Alberta, documents a study conducted throughout the province.
One of the study’s key findings is that more than half of abused women who have animals reported that they delayed leaving the relationship due to concern for their animals. Other findings:
- 59% of abused women with animals were afraid to seek help out of concern for their animals
- 36% of abused women with animals reported that their abuser threatened or harmed their animals
- 85% of threats against animals were carried out
- In cases that involved children as well as threatened animals, 85% of women reported that the children witnessed the threat or harm to the animal
- In half of those cases, it was the child’s own pet
Partner With Us
Be part of a revolutionary approach to animal welfare by supporting the Alberta SPCA’s Pet Safekeeping Program.
When humans are in crisis so are their animals because animal welfare and human welfare are deeply connected. Pet Safekeeping fills the gap between human and animal welfare, ensuring all members of a family are able to receive help in times of crisis.
Supporting our Pet Safekeeping Program will benefit society and your business. The more support we receive the more families and pets we will be able to help. Through our programs and services, we want to promote the mission that pets are an important part of the family that need protection in times of crisis.
Learn more below on how your business or facility can support our team.
Phone: 780-447-3600 extension 3750
Email: [email protected]
Fax: 780-455-5990
How can veterinary clinics help?
The majority of animals we bring into care have not received adequate veterinary care for months, and often years. Sadly, when families are in crisis, the pet’s medical needs are typically the first thing to be overlooked. Providing appropriate veterinary care to animals we help is paramount to our programs and services. Every pet that enters our care receives a basic health check, required vaccines and pest treatment, and a spay or neuter surgery, if required.
We need veterinary partners to ensure we can continue to help families and provide the utmost level of care for pets.
- Animals often enter the program on an emergency basis. There is frequently little notice prior to entering the program.
- Animals are brought into the program under a standard 21 day stay. Each circumstance is unique, and some may be in the program much shorter or longer than 21 days.
- The costs associated with the animal’s stay is covered by the Alberta SPCA.
- Due to the confidentiality of our services, your business cannot advertise or inform individuals you are a part of our Pet Safekeeping Program. Any information about the animals in care is to remain confidential and any communication regarding the animals will be done through the Pet Safekeeping team.
When collaborating with the Alberta SPCA’s Pet Safekeeping Program, you are a part of a groundbreaking holistic approach to human and animal welfare. We serve some of the most vulnerable sectors of our communities and directly influence the health and well-being of the pets from those communities.
How can boarding facilities help?
The range of animals taken into our program is diverse. We often assist individuals who have dogs and cats, however, we also take in birds, reptiles, small animals and even the occasional pet fish. We know no one facility is able to accommodate this wide variety of species, so we seek out the best care available for the large array of species who do need us. No facility is too big or too small to join our network and assist us.
- Animals often enter the program on an emergency basis. There is frequently little notice prior to entering the program.
- Animals are brought into the program under a standard 21 day stay. Each circumstance is unique, and some may be in the program much shorter or longer than 21 days.
- The costs associated with the animal’s stay is covered by the Alberta SPCA.
- Due to the confidentiality of our services, your business cannot advertise or inform individuals you are a part of our Pet Safekeeping Program. Any information about the animals in care is to remain confidential and any communication regarding the animals will be done through the Pet Safekeeping team.
When collaborating with the Alberta SPCA’s Pet Safekeeping Program, you are a part of a groundbreaking holistic approach to human and animal welfare. We serve some of the most vulnerable sectors of our communities and directly influence the health and well-being of the pets from those communities.
How can humane societies / SPCAs help?
Collaborating with humane societies and SPCAs in Alberta is important to our Pet Safekeeping Program. Unfortunately, not all pets we assist return to their families. There are many reasons for this including economic challenges, safety issues requiring relocation, and health concerns. Sometimes the best thing a pet guardian can do is surrender their animal to us. We require shelter partners to collaborate with so we can find suitable transfer placement for the animals surrendered or abandoned in our care, ensuring they are placed with new loving families.
- All animals in care receive a general check-up, full vaccinations, spay/neuter and pest treatment.
- All animals receive medical procedures deemed essential to their well-being and overall health.
- The costs associated with the animal’s medical treatments and boarding stay are paid by the Alberta SPCA.
When collaborating with the Alberta SPCA’s Pet Safekeeping Program, you are a part of a groundbreaking holistic approach to human and animal welfare. We serve some of the most vulnerable sectors of our communities and directly influence the health and well-being of the pets from those communities.
How can human services professionals help?
Human services professionals help connect people in need with our services.
- To collaborate with us, contact 780-447-3600 ext. 3750 so that we can discuss the programs and services we have available.
- Once we identify which programs and services would be beneficial to your agency and for your clients, will provide you with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to complete.
- Clients of agency partners who have completed an MOU are given priority access.
- Contact the Pet Safekeeping team when you have a client who has pets, and you want more information on what you can do to help them.
Animal Welfare Linked to Human Welfare
When humans are in crisis so are their animals because animal welfare and human welfare are deeply connected.
When a life crisis affects a pet caregiver, their companion animal is likely to feel the effects too. Extending compassion to both humans and animals is integral to ensuring all members of the family stay safe in times of crisis.
Approximately two out of three family violence survivors admit to staying in a potentially dangerous situation out of concern for their pets. Animals are often targeted by abusers as a way to exert power and control so there is concern the pets will be harmed if they are left behind. However, most women’s shelters cannot accept pets which is why many survivors choose to stay in a volatile; they feel trapped.
By helping pet caregiver’s navigate crisis situations, the Alberta SPCA’s One Family Welfare department helps fill the service gap between human social services and animal welfare in Alberta, thus ensuring Alberta SPCA’s mission to protect, promote, and enhance the well-being of animals in Alberta.
The Alberta SPCA’s Pet Safekeeping Program is dedicated to helping victims of family violence leave abusive situations by providing temporary care for their pets. The Pet Safekeeping Program bridges the gap between animal services and human services to maximize the effectiveness of family violence prevention.
Success Stories
The Pet Safekeeping Program has helped many pets and their guardians find safety and security. Read these stories to learn more about the impact of our program.
Wilder's Story
After Wilder, a deaf dog, and two other animals were left behind due to their caregiver’s sudden hospitalization, the Pet Safekeeping Program stepped in to ensure their safety. With support from partner organizations, the pets were picked up by the Edmonton Animal Care and Control Centre, received temporary care and veterinary attention, and stayed in the program for several weeks. They were eventually placed in loving new homes when returning to their caregiver was no longer possible.
Read the full story here: Wilder's Story
Lollipop’s Story
Lollipop, a cat, was a source of comfort for her caregiver while she faced severe domestic abuse. The caregiver lived in constant fear, and Lollipop provided emotional support through the hardest times. When the caregiver had to leave home to ensure her safety, her main concern was keeping Lollipop safe. The Alberta SPCA’s Pet Safekeeping Program stepped in, with a coordinator driving three hours to bring Lollipop into care. While in the program, it was discovered that Lollipop was pregnant, and her kittens were safely rehomed. Once the caregiver secured a safe home, she was happily reunited with Lollipop.
Check out the full story here: Lollipop's Story.
Wilbur's Story
When Wilbur, the rabbit’s caregiver, was hospitalized due to long-term domestic abuse, her main concern was keeping her pets safe. During the caregiver's hospitalization, the Pet Safekeeping Program provided temporary care for Wilbur and the other animals. After completing her stay at an emergency shelter, the caregiver relocated 400 km away for safety reasons and was unable to take all of her animals with her. Out of love, she surrendered Wilbur to the Pet Safekeeping Program, where he was placed with an adoption partner and later adopted by a loving family.
Read Wilbur’s full story here: Wilbur's Story
Alberta SPCA Receives Grant to Help Keep Families & Pets Together
The Alberta SPCA has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Edmonton Community Foundation to support the Pet Safekeeping Program, helping families and their pets during times of crisis.
Learn more about the grant and the difference it makes: Alberta SPCA Receives Grant to Help Keep Families & Pets Together