AARCS

What AARCS does

AARCS (Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society) is a federally registered Canadian charity and non-profit animal welfare organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. The organization's core operations consist of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming stray, abandoned, surrendered, and homeless animals — primarily dogs, cats, and small critters (rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs) — from rural communities across Alberta. AARCS runs an integrated delivery model that combines a 13,000 sqft physical shelter (AARCS Safe Haven) with a province-wide foster home network and an in-house non-profit veterinary hospital. Its operational backbone is a large community of 3,000-4,000+ registered volunteers and approximately 50 paid staff, including executive, finance, programs, animal health, HR, and development leadership. In 2025, AARCS closed its Edmonton North Haven facility to centralize operations in Calgary.

AARCS offers a diversified portfolio of interconnected programs. Core services include animal adoption (with tiered fees effective June 1, 2026 ranging from $75 to $550 for dogs and $40 to $250 for cats), foster care placement, in-house veterinary and surgical care, spay/neuter and Trap-Neuter-Return initiatives, pet food assistance, compassionate care for low-income and senior pet owners, free wellness clinics, barn cat placements, disaster response, and an owner-surrender (rehome) intake service. Adoption distribution is multi-channel: direct at the Calgary shelter, through online applications, via 5 PetSmart and 8 Pet Valu retail partner locations, and through specialty pet shops. Educational partnerships with the University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Olds College position the vet hospital as a teaching site, while municipal partnerships with Calgary Animal Services support intake and rescue coordination.

AARCS's revenue model is characteristic of a community-funded non-profit and is not primarily transactional. Income streams include one-time and recurring public donations (including the AARCS Heroes monthly giving program), adoption fees, corporate sponsorships (kennel and room sponsorships), grants from organizations such as PetSmart Charities, in-kind supply donations, annual memberships with voting rights, legacy/estate giving, fundraising events (lotteries, raffles, golf tournaments), and affiliate income from partners (Hill's Pet Nutrition, DNA My Dog, Andy's Paw Prints, Donate-a-Car Canada, Sponsor Energy, SkipTheDepot). AARCS does not receive government operating funding. The organization has received Charity Intelligence's Top 100 Charities in Canada recognition consecutively from 2021 to 2025 and is a member of Humane Canada and the Animal Welfare Coalition of Alberta (where its Executive Director serves as Chair).

Name

AARCS

Legal name

Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society

Website

https://aarcs.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AARCS is a Calgary-based non-profit animal rescue organization that rescues and rehomes approximately 3,500 dogs, cats, and small critters annually across Alberta via a 13,000 sqft shelter with an in-house veterinary hospital, a province-wide foster network, and 3,000+ volunteers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Welfare Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Veterinary Charity Clinics & Medical Aid (BPAGAIAD), Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Animal adoption programs
• Veterinary hospital services
• Foster care network
• Community spay neuter programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Adoption Fees: Fees collected from adopters to cover a portion of animal care costs including food, training, supplies, and veterinary services
2. Donations and Fundraising: Relies on donations from the public, corporations, fundraising events, lotteries, and raffles. Monthly donor program called AARCS Heroes provides recurring revenue.
3. Grants and Corporate Sponsorship: Funding from organizations such as PetSmart Charities, grants for specific programs, and corporate sponsors for shelter kennels and rooms
4. Membership Fees: Annual membership with voting privileges and tax-deductible receipts
5. Supply Donations: In-kind donations of pet food, supplies, and equipment from wishlist programs and community drives
6. Monthly Giving Program: Recurring monthly donations from AARCS Heroes supporters providing stable revenue stream

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

AARCS rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes homeless, stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals (dogs, cats, and small critters such as rabbits and guinea pigs) across Alberta. Core operations include an Animal Adoption Service placing rescued animals into permanent homes, a Foster Care Program providing temporary housing through a network of volunteer homes, and an on-site AARCS Veterinary Hospital delivering medical care, surgeries, vaccinations, and spay/neuter services. Supporting programs address root causes of pet homelessness through SNAP/TNR initiatives, pet food assistance, compassionate care, and wellness clinics.

Product overview

AARCS (Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society) is a non-profit animal welfare organization offering a suite of interconnected programs centered on animal rescue, adoption, and community support. The core offerings include animal adoption services placing rescued dogs, cats, and critters into forever homes; a foster care program utilizing volunteer homes across Alberta; and an on-site veterinary hospital providing medical care, surgeries, and spay/neuter services. Community support programs include SNAP/TNR initiatives, pet food assistance, compassionate care for families in need, and wellness clinics for seniors. Additional programs include the Barn Buddies barn cat placement, disaster response, and various donation/volunteer engagement programs including monthly giving, legacy bequests, and shelter sponsorship opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 6,000 animals helped per year through rescue, adoption, and community support programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Humane CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAARCS is a member of Humane Canada (formerly Canadian Federation of Humane Societies), supporting professional standards in the animal welfare industry and collaboration between agencies to elevate the status of animals in Alberta.
• Animal Welfare Coalition of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAARCS is a member of the Animal Welfare Coalition of Alberta and serves as Chair through Executive Director Deanna Thompson, working to build relationships and networks that help communities address animal welfare.
• Canadian Animal Task ForcemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Spay/Neuter Initiatives within First Nation Communities. AARCS volunteers with Canadian Animal Task Force for their community spay/neuter programs.
• Hill's Pet NutritionmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAARCS participates in Hill's Food Shelter and Love program. Animals are fed Science Diet and Prescription foods. Adopters receive adoption kits with sample bag of food and coupon.
• University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with post-secondary institutions to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in veterinary medicine field. AARCS Veterinary Hospital is top choice for veterinary student rotations.
• Olds CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership providing hands-on learning opportunities for students in animal health and related fields.
• PetSmart (Retail Locations)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCat adoptions facilitated through 5 PetSmart store locations in Calgary: Legacy, Chinook, 130th, East Hills, and Okotoks.
• Pet Valu (Retail Locations)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCat adoptions facilitated through 8 Pet Valu store locations throughout Calgary area including Dalhousie, North Hill, Heritage, Sunridge, Shawnessy, Monterey, Lakeview, and Deer Valley.
• Pawsitively Purrfect SpaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCat adoption partnerships with specialty pet spa location in Calgary.
• Dexter's Pet ShopminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCat adoption partnership with local pet shop in Calgary.
• CIR RealtyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThrough its charitable giving program, CIR Realty and its Realtors support AARCS to help save the lives of abandoned and abused animals in Alberta.
• SkipTheDepotminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAARCS partners with SkipTheDepot to recycle bagged bottles and cans. Donors can schedule pickups or drop items at shelter locations.
• Donate-a-Car CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVehicle donation program where donors can give cars, trucks, RVs, boats, motorcycles through the organization.
• DNA My DogminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAffiliate partnership earning $12 commission per DNA kit sold through AARCS-specific link.
• Andy's Paw PrintsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAARCS is the first Canadian charity approved through Andy's Paw Prints, receiving 25% commission on pet portrait artwork sales.
• City of Calgary Animal ServicesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAARCS works with local authorities including Calgary Animal Services for animal intake and rescue operations.
• Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal wildlife agency partner for referrals and animal welfare collaboration.
• Alberta Institute for Wildlife ConservationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal wildlife conservation organization partner.
• Medicine River Wildlife CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional wildlife rehabilitation center partner.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Humane Canada: National federation of humane societies and SPCAs of which AARCS is a member. Peer relationship is industry-association level; comparable as a peer organization that sets professional standards AARCS aligns to.
• Animal Welfare Coalition of Alberta: Coalition chaired by AARCS's Executive Director that convenes Alberta animal welfare organizations. Ecosystem peer shaping the regulatory and collaborative environment in which AARCS operates.
• PetSmart Charities of Canada: Major animal welfare grantmaker and funding partner of AARCS. Peer relationship is funder/ecosystem rather than direct competitor, but operates in the same animal welfare funding market AARCS raises from.

Regional players

• Toronto Humane Society: Major Canadian urban animal welfare organization with shelter and veterinary services. Regional peer serving a different Canadian market but operating a comparable rescue/adoption/veterinary program mix to AARCS.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Large US animal welfare organization providing sheltering, veterinary, and advocacy. Broad incumbent that exemplifies the scaled, multi-program animal welfare model AARCS operates within, though in a different regulatory and funding environment.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National no-kill animal welfare organization with sanctuary, adoption, and spay/neuter programs. Broad incumbent sharing the rescue/adoption/community-program model and donor-driven funding structure with AARCS.
• British Columbia SPCA: Larger, province-wide Canadian animal welfare organization with shelter, veterinary, and enforcement operations. Broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities at significantly greater scale than AARCS.
• Ontario SPCA and Humane Society: Provincial-scale animal welfare organization delivering sheltering, veterinary care, and community programs across Ontario. Broad incumbent comparable in mission and program mix but operating across a much larger geography.

Direct peers

• Calgary Humane Society: Calgary-based animal welfare organization offering adoption, stray intake, and humane education. Direct peer because it competes for the same Calgary-area donor and adopter pool and serves many of the same animal types as AARCS.
• Edmonton Humane Society: Edmonton-based animal welfare organization operating shelter, adoption, and veterinary services. Direct peer given the geographic adjacency to AARCS's Alberta-wide operations and overlapping program model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSh3bpoEVKu08bURpA5POlA
• Facebookfacebook.com/AARCSCanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/aarcs
• TikTokvm.tiktok.com/ZM8CYLaC5
• Xx.com/AARCS_Canada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alberta-animal-rescue-crew

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AARCS