Second Chance Animal Rescue Society

What Second Chance Animal Rescue Society does

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) is a volunteer-run Canadian registered charity (registration 863478467 RR0001) founded in 2012 and headquartered in Athabasca, Alberta, with operations extending across Northern Alberta and Treaty 6 Territory. The organization rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes animals — primarily dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, and working/sanctuary animals — placing more than 2,000 animals per year while maintaining 400+ animals in care at any given time. SCARS operates two physical facilities, the Athabasca Second-Chance Country Refuge and the Morinville Rescue Centre, supplemented by an extensive foster home network and recurring retail adoption events at PetSmart locations in Edmonton and at Mr Pets in St. Albert. Its service portfolio extends beyond adoption into community programs including a Spay-Neuter-Return (SNR) program launched in 2018 serving First Nations and Métis communities, the Walls for Winter insulated-shelter initiative, a Working Cats (barn cat) program, and a Sanctuary Animal Program for non-adoptable animals.

SCARS runs on a donation-dependent nonprofit revenue model diversified across individual donations (online, bottles, car donations), annual memberships, multi-tier corporate sponsorships (2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25 seasons), grants, merchandise sales through the SCARS Swag store, third-party fundraisers, and fundraising events such as golf tournaments (Putts for Mutts, PARS for SCARS), gift markets, and galas. A licensed progressive jackpot raffle (Chase the Ace, AGLC-766232, current jackpot $21,477) operated via the Rafflebox platform adds a transaction-based revenue stream. The underlying technology stack is deliberately lean and commodity-based: Shelterluv for animal management and adoption listings, Rafflebox for raffle ticketing, CanadaHelps for donation processing, and standard social media properties (Facebook, Instagram, X) for community engagement. With only 7 paid employees, the organization is structurally dependent on its volunteer foster base and on partnerships with veterinary clinics (notably Westlock Veterinary Center) and retail channel partners (PetSmart, PetSmart Charities of Canada) to deliver services at its current scale.

Name

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society

Legal name

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society

Website

https://scarscare.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) is a volunteer-run Canadian registered charity founded in 2012 that rescues, rehabilitates, and rehomes animals across Northern Alberta. Operating facilities in Athabasca and Morinville, it serves adopters, foster volunteers, and First Nations and Métis communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Rescue and Welfare Services

NAICS

Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services (81291), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Shelters & Adoption Services (BPAGAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spay/Neuter & Population Control Programs (BPAGAIAE), Sanctuaries & Long-Term Care (Farm, Equine, Exotic) (BPAGAIAH)

Keywords

• Animal rescue services
• Pet adoption services
• Spay neuter programs
• Animal welfare nonprofit
• Community fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Athabasca

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: SCARS relies primarily on donations from individuals to fund emergency veterinary care and ongoing animal care costs. Donations can be made online through their donation portal.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships provide recurring revenue and engage supporters with the organization.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at various levels (2024/2025, 2023/2024, 2022/2023) and individual animal sponsorships through the sanctuary program.
4. Chase the Ace Raffle: Licensed raffle (AGLC-766232) featuring weekly draws with a progressive jackpot. 20% of weekly ticket sales fund weekly cash prizes, 30% added to progressive jackpot. Current jackpot at $21,477.
5. Fundraising Events: Events including golf tournaments, gift markets, galas, and third-party fundraisers generate donations and engagement.
6. Grants: Grant funding from various sources to support programs and operations.
7. Merchandise Sales: SCARS Swag merchandise and sale items sold through their online store.
8. Bottle and Car Donations: Donation drop-off locations accept bottles, and car donations through donatecar.ca.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SCARS is a volunteer-run nonprofit animal rescue organization operating in Northern Alberta that rescues abandoned, stray, and at-risk animals, provides veterinary care (spay/neuter, vaccination, microchipping, deworming), and places animals into foster homes and permanent adoptive families. The organization supplements its core adoption work with community programs including Spay-Neuter-Return (SNR), Walls for Winter insulated pet shelters, Working Cats barn placements, and long-term sanctuary care, funded through donations, memberships, sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Product overview

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society (SCARS) is a non-profit animal rescue organization operating as a unified set of programs rather than a technology product. The core offerings include animal rescue and adoption services, spay/neuter community programs (SNR, Walls for Winter, Working Cats), sanctuary care, and various fundraising initiatives (Chase the Ace raffle, gift markets, golf tournaments, sponsorship programs). The organization relies on volunteer foster homes and veterinary partnerships to deliver services across Edmonton and Athabasca regions in Alberta.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animal Adoption Services Facilitates pet adoptions, placing rescued dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, working cats, and sanctuary animals into loving homes. Animals receive veterinary assessment, spay/neuter, vaccination, and microchipping before adoption, with a lifetime return guarantee.
• Spay-Neuter-Return (SNR) Program Provides free spaying, neutering, vaccination, deworming, and microchipping services for owned pets in partner communities, particularly First Nations and Métis communities in northern Alberta. SCARS transports pets to veterinary partners and returns them home after recovery.
• Walls for Winter Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ animals adopted annually into loving homes
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PetSmartcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPetSmart hosts regular adoption events for SCARS animals at their Edmonton locations. Events are part of PetSmart Charities of Canada National Adoption Week. SCARS conducts monthly adoption events at PetSmart NE (13680 50th Street) and PetSmart Clareview, typically 12pm-4pm.
• Westlock Veterinary CentercoreTechnology or IntegrationVeterinary partner providing medical care, surgeries, and health assessments for rescued animals. Animals are vetted and treated at this clinic before adoption.
• First Nations and Métis CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCARS actively partners with First Nations and Métis communities in Northern Alberta where there is lack of accessible and affordable pet services. The Spay-Neuter-Return program serves these communities.
• Mr PetsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPet supply retailer hosting periodic adoption events at their St. Albert location (580 Saint Albert Trail).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• BC SPCA: Large provincial animal welfare organization offering sheltering, adoption, veterinary, and advocacy services across British Columbia. Comparable program portfolio but at much larger scale and with broader geographic footprint.
• Best Friends Animal Society: National U.S. leader in no-kill animal welfare with sanctuary, adoption, and community programs. Comparable comprehensive program portfolio but operates at significantly larger scale and different jurisdiction.
• Humane Canada (Canadian Federation of Humane Societies): National umbrella organization for Canadian humane societies and SPCAs. Comparable in animal welfare mission but functions as an industry association rather than a direct shelter operator.

Regional players

• Calgary Humane Society: Established animal welfare provider in Calgary offering sheltering, adoption, and veterinary services. Comparable mission and program mix but operates in a different Alberta region and benefits from a larger urban donor base.
• Wings of Rescue: Transport-focused rescue organization moving animals from overpopulated regions to adoption markets. Operates in adjacent rescue/transport space rather than direct shelter services in Alberta.
• Northern Alberta Institute for Prairie Wildlife: Edmonton-area wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organization. Shares the Northern Alberta geographic focus and nonprofit animal-care model but serves wildlife rather than companion animals.

Emerging players

• Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center: Smaller regional rescue operating shelter and adoption programs. Similar volunteer-and-foster-based model and program mix, illustrating the fragmented competitive landscape of community animal rescues.

Direct peers

• Edmonton Humane Society: Major Alberta animal welfare organization operating a shelter and adoption program in the Edmonton region. Overlaps directly with SCARS on adoption, spay/neuter, and surrender services, and shares the same geographic donor and adopter pool.
• Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS): Large Alberta-based animal rescue running foster-based adoption, spay/neuter, and community programs across Calgary and surrounding areas. Operates a similar volunteer-driven model with comparable programs (foster network, adoption events, fundraising campaigns).

Others

• PetSmart Charities of Canada: National pet welfare foundation and SCARS's active partner (Adopt Joy events). Comparable mission of increasing adoptions; serves as a funding/distribution channel rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCARS_Alberta
• Facebookfacebook.com/SecondChanceAnimalRescueSociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/scars_care
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/second-chance-animal-rescue-society

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Second Chance Animal Rescue Society