Christine was faced with unique and unexpected circumstances between 2019 and 2020. As a result, in less than two years she accessed two different programs in the One Family Welfare Department.
In the spring of 2019, Christine was living in a rural Northern community when she was accepted into the Pet Safekeeping Program while fleeing domestic violence with three large dogs, Princess, Walter, and Molly.
After discharging from the Pet Safekeeping Program in 2019, she found that escaping an abusive relationship continued to affect her, long after she was on her own. Since moving out of shelter, she faced unstable housing and unstable income levels, this left her in a position that when faced with an unexpected crisis, she had no resources to manage the care of her pets.
In the summer of 2020, she called requiring assistance after being diagnosed with stage 3 cancer. Christine would have to relocate to central Alberta in order to receive treatment. Traveling and paying for accommodations for herself would take up all of her resources and left her with no options for Princess, Walter and Molly. At this time, Christine was admitted to the Crisis Care Program.
Since the One Family Welfare Department established the Crisis Care program in the fall of 2019, many families have been provided solutions and reprieve. The department is now able to help anyone facing an unexpected crisis.
Christine has been able to keep her family together twice by utilizing our programs when facing extraordinary circumstances.
This story is not unique.
When in crisis, pet owners are often unable to focus on their own mental and physical wellbeing until they know that their companion animal will be safe. The Crisis Care Program provides reprieve to pet owners dealing with a life-changing event that impedes on their ability to care for their companion animal(s).
The Alberta SPCA’s Crisis Care Program was launched in 2019. This program is designed for individuals that have run out of safe options, it is a last resort program for individuals experiencing crisis and are unable to care for their animals temporarily.
Refuge should be available to everyone.