Pet Safekeeping Program
Safety for Animals & People in Crisis
Help For Pet Guardians Escaping Family Violence
The Alberta SPCA’s Pet Safekeeping Program operates in all areas of Alberta outside the cities of Edmonton and Calgary.
There are a number of other Pet Safekeeping programs in the province that can also assist pet guardians who require a trusted place for their animals while they enter a safe shelter, or for other crisis situations.
Edmonton area:
City of Edmonton:
Calgary area:
Central Alberta:
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.
Many studies, including an Alberta SPCA study released in 2012, have shown individuals may delay leaving a domestic violence situation out of concern for the safety of the family pets.
Key findings from the Alberta SPCA study showed:
- 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 the children witnessed the threat or harm to the animal
- in half of those cases, it was the child’s own pet
How to Access the Program?
The Pet Safekeeping Program collaborates with family violence agencies across the province. In addition, the Pet Safekeeping Program has partnerships with animal care organizations across the province.
Call: 780-447-3600 ext. 3750
How to
Get Help
Pet Safekeeping Program
If you are a pet owner fleeing an abusive home situation and you are concerned about leaving pets behind, or if you face a crisis situation preventing you from caring for your pets, please contact us.
Partner With Us
Find information for shelters and animal welfare organizations.
Land Acknowledgment
The Alberta SPCA respects the deep foundational connection Indigenous Peoples have had to animals and this land, now known as Alberta, for thousands of years. We are grateful to continue to work towards the humane treatment of all animals in all areas of the province on the traditional territories encompassed by Treaties 6, 7, 8, 4, & 10 and the Métis Homeland.
We are inspired by how many Indigenous Peoples recognize animals, people and the environment are interconnected and that respecting these relationships is fundamental to the well-being of all living things and the Earth that we share. As treaty people, we also strive to listen, respect, care for, and live in harmony with one another, animals and the natural world.