Report an Animal in Distress

Outside Edmonton and Calgary

Complete the form below or call 1-800-455-9003 – choose option #1

In Calgary

In Edmonton

Report an Animal Concern

Report an animal in distress outside the cities of Edmonton and Calgary. This includes companion animals and livestock. If an animal is in immediate danger of serious injury, please call 911.

"*" indicates required fields

First name*

Last name*

Email address*

Phone number*

CIty/Town/County*

Street Address*

Relationship to subject

Subject = person you are making the complaint about. E.g. Friend, family member, neighbour.

Date of occurrence*

Time of occurrence*

City/Town/County of occurrence*

Address or location of occurrence*

Description of animal(s) involved*

Include species, breed, number, name, colour, etc.

Detailed description of occurrence*

Describe exactly what you witnessed. This must be firsthand knowledge. An officer may contact you for clarification or further details.

Subject first name

Subject last name

Subject phone number

Subject description

E.g. gender, height, build, hair colour, etc.

Additional information we should be aware of?

E.g. history of violence, mental health concerns, other animals on the property, etc.

Attach any photos of concern

Photographs are an important part of our investigation. They help us determine priority and may be used as evidence. If you have photos of the situation or animal(s) of concern, please upload them below.

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 128 MB, Max. files: 5.

Are you willing to testify in court if charges are laid?*

Anything else to add?

Frequently Asked Questions about Reporting

What types of complaints can I make to the Alberta SPCA?

The Alberta SPCA can investigate complaints of domestic animals in distress, outside the cities of Calgary and Edmonton. Our officers enforce the Animal Protection Act, which defines distress as:

a lack of adequate food and water
a lack of adequate care when an animal is sick or injured
a lack of appropriate shelter, ventilation and space
a lack of reasonable protection from injurious heat or cold

If you aren't sure where to direct your complaint, use the 'Have an animal concern?' button located on the bottom of our website.

What happens after a complaint is made?

When our dispatchers receives a complaint, it’s sent to the Alberta SPCA peace officer who covers that area of the province. The officer reviews the details, looks at the severity of the situation, and may reach out to the person who made the complaint if they need a bit more information.

If there are reasonable grounds to investigate, the officer will visit the location, speak directly with the animal’s guardian, and assess what’s going on before deciding on next steps.

Education is always our first approach. We work with guardians to help them understand what their animals need and how to meet those standards of care. If someone understands what’s required but still doesn’t comply, animals may be removed and brought into our care. In some situations, charges can also be laid under the Animal Protection Act.

Can I make an anonymous complaint?

Yes, you can make your complaint anonymously. We still require your name and contact information to follow up on the complaint, but this information is not shared with the public or the person the complaint is made against.

I made a complaint but nothing has happened - what do I do now?

If you made a complaint about an animal in distress and nothing has changed, please call us again.