www.calgaryhumane.ca/careers
Learn more about starting a rewarding career in animal welfare today.
Calgary Humane Society is proud to offer a competitive compensation package, learning opportunities, and the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of animals.
We act with Compassion. We work hard to build Trust. We thrive through Collaboration.
We take pride in fostering an open, inclusive, creative, and supportive environment.
Our annual Dog Jog, a walk or jog to help end animal cruelty, helps raise crucial funding to support life-saving programs focused on education, protection, rehabilitation and ultimately, a new beginning for animals in need.
Dog Jog is a family and fido-friendly, non-competitive walk or jog fundraiser that raises awareness and funds for the thousands of animals Calgary Humane Society protects and cares for each year. Join us on June 3rd, 2023 at NORTH Glenmore Park and the path along the Reservoir for a 2.5 km or 5 km walk or jog. Once your walk is complete, you and your family are encouraged to spend the day with us to celebrate your fundraising accomplishments. Our outdoor festival includes a dog-friendly beer garden, food trucks, a kids zone, bouncy castles, agility course and so much more!
By participating in Dog Jog, your fundraising efforts help fund programs that are focused on:
Cruelty prevention and public awareness
Humane education in our local schools and community
Animal rehabilitation (both medical and behavioural)
Creating a brighter future for the vulnerable animals in our community
In October 2016, the ALERT team was executing a search warrant in rural Alberta for child pornography. The search team found a dog on the property and, in the review of the materials, found that the dog was also being sexually assaulted. The dog was seized and transferred to Calgary Humane Society through an existing network of multiagency collaborators. Bradys stay at CHS was lengthy as the court process dragged on, but he was fortunate to find
a foster home that he could settle into with a loving caretaker and other dogs to help him find a new normal.
Brady was adopted by his loving foster parent and lives a safe, loving, and active life. The offender was sentenced to a significant incarceration term for a number of offences, including the bestiality charge.
Athena was left tied up outside the Calgary Humane Society last March. Naturally, we took her in and cared for her, after which point she gave birth to a litter of puppies that we would now need to find new and loving homes for. Having such a large number of puppies has offered us the unique opportunity to welcome our community in to have some fun with us! With our renovations finalized, we wanted to invite the community in with open arms, and what better way to do this than with a puppy party?
Puppy parties have proved to be an effective and fun way to get puppies adopted quickly. With puppy parties taking place on the weekend, typically by Monday all the puppies will have been adopted. Many people come prepared to adopt a puppy, and there are no holds. Folks coming to a puppy party to adopt a puppy must already have their home “puppy proofed” and be ready to commit to the responsibility (and fun) of having a puppy. But coming to a puppy party doesn’t mean you have to adopt.
“A lot of people don’t come to adopt, they come to play,” says Team Lead of
Education and Outreach, Hanna Chartrain. By coming to play with the puppies, visitors get the opportunity to explore our new building and learn more about Calgary Humane Society’s place in their community. Resources are available to teach visitors more about the adoption process as well as what we do for animals in our city. Puppy parties have proven to be not only an excellent way for the Humane Society to educate and connect with our community, but also great fun for the puppies as well!
Puppies are energetic little creatures, and the socialization and playing is enriching for them, “they’re quite tired by the end,” says Chartrain. Adoptions Team Lead, Johanna Mihoc reports the puppies being “absolutely tuckered out,” by the end, not even waking up to go home as they are carried out of the shelter by their new families.
Puppies parties are great for everyone, the puppies love it, our visitors love it, and so do we. They also offer a number of solutions to some of the logistical problems that can arise out of housing so many puppies in our shelter.
“From an adoption standpoint, our goal is always to make sure we are setting up the animal and the adopter for success,” says Mihoc, who has been pleasantly surprised to see that many of the people who adopt at the puppy parties are not adopting on a whim and are furthermore fully equipped to handle their new little bundle of love.
“Puppies traditionally are very resource intensive,” says Mihoc. In addition to the training needed to care for puppies, there is also an extensive amount of cleaning that is necessary for their care as well. Without puppy parties, it takes on average 10-14 days to get a litter of puppies adopted, during which time work for all staff and volunteers has increased due to
increased care needs, and appointments become particularly busy due to the interest in puppies. Flow from intake to adoption for other animals is affected by this, which ultimately calls for a change in how we approach puppy adoption. The solution to having so many puppies at an animal shelter? A puppy party of course! March 2022 brought with it three puppy parties, Athena’s litter being by far the busiest of the three. Since then, we have hosted puppy parties whenever we find our hands full with too many puppies. When asked about future puppy parties Chartrain did not hesitate, “it’s nice to bring the public in,” she suspects there will be more puppy parties in the future as needed. Be sure to follow us on social media to get an update when another puppy party is happening!
In August, 2022, after two long years of ongoing construction and operational turmoil, Calgary Humane Society officially re-opened the newly renovated facility –just in time to celebrate the Society’s Centennial birthday!
As people toured the facility for the first time, they noted the significant modifications made to over 90% of the animal spaces.
They saw that species have now been segregated so dogs are on the west side of our building, separated from our cats, who have been relocated to the southeast side, with rabbits and critters now occupying the northeast area. Our visitors toured through the rooms newly equipped with modifiable and adaptable housing so we can comfortably accommodate any animal admitted into our care (even a pair of bonded Saint Bernard’s) with ease.
They noted we are now able to offer our animals more access to natural light, improved acoustics, and better access to the outdoors for our dogs – all designed to reduce an animal’s stress while in shelter.
They saw the new state of the art veterinary clinic generously supported by the MacNeill Family Foundation, complete with an intensive care unit, a separate dental surgery suite, and a neonatal ward.
They stood in the new surgery suite that is now large enough to comfortably accommodate our veterinary students alongside our four full time veterinarians.
They also explored the previous cat holding area which has been transformed into dedicated isolation wards. For the first time in our history, we are now able to treat animals with infectious disease like Parvovirus successfully and still keep the rest of our population safe – something that has never before been possible.
One of the most common questions we were asked, as we opened our doors and welcomed the public back in our building, was “how many more animals can you house now that the renovation is complete”?
Our response is always the same – the Building Enhancement and Renovation project was never intended to increase the number of animals housed in our shelter at one time. The goal was to improve the overall environment for our animals. Studies have proven that when animals are provided with a more natural environment that offers them choice and provides the five freedoms of animal welfare, they are better able to manage the stress of a transition into a shelter setting. This, in turn, means our staff and volunteers are better able to support their physical and mental health, which results in a shorter length of stay.
A shorter stay for each animal is better for the animal, and it means we can accommodate more animals who need us - without increasing the overall population, ensuring each animal gets the dedicated time and attention they deserve.
Another goal of the building enhancement and renovation project was to create a warm and inviting space for the people who love animals as much as we do – a place for all Calgarians to gather to get the additional resources they need to help build a positive and fulfilling relationship with their companion animal. We strive to be a true community hub!
We sincerely hope you will feel the compassion of the team and sense our true commitment to inspire everyone to engage with Calgary Humane Society. We strive to help as many animals as we can and to build a more humane world. We cannot do this without you! If you have not yet been to our facility, I extend a very warm invitation to you to come in and take a look at the transformation that has taken place and hear about the important work taking place at Calgary Humane Society. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Calgary Humane Society celebrated its centennial birthday in 2022. We are proud to celebrate a century dedicated to protecting and caring for our community’s homeless, neglected, and abused animals. It is only due to the generous support of our community that this life-saving work has continued for a century.
Our community supports our day-to-day operations in many ways. Cash donations, signing up with our PAWS monthly giving program, attending our special events, purchasing cash lottery tickets, and, leaving a legacy in their estate plans. Legacy gifts guarantee that our important programs will be available well into the future. When you choose Calgary Humane Society as a beneficiary of your legacy plans, you become a member of the Nine Lives Society.
A legacy gift left to Calgary Humane Society is incredibly meaningful. It demonstrates a shared commitment to improving the lives of animals, not just for now, but into the future. These lasting gifts are critical in ensuring Calgary Humane Society is here for another 100 years and able to help every animal that arrives at our shelter.
There are a number of different ways our Nine Lives Society members structure their legacy gift. We recommend consulting with your financial planner, accountant, or estate lawyer. They will be able to detail the various options available to you and advise you on the best option for you based on your personal circumstances.
For more information, please contact José Guillén, Director of Philanthropy 403.723.6001
jose.guillen@calgaryhumane.ca or visit our website https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/donate/otherways-to-give/estate-gifts/
In addition to being an adoption center, Calgary Humane Society is committed to supporting pet owners throughout their entire caregiving journey. Beyond dog training, we are a hub to access private consultation, behaviour seminars, training classes, as well as resources for all species.
We offer behaviour classes so that dog owners are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep their pooches safe. There are a variety of different classes available from puppy training, to classes that deal with reactive dogs or fearful dogs, and so much more.
Socialization during puppyhood is the best investment you can make in your dog’s future! Puppy Club is a safe environment where using positive reinforcement training, puppies learn to build confidence in the world around them. During the 5 week program, puppies are exposed to different objects, sights, smells, people, and of course other puppies.
Smarty Pups provides a solid foundation of skills based on positive humane training while building a strong, life-long relationship with your pup. Learn to work with your puppy on skills such as gaining attention, recall, handling, walking politely, and self-control. You’ll also address challenging behaviours such as mouthing, jumping, and appropriate dog-to-dog skills with other pups.
This course is a great first step in developing a lifelong friendship with your canine best friend. Throughout class, you’ll learn foundational obedience skills, self-control, and polite manners to incorporate into everyday life.
Fearful Fido is for dogs that cower, choose flight and shows signs of fear with people, new environments, new things, and with other dogs, in this class handlers learn to build confidence in shy or fearful dogs using counter conditioning techniques and begin associating fearful environments and interactions with positive things.
Reactive Rover is a structured environment tailored to dogs who bark and lunge at other dogs or objects. Dogs will be taught using primarily positive reinforcement, with the goal of class to have the dogs under threshold. The same techniques can be used with other stimuli such as bikes, joggers, and critters. Note: this class is not for human-directed aggression.
John GEICK
Convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada and sentenced to 3-years incarceration and a lifetime animal prohibition order,
Thomas EDWARDS
Convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada and sentenced to 18-months incarceration and a lifetime animal prohibition order.
Cole EHBRECHT
Convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada and sentenced to 1-year incarceration, 3-years probation and a lifetime animal prohibition order.
Jason HARRON
Convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada and sentenced to 90-days incarceration and 2-years of probation.
Lynda GRAHAM
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $1250 fine and a 10-year animal prohibition order.
Aaron TAYLOR
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $1500 fine and a 5-year animal prohibition order.
Rosita CANLAS
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $1000 fine and a 15-year animal prohibition order.
Baron WERESCHUK and Kathleen JOSEPH
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to $750 fines and a 5-year animal prohibition order.
Emily HAZEN
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $2800 fine and a 20-year animal prohibition order.
Phong BUI
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to 18 months probation and a 5-year animal prohibition order.
Brian BLAIS
Convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada and sentenced to a $500 fine and a 3-year animal prohibition order.
Daniel GRAY
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $500 fine and a 10-year animal prohibition order.
Brenda FLOWERS
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a Conditional Sentence Order and a lifetime animal prohibition order.
Elizabeth SURETTE-BROWN
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $1500 fine and a 15-year animal prohibition order.
Connor BROKL
Convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada and sentenced to a $750 fine and a 5-year animal prohibition order.
Michael SMITH
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $750 fine and a 25-year animal prohibition order.
Amanda MCMULLIN
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $500 fine and a 5-year animal prohibition order.
Jerome LANSANG
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $1000 fine and a lifetime animal prohibition order
Schelene DEROCHER and Nicholas TUBMAN
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to 6 months probation and a 10-year animal prohibition order.
Young, Ko and In CHO
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to $1320 fines (each) and a 20-year animal prohibition order.
Trina MARSHALL
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $750 fine and a 15-year animal prohibition order.
Katherine WILL
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $50 fine and an 8-year animal prohibition order.
Nicholas MEDINA-PEREZ
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $1000 fine and a 5-year animal prohibition order.
Dmitri KOMIN
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $1000 fine and a 2-year animal prohibition order.
Eric TSE
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $2500 fine and a lifetime animal prohibition order.
Michael PERRY
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $1 fine and a 10-year animal prohibition order.
Janis KESTLE
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $400 fine and a 15-year animal prohibition order.
Justin VONAVKA
Convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada and sentenced to a $3500 fine and a 10-year animal prohibition order.
Susan SCHNURR
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $200 fine and a lifetime animal prohibition order.
Martin COTE
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a lifetime animal prohibition order.
Kerry BAKER
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $750 fine and a 3-year animal prohibition order.
Katherine PAWLUCK
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to an $1800 fine and a 10-year animal prohibition order.
Lajos VINCZE
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $750 fine and 5-year animal prohibition order.
Andrico REID
Convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada and sentenced to a 6-month Conditional Sentence Order and a 15-year animal prohibition order.
Mike BEAULIEU
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $500 fine and a 10-year animal prohibition order.
Jordan MILLS
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a 2-year animal prohibition order.
Olivia BATES
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to a $750 fine and a 5-year animal prohibition order.
Brian ROBAR
Convicted under the Animal Protection Act of Alberta and sentenced to 3-months probation, 10 hours of community service and a 2-year animal prohibition order.
We talked to animal behaviorist, Stavy Giannoulis about separation anxiety. There is a lot to cover when it comes to separation anxiety, so be sure to visit your vet if you have concerns! Separation anxiety is typically understood to be a distress response to close family members leaving. Symptoms to watch for include, destruction, elimination, and vocalization.
Usually when we’re talking about separation anxiety we are referring to dogs; however, other animals also display distressed behaviors at being separated from family, such as birds. Furthermore, recent literature indicates that cats create a more emotional bond than we would have originally thought; however, more research is needed to understand if cats experience separation anxiety and how.
Regardless, any disturbances in routine can be confusing and unsettling for any animal. While they may not be experiencing separation
anxiety, they will still need to adjust to the new routine. Particularly with COVID, the high contrast between families being home all the time to jumping back into their regular work environment can have a significant impact on their furry family members.
“Separation is one of the most over diagnosed and under diagnosed problems,” says Giannoulis, for one to be sure of what is going on with their animal, the best thing they can do is take them to a vet for a clinical diagnosis.
“You have to look at a few things and rule out age specific behaviour,” says Giannoulis, citing soiling in the house as an example of a common behaviour among puppies and animals experiencing separation anxiety alike.
Another thing to consider is the response the animal gives when you get home. If their hello is just a couple of moments of tail wagging and general excitement, there is nothing to worry about. But if your dog is spending several (5-20+) minutes or more greeting you while showing signs of stress (such as excessive panting or pacing), there may be something else at play.
What can you do to ease your animals’ anxiety while you’re away?
One thing folks can start doing is setting up their home to replicate when they are there. For example, if someone spends much of their time with “The Office” on the TV in the background, leaving “The Office” on while they are gone may help to put their dog at ease. Food puzzles and Kongs are also a great way to keep your dog occupied and happy while you are away. It is also important to narrow down what is causing the stress for the animal, is it being away from people in general or one person specifically? Is it an issue of confinement? These are questions to explore. It is also helpful to work with a vet and a trainer, as the issue may be bigger than we realize, and require extra care and attention. Finally, “cut down the drama on departure and return,” says Giannoulis, “be aware of the tone you're setting. Your energy level and emotional state effects your animal.” Teaching your animal to be calm around you could be beneficial in the long run. Owners can start small by leaving the house for a short amount of time (10 minutes) and working up to being away for longer as their furry friend grows more comfortable with the change.
Behaviour Helpline:
Do you have a quick question or concern about your pets' behaviour?
Contact the Calgary Humane Society Behaviour Helpline: 403.723.6019
behaviour.help@calgaryhumane.ca
Summer is a time of fun and excitement for kids, and what better way to spend it than with some furry friends? Calgary Humane Society offers summer camps for children that provide them with a unique opportunity to learn about animal care, compassion, and responsibility while having fun! Our summer camp program is designed for children in grades 1-9. The camps run for five days each week (excluding weeks with statutory holidays) and are offered throughout July & August.
One of the highlights of our Summer Camp is the opportunity for campers to meet and interact with a variety of animals. They learn about the different needs and behaviors of cats, dogs, rabbits, and other small animals. They also get to observe the animals' body language and learn how to interpret it. This helps children to develop empathy and understanding towards animals, which is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. In addition to interacting with animal visitors, our campers get to create enrichment toys and treats for the animals in our care, providing them with mental stimulation and promoting their overall well-being.
At Calgary Humane Society, we see kindness in all forms. Whether you volunteer your time to walk a dog needing an escape from their kennel, read to a shy cat waiting to be adopted, or drop off items the shelter desperately needs, this kindness is how the Calgary Humane Society has existed for over 100 years.
We truly rely on the community's kindness to support the animals we care for. Without this support, we could not do what we do. Our goal is to connect people and animals, creating an unwavering bond that is a gateway to more meaningful lives. Any of our foster parents, volunteers or staff will tell you how important this bond is. Our animals simply want to be loved, and we promise the love they give in return is immeasurable. This is why our employees and volunteers show up each and every day. Our mission is strong. It is to help as many animals as we can and give them the life they deserve from the start. Every person should experience the companionship and true fulfillment that can only come from caring for and loving an animal.
2022 was a monumental year for Calgary Humane Society. We completed our Building Enhancement Project, celebrated 100 years as a Society and reopened after COVID. To say the last few years were difficult would be an understatement. But we adapted, planned, executed, and stood firm to our mission - the animals counted on us, and we were not going to let them down.
But we were not alone. The community donated and helped us finish the renovation, foster parents took animals in, volunteers stepped in and helped everywhere they could, adopters chose Calgary Humane to add in new family members, and our staff showed up each and every day to continue the work.
Everyone contributed to creating a community of kindness. So thank you. Thank you to everyone who has chosen to support Calgary Humane Society in any form.
Our ask is still ongoing. We have made it through some significant moments in time and some big projects, but there is so much more we can do and we continue to need your support.
Whether your child uses their Birthday Party to collect donations instead of gifts or you get your company to match your contribution, every little bit makes a difference to the vulnerable animals that we care for on a daily bases.
Thank you for thinking of us, donating, and making Calgary Humane your charity of choice.
