Resources for Pet Guardians

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We’re Here To Help

We’ve gathered the following information and resources to help you and your pets navigate some of life’s unexpected changes and challenges.

If you are part of an organization providing support to pet guardians that may fit the resources on this page, please email your information to communications@edmontonhumanesociety.com.

Behaviour Resources & Guides

Mental games are of huge benefit to both people and pets. If you are looking for new ways to exercise your pet, there is a wealth of training and enrichment resources available online that can help keep your pets preoccupied and happy. It is also important to start practicing training activities that help us manage and correct many issues, such as separation anxiety, through positive reinforcement and force-free training.

Here are some additional training and enrichment videos/resources we recommend:

To help prevent and/or manage separation anxiety in your pet, we recommend:

Pet Behaviour Hotline

We are fortunate enough to have amazing staff and supporters who can help. If you are experiencing behavioural difficulties with your cat or dog and would like to talk to a professional about your concerns, our EHS trainers are here to support you. If your question isn’t answered in one of our free resources you can…

  • Email or call us
  • Ask your question
  • Tell us the best way and time to reach you back
  • Allow for 1-3 business days for our behavior experts to answer your questions and give suggestions on how to handle your situation

Phone 780-491-3521 to reach our free pet behaviour hotline, or email us through the button below.

If you are experiencing other behaviour issues with your pet, we recommend:

Lost Pet Support

Losing a pet can be stressful both us and our animals. Animals who are lost inside the City of Edmonton limits first arrive at the Animal Care & Control Center and those found outside of the City limits may come to the Edmonton Humane Society. Visit our lost pet page to start your search or to help someone on theirs, as well as learn about other ways you can help pets who may be lost.

You can find additional tips and guidance from the City of Edmonton by visiting the page linked below.

Rental Supports for People with Pets

We understand that finding a rental property that accepts pets can be a challenge.

Check Our List of Pet-Friendly Rental Companies

We’ve put together a list of rental companies in Edmonton who offer pet-friendly places who you can contact.


Read Our Renting with Pets Guide

You can also read our guide for renting with pets, which is full of useful information, advice and links for anyone looking to rent with their animal companion.


Support for Veterinary Care

We understand many people are facing financial challenges in the current economy and thank you for exploring support options to ensure your pet can get the veterinary care it needs.

Here are some verterinary care supports we recommend looking into:

  • Tails of Help
    • If you are low income, disabled or a senior residing within Alberta, speak to your veterinarian about eligibility to provide essential health care (treatment without which the ill or injured animal will die, require humane euthanasia, or cause undue suffering to the pet).
  • Alberta Helping Animals Society
    • If you are qualified low-income household or from a vulnerable population, you may be eligible for no-cost veterinary care for your companion animal.
  • Edmonton Humane Society PALS (Prevent Another Litter Subsidy)
    • Providing low cost spay/neuter services for qualified low-income households

Other Options to Consider

  • Inquire at your veterinary clinic about payment options or plans.
  • Ask friends or family members for assistance and consider using a crowdfunding platform like  GoFundMe or Waggle where they can donate.
  • Consider financing through Petcard.
  • Many VCA Canada Veterinary Centres have a financing options.
  • Search for personal lending organizations that help with pet care/veterinary loans.

We also highly recommend checking out pet insurance options to help cover the costs of unexpected veterinary care in the future.

Food Banks for Pets

EHS Pet Pantry

If you or someone you know is struggling to feed their pet – we can help. Our Pet Pantry program helps pet owners facing financial barriers access food and supplies for their companion animals.

Other Pet Food Banks to Consider

The following food banks and organizations help to provide pet food supplies.

While we do our best to ensure all of these resources listed are accurate, please contact each organization if you have questions or to confirm program details.

*Note: if you are viewing on mobile, you may need to scroll right on the below table to see the contact details for each food bank.

LocationOrganization InfoPhone
EdmontonBoyle Street’s Pet Food Bank (drop-in) Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Access through Bissell East Building (10527 96 St. NW).
Find on Facebook
Find on Instagram
587-357-2184
EdmontonEdmonton Food Bank (Food hampers can include pet food)
Contact to Request and Schedule Pick-up
780-425-4190
EdmontonAlberta Animal Rescue Crew North Haven
Contact to Request and Schedule Pick-up
587-498-0813
Edmonton & Alberta (Outside Calgary)Alberta SPCA Help for AnimalsSee Website for Contact Form
Calgary & EdmontonAARCS Food Assistance ProgramRequest Online
CalgaryParachute for Pets Pet Food BankApply on Website
CalgaryMEOW Foundation Cat Food AssistanceRequest Online
Red DeerAlberta Animal Services or Red Deer Food Bank403-347-2388 / 403-346-1505
LethbridgeCity of Lethbridge Pet Food Bank
403-320-4099 (Option 3)
NantonNAPS Pet Food BankN/A
Fort McMurrayFort McMurray SPCA Pet Food Bank780-743-8997
Across CanadaHumane Canada National Pet Food Bank MapN/A

Food Banks for People

The below food banks for people may also have some supplies for pets. We recommend calling in advance to check supplies.

*Note: if you are viewing on mobile, you may need to scroll right on the below table to see the contact details for each food bank.

LocationOrganizationPhone
EdmontonEdmonton’s Food Bank780-425-4190
AirdrieAirdrie Food Bank403-948-0063
AthabascaAthabasca Good Samaritan Ministries Association
780-675-3556
BrooksBrooks Food Bank Foundation403-793-2535
CalgaryCalgary Food Bank
403-253-2055
CochraneCochrane Activettes Food Bank403-932-9290
Cold LakeCold Lake Food Bank (Tritown)780-594-4172
EdsonEdson Food Bank Society
780-723-1350
Fort MacLeodFort Macleod Salvation Army Food Bank403-553-2875
Fort SaskatchewanFort Saskatchewan Food Bank780-998-4099
High RiverFoothills Salvation Army Food Bank403-652-2195 (ext.2)
High LevelHigh Level Native Friendship Center780-926-3355
LethbridgeLethbridge Interfaith Food Bank
403-320-8779
IrricanaIrricana Food Bank
403-935-4911
Lac St. AnneLac St. Anne East Food Bank Society780-271-3131
LeducLeduc & District Food Bank Association
780-986-5333
LloydminsterLloydminster Salvation Army Food Bank780-875-9166
LloydminsterLloydminster Olive Tree Community Center780-870-1060
Medicine HatMedicine Hat & District Food Bank403-528-4313
NantonNanton Ministerial Food Bank
403-926-7621 / 403-601-4201
OkotoksOkotoks Food Bank Association
403-651-6629
Parkland County (including Spruce Grove and Stony Plain)Parkland Food Bank Society
780-962-4565
Red DeerRed Deer Food Bank403-342-5355
SexsmithSexsmith & Area Food Bank780-296-0939
St. AlbertSt.Albert Food Bank
780-459-0599
TaberTaber Food Bank Society403-223-1833
Three HillsThree Hills Food Bank
403-443-1005
TofieldTofield-Ryley & Area Food Bank
780-662-3511
Tsuut’inaTsuut’ina Food Bank403-252-5884
WetaskiwinWetaskiwin Salvation Army Food Bank780-352-4708 / 780-352-2416
Wheatland County (Strathmore)Wheatland County Food Bank Society403-324-4335
WhitecourtWhitecourt Interagency Food Bank780-778-2341
Wood Buffalo (Fort McMurray)Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association780-743-1125

Emergency Preparedness With Pets

Being prepared for an emergency in advance will give you peace of mind that both you and your pets will have what you need in the event of a crisis.

It is recommended that you have 14 days worth of supplies. You can learn more about the steps you can take to make sure you and your animal companions are prepared in case of an emergency by reading our article linked below.

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit the Government of Canada Get Prepared website.

Emergency Boarding Services

The following programs are available in Alberta for those requiring emergency boarding for their pets:

  • Guardian Angel Program – For those who are hospitalized or who are leaving situations of domestic violence and need care for their pets. Program is run by CAWS (Companion Animal Welfare Society) in partnership with GEARS (Greater Edmonton Animal Rescue Society).
  • Alberta SPCA Pet Safekeeping Program – For those who are leaving situations of domestic violence and need care for their pets

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, the Government of Alberta also offers a 24-hour Family Violence Information Line with anonymous support at 310-1818, or find more information here.