Small Paws. Big Comebacks. Calgary Humane Society’s Second-Chance Stories
Meet a three-legged puppy, a determined little kitten and the Calgary community helping animals find their next happy chapter. Plus: the people, funding and current campaign behind the care.
PRC AI-generated editorial illustration. These are not named rescued animals, and the imagined setting is not a photograph of Calgary Humane Society. Documentary animal photographs appear below with source credits.
October 28, 2026 · By Justin Plosz · Calgary, Alberta · Community · 10 min read read
The best part of a rescue story? What happens next.
The first comfortable nap. The first confident walk. The moment an animal stops feeling like a visitor and starts behaving as though the whole sofa has always belonged to them.
Those are the happy endings we love. Calgary Humane Society helps make them possible—and a surprising amount of its work starts long before an adoption photo.
Founded in 1922, the society protects animals, provides medical and behaviour care, supports families in crisis and helps people become more confident animal guardians. Sometimes a second chance means a new home. Sometimes it means making sure a beloved pet never has to leave the home they already have.
Already adopted a dog from Calgary Humane Society? We want to meet your new best friend. Use this article’s **“It’s Been a Minute” video room near the top of the page** to upload a one-minute update. There is more on that below.
Meet Calgary Humane Society
A small city of kindness, by the numbers
Here is what the society reports for **2025**: **2,475 animals adopted**, including **451 adult dogs**; **3,427 shelter admissions**; and **1,644 families supported** through Continued Companionship programming. Its Pet Food Bank supported **625 households**.
Behind the scenes, its teams performed **20,558 veterinary examinations**, gave **4,544 vaccines** and administered **67,135 medication doses**. Those are care activities, not counts of different animals. Protection officers conducted **993 investigations**, with **650 animals removed from unsafe situations**.
The community helped carry that work: **795 foster homes supported 1,551 animals**, volunteers contributed **39,897 hours**, and humane education and outreach reached **26,357 people**. These measures overlap, so they should not be added together as one total of animals helped.
And the people on payroll? **Charity Intelligence’s review lists 87 full-time staff using fiscal-2024 CRA filings.** That is a dated, verifiable staffing figure—not a claim that exactly 87 people work there today, and not a total including every part-time or seasonal employee. The current leadership page identifies Carrie Fritz as executive director.
A volunteer holding a cat in a photograph published on Calgary Humane Society’s official website. Photo source: Calgary Humane Society; not a portrait of the entire staff.
Read the 2025 annual report and its impact figures
Big Rig: a little puppy with a big comeback
Big Rig’s story starts with a frightening injury, but it does not end there.
According to the society’s **2025 annual report, page 19**, the young puppy arrived after an attack by a larger dog. He had a spiral fracture in a front leg and bruising to his lungs. After assessing his injuries, the veterinary team decided a forelimb amputation offered his best chance of a comfortable, active life.
Surgery was only the beginning. Staff managed his pain and healing, then a foster home gave him time to learn how to balance and move on three legs. The report describes him adapting quickly, with his playful, affectionate personality coming through.
The lovely part is how ordinary his next chapter sounds: running, exploring, being a puppy. Big Rig is a reminder that a different-looking body can still have a very full life. His story is documented by CHS; this is not a new PRC interview or an exclusive account.
Big Rig, the puppy whose surgery and recovery are described in Calgary Humane Society’s 2025 annual report, page 19. Photograph: Calgary Humane Society, annual report.
See Big Rig’s original recovery story
Douglas: tiny kitten, very determined spirit
Douglas arrived as an eight-week-old stray weighing less than a kilogram. He needed food, medical care and somewhere safe to grow stronger.
Then his foster parent noticed he was not using a back leg. The society’s report describes a fracture through the growth plate of his femur. Because he was too underweight for surgery, the team managed his pain while he gained strength. An earlier tail injury also required an amputation.
When Douglas returned for surgery, follow-up X-rays brought better news: his leg fracture had begun healing on its own. With continued care and monitoring, he regained use of the leg. After **45 days in care**, he found a home.
There is no magic shortcut in that story—just observation, veterinary judgment, a foster parent paying attention and a small animal given enough time. Please do not interpret his recovery as advice to wait on an injured pet; a veterinarian should assess injuries promptly.
Douglas, the kitten who recovered from injuries and found a home after 45 days in care. Photograph: Calgary Humane Society, 2025 annual report, page 19.
Read Douglas’s story in the annual report
Sometimes the happy ending is staying together
One of the most moving stories in the report is about **Cheese**, a family cat with a life-threatening urinary blockage. His family was already coping with a child’s cancer treatment, and the cost of urgent veterinary care made surrender feel like their only option.
Through **Rosco’s Keep Them Home**, the society coordinated treatment, covered medical costs and provided follow-up support. Cheese recovered and returned to his family. That is animal welfare and family support happening at the same time.
The wider community-services work includes a Pet Food Bank, emergency boarding, pet safekeeping and other support programs. Availability and eligibility vary: contact the society rather than assuming a particular service or emergency space is guaranteed. Asking for help early can open more options.
Explore help for people and their pets
Meet the neighbours with paws—and a few without
Dogs and cats are familiar faces here, but the society also cares for rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and other small or exotic companion animals. Its supply guidance includes reptile equipment and aquarium supplies, too. The mix changes with admissions and adoptions; check the live listings rather than expecting every species to be available on a visit.
On **October 28, 2026**, the homepage featured **Romeo**, a three-year-old male Saint Bernard. A big dog means big considerations: space, exercise, grooming, food costs and a home that suits that individual animal. The best match is not necessarily the first face that makes you say “aw.” It is the one whose needs fit your real life.
Romeo, a Saint Bernard featured on Calgary Humane Society’s homepage when checked October 28, 2026. Photograph: Calgary Humane Society. Adoption availability can change.
Meet the dogs currently available for adoption
More of a cat person? Lily has entered the conversation.
The same homepage check featured **Lily**, a five-year-old female Bengal. Her photograph is a lovely reason to look; her individual adoption profile is the place to learn what kind of home she needs.
Before adopting any cat, think about enrichment, scratching spaces, veterinary care, introductions to other pets and the time it takes to settle in. A quiet arrival can be a much better welcome than a house full of excited visitors. Let the adoption team help you make a match that works for both of you.
Lily, a Bengal cat featured on Calgary Humane Society’s homepage when checked October 28, 2026. Photograph: Calgary Humane Society. Her current listing may change.
Browse current cat adoption profiles
Small pet. Full-sized responsibility.
**AJ**, a two-year-old male guinea pig, was another featured homepage resident at the time of our check. Small animals can make wonderful companions, but “small” does not mean “low maintenance.” Suitable housing, the right diet, enrichment and access to appropriate veterinary care still matter.
Rabbits and guinea pigs have different needs from dogs and cats—and from each other. Before bringing anyone home, ask about species-specific care and the individual animal’s social needs. The society’s adoption team and care resources are a better starting point than an impulse purchase of a tiny cage.
AJ, a guinea pig pictured with a miniature shopping cart on Calgary Humane Society’s official homepage. Photograph: Calgary Humane Society; listing checked October 28, 2026.
See all currently adoptable animals
Who pays for the second chances?
Calgary Humane Society is a registered charity—not simply another name for the City’s animal-services department. Public generosity is central to its work, but its finances are more varied than a donation jar at reception.
Its **2025 annual report** lists approximately **C$11.06 million in revenue before an unrealized investment loss**. Fund development supplied **62.0%**, gifts in wills supplied **12.2%**, investment income supplied **14.4%**, animal-care and adoption revenue supplied **7.6%**, and community-outreach revenue supplied **3.8%**. The report shows **C$10.77 million after the C$286,340 unrealized loss**. Those are 2025 reported figures, not a forecast for 2026.
One-time gifts, monthly giving, fundraising events, corporate support and legacy gifts all have a role. Adoption fees help, but they are not the whole funding model. Nor should we say the society receives no government support: Charity Intelligence’s separate 2024 review identifies a small government-funding amount for that year.
For donors, the practical choice is simple: use the society’s official giving page, choose an amount that works for you and check the current terms. Its **PAWS monthly-donor program** is an option for people who prefer steady, manageable support.
Give directly or explore monthly support
What is on the homepage right now? Fall JackPAWT.
As checked **October 28, 2026**, the main campaign promoted on the society’s homepage is the **Fall JackPAWT 50/50**. The official campaign page lists a ticket-sales deadline of **Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.**, and a draw on **Friday, November 6 at noon**. Check that page for the applicable local time, current rules and any updates before buying.
The advertised ticket options are **one for C$10, three for C$20, ten for C$50 or fifty for C$100**. The winner receives half the jackpot. The pot changes as tickets sell, so we are linking to the live total rather than printing a number that will immediately go stale.
Important distinction: **a raffle ticket is not a charitable donation and does not qualify for a charitable tax receipt**. Follow the official age, location and eligibility rules; participation is optional. If a raffle is not for you, a direct gift is a separate way to help. The homepage also highlights **Home for the Holidays 2026 sponsorship opportunities** for businesses interested in supporting the event.
Reading this after the deadline? Visit the [society’s homepage](https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/) for its next campaign, or use its [year-round donation page](https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/ways-to-give/).
Check official Fall JackPAWT details and eligibility
Not ready to adopt? You still belong in this story.
A forever home is only one way to help. Fostering can give an animal a quieter place to recover. Volunteering contributes time and skills. A monthly donation helps sustain the everyday work that continues after a campaign ends.
Prefer something practical? The society publishes a current supply list, including selected food, litter, harnesses and other useful items. **Check the list before donating goods**: storage limits and animal-health requirements mean not everything can be accepted. Contact the team before making a special trip with an unusual item.
Even sharing a current adoption profile can help introduce an animal to the right person. Please share the official listing rather than promising that a photographed animal is still available.
Rabbit photograph published on Calgary Humane Society’s official giving page. Photograph: Calgary Humane Society; illustrative of the animals it supports, not a current adoption-availability claim.
Explore volunteering and fostering
It’s Been a Minute: show us your adopted dog’s happy chapter
Did your dog come home from Calgary Humane Society? **Upload a video of up to one minute in this article’s “It’s Been a Minute” room near the top of the page.** Use the room’s record or upload option and follow the on-screen identity and posting prompts.
Tell us your dog’s name, when you adopted them and one thing that makes you smile. Their first snow day? A favourite toy? A wonderfully dramatic bedtime routine? A quiet, comfortable moment is just as welcome as a clever trick.
Keep filming relaxed and safe. Do not frighten an animal, stage distress or force an interaction for a reaction. Avoid showing private addresses, adoption paperwork or other people without permission. Only upload footage you have the right to share.
This is **PRC’s reader-video room**, not a Calgary Humane Society submission system, fundraiser or official endorsement. Adoption questions and donations should go directly to the society. The room gives readers somewhere to celebrate the everyday life that comes after adoption.
Watch the society’s own impact film
For another look at the work behind the happy endings, here is Calgary Humane Society’s **2025 Impact Video**, linked from its official About page. It is the society’s own account of its work, not a video produced by PRC.
2025 Impact Video — Calgary Humane Society’s official YouTube channel.Open this video on Public Relations Canada
Watch on Calgary Humane Society’s YouTube channel
Plan your next step—and check our sources
Calgary Humane Society is located at **4455 110 Avenue SE, Calgary**. Its published main number is **403-205-4455**. For donation enquiries, the giving page lists **403-723-6000**. Check current visiting hours and adoption arrangements on the official site before heading over.
This independent PRC community feature draws on the [2025 annual report](https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Annual-Report-2025.pdf), the [official homepage](https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/), [community services](https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/community-services/), [giving information](https://www.calgaryhumane.ca/ways-to-give/), [Fall JackPAWT campaign page](https://jackpawt.calgaryhumane.ca/a/fall-26-ws-homepage-oct1) and [Charity Intelligence’s review](https://charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/212-calgary-humane-society). The staffing figure is from fiscal 2024; the main impact and financial figures are from 2025. Campaign and featured-animal information was checked October 28, 2026 and can change.
The recovery stories are retold from the society’s published report, not claimed as previously unpublished discoveries. Documentary photographs are credited to Calgary Humane Society and linked to their source pages or report; the cover is a disclosed editorial illustration. This article was not issued by the society, and it does not imply an endorsement or partnership.
A second chance can start with a donation, a foster application or a conversation with an adoption counsellor. Sometimes it starts with a dog making itself comfortable on your sofa. Either way, Calgary has plenty of room for another happy chapter.
Contact Calgary Humane Society directly
Key takeaways
- Calgary Humane Society has served the community since 1922, combining animal protection and care with support for people.
- Its 2025 annual report records 2,475 adoptions and support for 1,644 families through Continued Companionship programs.
- The verifiable staffing figure is 87 full-time employees in fiscal 2024, not a confirmed current total.
- Big Rig and Douglas’s documented recoveries show the value of veterinary care, foster homes and patient follow-up.
- The Fall JackPAWT campaign was featured on October 28, 2026; direct donations and monthly giving are separate options.
- Readers can share up-to-one-minute adopted-dog updates in this article’s PRC video room.
Frequently asked questions
- How many people does Calgary Humane Society employ?
- Charity Intelligence lists 87 full-time staff based on fiscal-2024 CRA filings. This is not a confirmed October 2026 headcount or a total including all part-time and seasonal employees. The society also works with volunteers and foster homes.
- What does Calgary Humane Society contribute to the community?
- Its 2025 annual report records 2,475 adoptions, 1,644 families supported through Continued Companionship programs, 650 animals removed from unsafe situations and 26,357 people reached through education and outreach. Services include animal care, protection, fostering, a Pet Food Bank and support that helps pets remain with their families.
- How is Calgary Humane Society funded?
- The 2025 annual report attributes 62.0% of revenue to fund development, 12.2% to bequests, 14.4% to investment income, 7.6% to animal care and adoption, and 3.8% to community outreach, before an unrealized investment loss. One-time gifts, monthly donations, fundraising and service revenue all contribute.
- What is its current fundraising campaign?
- As checked October 28, 2026, the homepage promotes the Fall JackPAWT 50/50. Its official page lists ticket sales closing October 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. and a November 6 draw at noon. Check the live campaign page for applicable time, eligibility and updates. Raffle tickets are not tax-receiptable donations; direct giving is available separately.
- What kinds of animals can people adopt?
- Calgary Humane Society lists dogs, cats, rabbits and other small or exotic companion animals, with availability changing over time. Check the live adoption profiles and ask staff about species-specific care and the individual animal’s needs.
- Can I upload a one-minute video of my adopted dog?
- Yes. Use this PRC article’s It’s Been a Minute room near the top of the page to record or upload a video of up to 60 seconds, following the on-screen prompts. Share your dog’s name and adoption update while respecting privacy and animal comfort. The room belongs to PRC, not Calgary Humane Society.
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