Sewing Bee Round 2 - Sept 12 10:00 am to noon

When: Saturday, September 12th 10:00 a.m. to noon

If you can attend one or more of these time please let me know as soon as possible, thanks. No special sewing talents required: just you and your sewing machine for straight seam sewing.
The purpose is 2 fold, work up the existing blanket material into:
1. Recovery blankets for dogs and cats to be used at the Alberta Spay Neuter Task Force Blood Tribe Clinic in September;
2. Blankets for AARCS foster doggie to go with them to their new adoptive homes.

We will be:
• cutting and seaming to make their cozy blanket and again
• celebrating “Team Work”, come join us
Needed:
-you and or friends / family
-sewing machines
-your own scissors if possible
-your exuberance

Please contact Rita O’Leary directly: 403-248-2787, conoleary@shaw.ca

First Annual Responsible Dog Ownership Day (RDOG)

On behalf of the Responsible Dog Ownership Group (RDOG) committee, AARCS would like to invite you to take part in the first annual RDOG Day which will be taking place on September 18th, 2010 from 10:00am – 2:00pm. This event is held in support of The Canadian Kennel Club’s initiative, RDOG Week, which begins on September 25th. This is a free opportunity for reputable rescue agencies to create more public awareness about their organizations and the animals you help. You will also be taking part in a day that helps to build dog owner awareness and foster responsible pet ownership.
In partnership with The City of Calgary Animal & Bylaw Services, AARCS invites the public to come and see several demonstrations of sports and activities that they can do with their dogs. This could include tracking, obedience, rally, Frisbee and agility. Dog owners will then be invited to participate with their own dogs. There will also be contests for dog owners and celebrity judges!
Animal & Bylaw Services staff, Director Bill Bruce and the Calgary Humane Society will be on site with educational materials, giveaways and information about their adoptable animals. AARCS will be joined by 5 other rescue organizations as well as 4 responsible vendors who will be giving away free samples and holding raffles.
Location: West End of Bowness Park
Time: 10:00am – 2:00pm
Admission is free! Parking is free!
Come out and join us for a fun filled day!

Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Walk for Farm Animals

Calgary Teams Up with “The Biggest Loser’s” Bob Harper for Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Walk for Farm Animals

Calgary AB –October 9, 2010 – Need a good reason to get moving this fall? Take a tip from celebrity fitness trainer Bob Harper, star of NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser,” and sign up for Calgary’s 2010 Walk for Farm Animals, sponsored by Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization!

As the national spokesperson for the 2010 Walk for Farm Animals, Harper is serious about his advocacy for farm animals: “When I think about the billions of sensitive, intelligent beings who are confined and mistreated on factory farms to produce foods linked with obesity, heart disease, cancer, and stroke — that is all the motivation I need to make healthier, more conscientious choices. I am honored to be the national spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Walk for Farm Animals.”

The Calgary Walk is just one of more than 70 taking place in cities throughout the U.S. and Canada this fall, when thousands of animal lovers will lace up their walking shoes and hit the streets to celebrate and promote compassion for farm animals and raise money to support the lifesaving rescue, education and advocacy work of Farm Sanctuary. Your participation in this exciting annual event will help expand awareness of the severe and unnecessary suffering endured by billions of animals raised for food on a daily basis. Please join us on October 9, 2010 by putting your best foot forward for farm animals!

WHAT: Farm Sanctuary’s 2010 Walk for Farm Animals www.walkforfarmanimals.org

WHEN: Saturday, October 9, 2010. Registration at 9am and walk starts at 10am.
WHERE: Prince’s Edward Island Park

NOTE: Pets welcome!

HIGHLIGHTS: Start the morning off with free coffee and vegan treats and walk with other animal lovers for a more compassionate world.

REGISTRATION: Pre-registration fee is $15 per walker (entitles each registrant to a Walk for Farm Animals t-shirt distributed on the day of the Walk); registration fee on the day of the Walk is $20 (T-shirt receipt cannot be guaranteed). To register, visit www.firstgiving.com/farmsanctuary or e-mail local Walk Coordinator Stephanie Carrobourg at calgary@walkforfarmanimals.org

The 20010 Walk for Farm Animals is sponsored nationally by Boston Baked Bonz.Great Sage Organic Green Cuisine and Karmavore Vegan Shop.

National photos of last year’s Walk for Farm Animals and an approved image of 2010 national spokesperson Bob Harper from NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser” are available upon request.

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.

A "Howling" Good Time

The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society
is hosting
A “HOWLING” Good Time at the Laugh Shop in the Blackfoot Inn
Proceeds go directly to helping our animals and we need your help to invite your friends and come out to support us.

When: Friday, October 22, 2010
Time: Doors open at 7 pm, Show starts at 8 pm.
Cost: $15 per ticket

Please support our fundraising efforts, for tickets please contact Clarissa at 403-270-2000 or clarissa.stetten@gmail.com

AGM (Annual General Meeting)

Please come out for AARCS Annual General Meeting Saturday, October 30th at 1:00 pm at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary is located at 2425 - 9th Avenue SE, Calgary

Pictures With Santa

Bring your pet to the Sunridge Petsmart between Noon and 4pm on Saturday December 13th and you can have their picture taken with Santa!! That's right Saint Nicholas himself will be posing with your special someone and a portion of the proceeds will go to support AARCS!

Agro-John Deere Christmas Celebration

AARCS volunteers are bartending at the Agro-John Deere Christmas Celebration on November 29th, in Olds, AB. This is a great fundraiser and also a time for networking between volunteers and spreading the word to a large group such as John Deere about help needed on the First Nation Communities and their dogs.

2008 AGM

We will be holding our AGM at the Kahanoff Centre at 7pm, September 20th, 2008. We encourage all members to come out and vote! If you are not yet a member, we will have membership forms available that day.

Generous Donation from Newly Wed Couple

Kevin & Jessi wanted to do something different for their wedding. They were looking for a non-profit that they could donate to, instead of buying small gifts for the wedding guests. AARCS was the lucky recipient of their generous donation of $400 and in October 2008 the couple was wed in a beautiful ceremony in Calgary. The couple also incorporated pictures of our rescued dog into their slideshow to show their guests and to help spread the word.

PetSmart Adopt-a-Thon

We will be out at the Petsmart Adopt-a-thon on September 12th, 13th & 14th. We are looking for volunteers to help out as well as people to come out and see us. We will be at all 3 locations in Calgary. Please check back for a more detailed schedule.

Charity Garage Sale

A big thank you to volunteers Lee & Dan for hosting a charity garage sale this summer. It was a huge success and AARCS received $1500 from the proceeds of the sale! We would also thank you volunteers Anna, Sue, Flora, Louise, Linda & Deanna for helping out at the event and all those people out there who donated items for the sale! All remaining items were donated to the Youth Centre in Trochu for their upcoming garage sale.

Middle School Donations

A big thank you to Ashley Ehman, Brooklyn Boras, Shallaine Daley & Cole Hanna for raising money for AARCS through middle school donations in Carstairs, Alberta. We would like thank them for their continued support with their fund-raising efforts. This year, the money they have raised will go towards the surgery for Fiametta. Fiametta will have her leg amputated July 9th, 2008.

Show Your Spirit

Four dedicated volunteers toughed it out in the rain at Spruce Meadows “Show your Spirit” event and won $1000! Thanks to Maralyn, Connie, Deanna and Katie (and Katie’s dogs Sydney & Nikki) for braving the wind and rain to raise some extra funds for AARCS.

Tattoos for Charity

AARCS would like to thank tattoo artist, Dawn Potter; Fallen Angel Piercing and Tattoo in Innisfail for donating a percentage her proceeds for the month of June from her business to AARCS. She raised over $500!!!

Birthday Gifts to AARCS Please!

Now this is one special kid! Kyle Olesen was watching a commercial about animals in need decided he wanted to help with animals. Kyle asked his friends and family to donate $10 each to AARCS instead of buying him gifts for his 7th birthday.

Thank you Kyle, you're one amazing kid!

Calgary Pet Expo

We will once again be at the 2009 Calgary Pet Expo in Calgary.

Sylvan Lake Rescue Part 1

Although our mandate is to rescue small animals (dogs and cats) we are all animal lovers. One day, while handing out dog food we stood looking into a small dirt field of horses that did not look to be in good shape. Their water was frozen and there wasn't a speck of hay to eat. One of our rescuers, Katie Shannon, noticed what to be a dead animal in the middle of the field. As we watched there looked to be something moving. W. What they found was a dead horse and inside the rib cage a tiny 3 month old puppy. She scoped up the puppy and wrapped her in her warm coat. The puppy, now named Violet, was also in very rough shape, covered in mange and extremely skinny. While in the field she was able to get a closer look at the horses, who were starved. Haunted by what they saw the rescuers returned to Sylvan Lake and called the RCMP.

Sylvan Lake Rescue Part 2

AARCS volunteers returned to Sylvan Lake, with 8 rescued dogs and a heavy heart. The RCMP were called regarding the horses and the constable who took the call jumped into action. Just the day before she personally rescued a puppy from the same area. The balls started rolling and a rescue mission was put in place for the starving horses. Bear Valley Rescue in Sundre was called to see if they could assist in the rescue. They too jumped into action and members of the AARCS, Bear Valley Rescue and the RCMP returned for the horses the next day. The horses were loaded and are being cared for by Bear Valley Rescue. Sadly 5 more dead horses were located in the same pasture. Bear Valley Rescue was at max capacity when they received are call, but like us, will never say no during an emergency. When it's life or death - where there is a will, there is a way.

Food Drive

Our food coordinator, Katie and her mom drove to Edmonton to pick up a large donation of food from Maddie Natural Pet Products in Edmonton. With Katie's persistence we have been able to maintain a steady stream of dog and cat food to provide to the communities we visit on a regular basis. Since September 2007 when Katie started volunteering with AARCS, we have handed out over 10,000 lbs of dog food. This allows the dogs who are waiting to be rescued, to be well fed until we can return for them. A big thank you Katie and her family for the numerous hours of driving, not to mention the manpower needed to move this much food. In addition, they have offered to store the food for AARCS until it can be distributed.