Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Foundation began with one person feeding hungry dogs from her car on the First Nations Communities N.W. of Rocky Mountain House.

These were some beginning moments in the history of Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Foundation.

Today, there are approximately 1,500 unwanted, neglected, abused dogs with in the Sunchild and O’Chiese First Nations Communities. About half of these animals are “claimed”. The rest scavenge as best they can. There is also a population of feral dogs.

This area is one of extreme poverty complicated by a number of social problems; therefore animal welfare is not a priority for this community. Because this is Crown Land the SPCA does not provide services.

Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Foundation is a non-profit society with charitable status. We are a small group of dedicated volunteers who have been helping quietly for eight years by:

providing free spay surgeries, including transportation, for reserve dogs and cats,

finding and donating food,

providing Winter Shelter,
Click Here for Video Clip

providing vet care,

fostering, and, finally placing them in new homes,
we have many Happy Endings!

We spay/neuter when funds allow, and educate residents regarding pet care. Other than the assistance our organization is able to provide, there are no other animal services available for these people.

During the past eight years, Paws and Claws Animal Rescue Foundation has made a considerable difference in the quality of life for many animals on the reserve. We have placed over 800 unwanted puppies and dogs in loving homes.  These are canines that would have been done away with, not always humanely, or died from disease, hunger or exposure. We have provided tons of food and some vaccination clinics to help stop the spread of distemper and parvovirus. We have funded emergency medical care for those we could help and, in a few instances, euthanasia for those beyond help. We also treat minor wounds and provide first aid where possible.

Three years ago we began our spay program. We have altered hundreds of dogs and dozens of cats. This has resulted in hundreds of thousands fewer unwanted animals being born in Alberta to suffer.

We do not receive Government funding. We raise funds by raffling items at the Red Deer Farmers Markets and trade shows such as the Red Deer Home Show, Edmonton Women’s Show and the Edmonton Pet Expo.  Thanks to the funds raised at these events and the generosity of our donors and our Corporate Sponsors we are now able to meet our meet our spay/neuter requests.

In August of 2006 we established our Spay/Neuter program.  Regular trips to pick up female dogs to be spayed free of charge for the residents on the Sunchild and O’Chiese First Nations Communities are undertaken.  Paws and Claws' efforts to spay these females translates into hundreds of thousands fewer unwanted dogs in Alberta.

Safeway has chosen us as their charity of choice; partnering with this wonderful organization is helping to bring awareness to our cause and assists funding our spay program.

We take all rescued dogs or cats to the Parkland Veterinary Hospital or Piper Creek Veterinary Clinic where they are health-checked and given their vaccinations. They then proceed to foster homes where they are greeted, loved and cared for until a suitable forever family appears!

We are proud to report that in June 2009, Paws and Claws was approved as a WSPA Member Society! http://www.wspa.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information on our Animal Rescue/Adoption Program,
Email :   Adoptions

Box 26062
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
T4N 6X7