Rescues in Alberta have been struggling for some time now amid a high level of animals coming into their care, and now one is also dealing with a brazen theft that was caught on video.
“The world is a little challenging for people right now and I think that in the nicest way I can put it — I think people are desperate,” said Leigh Melligan, Edmonton operations manager for the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society.
AARCS is based in Calgary but has a shelter in Edmonton. On Wednesday, it said a safe was stolen from its reception area around 6 p.m.
“It held over $1,000 in donations from generous supporters like you – funds that were meant to help animals in desperate need,” AARCS said in a Facebook post containing video of the theft.
Melligan said the safe contained about $1,200 in cash and cheques, along with some tablets, a POS machine, corporate credit card and other important business materials.
“It definitely was worth a little bit more than just the $1,200 — we also lost our secret stash of sharpies, which my staff were very sad about,” Melligan said with a laugh.
“This is our big fundraising season, so it’s always a little bit of a push at the end of the year to get as much as we can for going into 2025.
“With this loss, it just means we have to work a little bit harder.”
The video shows two women in the lobby of the animal rescue. One woman checks out a rabbit in a pen, then appears to look around the facility before going out of frame.
Several seconds later she reappears hunched over, carrying what appears to be the safe. The two women then walk out the door.
“This theft is more than a financial loss; it’s a loss for every animal counting on us to survive.
“In a world where shelters are already stretched thin, this kind of blow hurts even more.”
Melligan said the theft is stressful and shocking.
“We’re a non-profit and a charity, and our whole purpose is to help… It’s pretty devastating to know that somebody would would take from a charity like us.”
The Edmonton Police Service said officers are investigating the theft and thankfully, no people or pets were injured.
Melligan said police came by the shelter on Friday morning to look at the footage and collect evidence.
“I’m hopeful that maybe with the good photos we’ve got, that they’ll be able to get somebody.”
AARCS is asking anyone who knows anything about the theft to contact EPS. It said the case file number is #240759137.
It also asked for supporters to share its post about the theft.
This isn’t the first time AARCS has dealt with crime: last summer, its Sprinter van used to transport animals around Edmonton and Calgary was stolen. The suspects also took laptops, tablets, payment processing machines, credit cards, cash and gift cards before finding the keys to the AARCS van.
The van was later recovered, albeit without its catalytic converter.
“It’s really devastating that this is the second time this has happened and, you know, it certainly is making us look at, okay, what can we do here to help prevent this in the future?” Melligan said on Friday.
Already, AARCS said donors and companies have come forward with offers to help replace things like the safe and hold fundraisers.
“It is also really amazing to see the community kind of rally together a second time.”
The price of pet food, grooming and medical care have all gone up while wages have stayed roughly the same. Meanwhile, owners are also having to factor in their own expenses, such as groceries and rent.
The number of animals in need often far outweighs the capacity of both the shelter and the animal welfare industry as a whole.
Melligan doesn’t know what prompted the theft but noted AARCS has a pet food assistance program and said right now, there is high demand for help.
“I believe the number in September was somewhere around 500 animals,” she said of the number of pets AARCS is helping to feed. “I think it’s the reality of the world right now, is that people are struggling.”
Shelters across Alberta have been overwhelmed with surrenders and strays in recent years, prompting requests for donations, foster volunteers and families to adopt.
AARCS has shelters in Calgary and Edmonton and provides all necessary supplies, including food, bedding and medical care, for foster families.