New hospital for stray animals opens in Calgary

Have you ever seen a stray animal and hoped it would end up somewhere safe? That’s the aim of a new facility which opened today.On Saturday, the Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) officially opened the AARCS Safe Haven and Veterinary Hospital.According to AARCS, the animal hospital is designed specifically to help homeless, abandoned and abused animals that are rescued by AARCS, and will not be open to the public.At the hospital, animals that require medical attention are treated before being placed for adoption. The facility has two operating rooms and is also equipped with x-ray and dental machines.The society’s mission is to ensure thousands of homeless animals will get the care they need. However, the organization said they wouldn’t be able to provide this service without the support of over 1,000 volunteers province-wide.“We are eternally grateful for the support received for this project from animal lovers across the province,” said AARCS executive director Deanna Thompson. “With veterinary costs being our top expense, we will be able to reduce our costs dramatically, allowing us to help even more animals in need.”Last year, AARCS said they took in over 3,000 animals, many requiring extensive medical care.Thompson joined NewsTalk 770 host Danielle Smith on Friday morning to talk about the new facility. Hear the full interview below:Click here to view