Second Chance Animal Rescue Society

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society, commonly known as SCARS, is a registered nonprofit animal rescue organization based in Alberta, Canada. Its work is concentrated in northern Alberta, with activities associated with Edmonton, Morinville, and Athabasca. The organization rescues dogs and cats, including animals found in remote communities, and prepares them for adoption through foster care and shelter-based placement. SCARS was co-founded by Sylvia Christiansen and Jan Pysyk in 2002. The organization emerged from their efforts to help dogs in remote northern Alberta communities, where animals could face limited access to veterinary care, shelter, and permanent homes. During its first year, SCARS assisted approximately 70 dogs. By 2025, the organization was reported to have helped approximately 2,000 dogs and cats, supported by around 400 volunteers and 120 foster homes. Its operating model combines rescue, temporary care, veterinary treatment, and adoption. When possible, rescued animals are placed with foster families, allowing them to receive individualized care in a home environment. Animals may also be housed at the organization's shelter in Morinville. Before adoption, SCARS provides essential medical preparation, including vaccinations, microchipping, and sterilization through spaying or neutering. These measures support animal welfare while also helping adopters receive animals that have undergone basic preventive and identification procedures. SCARS is not a conventional consumer brand or commercial product company. Its public-facing identity is built around animal welfare, responsible adoption, volunteer participation, foster care, and community rescue. Its services connect donors, volunteers, foster homes, adopters, and local communities with animals needing intervention. The organization's focus on northern Alberta gives it a regional rather than international operating profile, while its use of foster networks allows it to respond across a geographically dispersed service area. The society's principal offerings are rescue and rehoming services for dogs and cats, adoption opportunities, foster placements, and associated veterinary preparation. Its work also reflects the practical needs of rural and remote communities, where animal rescue may require transport, temporary accommodation, coordinated volunteer support, and access to veterinary services. Available reference material does not identify a commercial parent company, public listing, stock ticker, or corporate owner. SCARS remains an active nonprofit organization.

Second Chance Animal Rescue Society was established in Alberta in 2002 by Sylvia Christiansen and Jan Pysyk. The founders began by rescuing dogs found in remote communities in northern Alberta, where access to animal-care resources could be limited. Their initial work developed into a formal nonprofit rescue organization serving communities across the northern part of the province. SCARS assisted approximately 70 dogs during its first year. Over time, its activities expanded from individual rescue efforts into a broader system involving animal intake, temporary care, veterinary preparation, foster homes, shelter operations, volunteer coordination, and adoption placement. The organization's geographic base and activities became associated with Edmonton, Morinville, and Athabasca, while its service area remained focused on northern Alberta. A central feature of the SCARS model is the use of foster settings whenever feasible. Foster homes provide rescued animals with temporary accommodation and individualized observation while the organization arranges medical care and evaluates adoption prospects. Animals may also be cared for at the SCARS shelter in Morinville. Before placement, dogs and cats receive routine preparation intended to support their health and identification, including vaccinations, microchipping, and spaying or neutering. The organization has grown substantially from its first-year activity. Reference material reports that SCARS had helped approximately 2,000 dogs and cats by 2025. This work was supported by approximately 400 volunteers and 120 foster homes, indicating an operating structure that depends heavily on community participation rather than a purely centralized shelter model. SCARS's history is therefore defined by the expansion of a local rescue initiative into a regional animal-welfare network. Its continuing activities combine direct rescue with foster care, shelter care, veterinary intervention, and adoption. The available reference material does not provide a detailed chronology of leadership changes, financial results, major campaigns, or organizational restructuring. It also does not establish a commercial parent, owner, or publicly traded status.

• 2025

  Reported scale of service

  [1]Second Chance Animal Rescue Societyen.wikipedia.org

  By 2025, the organization was reported to have helped approximately 2,000 dogs and cats, with support from about 400 volunteers and 120 foster homes.

• 2002

  Organization founded

  [1]Second Chance Animal Rescue Societyen.wikipedia.org

  Sylvia Christiansen and Jan Pysyk co-founded Second Chance Animal Rescue Society after beginning rescue work involving dogs in remote northern Alberta communities.

• 2002

  First-year rescue activity

  [1]Second Chance Animal Rescue Societyen.wikipedia.org

  SCARS helped approximately 70 dogs during its first year of operation.

A regional, volunteer-supported animal rescue organization focused on rescuing dogs and cats in northern Alberta and moving them into foster care, shelter care, and permanent adoptive homes.

• Animal rescue service · 2002

  Dog rescue and adoption

  SCARS rescues dogs, including animals from remote communities in northern Alberta, and works to place them in foster care, shelter care, and permanent adoptive homes. The placement process is supported by veterinary care and basic adoption preparation.

• Animal rescue service

  Cat rescue and adoption

  The organization also rescues cats and coordinates temporary care and adoption placement. Cats may be supported through foster homes or shelter facilities while receiving the care needed before adoption.

• Animal welfare support service

  Foster-care network

  Foster homes provide temporary, home-based care for rescued animals when suitable placement is available. This network enables SCARS to serve animals beyond the capacity of a single shelter and gives animals individualized attention while adoption arrangements are made.

• Veterinary support

  Pre-adoption veterinary preparation

  Before adoption, rescued animals receive medical preparation that includes vaccinations, microchipping, and spaying or neutering. These interventions are intended to improve animal welfare, support identification, and promote responsible ownership.

1. 1Second Chance Animal Rescue Societyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Second Chance Animal Rescue Society official websitescarscare.org