About the Northern Alberta Society for Animal Protection

HISTORY

NASAP was incorporated as a Non-Profit Society in the Province of Alberta in 1998. It became a registered Canadian Charity in that same year. NASAP has been completely volunteer driven for the length of its operation. Financial support is garnered only through public donations, fundraising activities, and minimal grants.

NASAP's growth:

Number of Animals per year
• Year 1 (1999): 53
• Year 2 (2000): 129
• Year 3 (2001): 459
• Year 4 (2002): 534
• Year 5 (2003): 777
• Year 6 (2004): 974
• Year 7 (2005): 618 *
• Year 8 (2006): 449 *
• Year 9 (2007): 492 *
• Year 10 (2008): 392*
• Year 11 (2009): 222*
• Year 12 (2010): 256*
* declining numbers from 2005 through 2010 are due to a lack of foster homes and volunteers and the economic downturn, can you please help?

NASAP is proud of its rate of progress, but also concerned. With responsible pet ownership including spay/neuter of all pets, we hope the upward trend in the number of animals needing help will soon level off and eventually begin a downward spiral.

ABOUT US

Our Mission Statement:

NASAP exists for 2 basic reasons:

• To provide a solution to the problem of homeless and unwanted animals in the Northern Alberta area, thus working towards the long term goal of reducing the practice of euthanasia as a means of controlling the pet population.
• To assist wherever possible in the education of the public and government bodies regarding the importance of spaying and neutering household pets as a main ingredient in the progress towards the goal of controlling the pet population.

NASAP leases a small commercial space for storage only. We do not have any kind of a kenneling facility. Instead we use a network of private foster homes to care for our animals while we search for suitable permanent homes for them. Our foster homes treat these animals as their own pets and make them part of the family and the household routine. The animals are given training in basic house manners, and they are provided with any required medical treatments while they are in foster care. Our foster families get to know these pets while they are caring for them. They become knowledgeable about such things as whether or not a pet is good with other animals and children, if the pet would be happiest in a rural or urban home, and if the pet has any fears or behavioral traits which a new home should be aware of.

Many of the animals who come into our care are surrendered by local area pounds. These animals are considered adoptable, but without the aid of a rescue group such as NASAP, they would likely face euthanasia. Some animals are personally surrendered by people who find themselves in circumstances where they are unable to keep a beloved pet.

Frequently we will take advantage of retail space offered to us for the display and promotion of the animals we have in care. For example, many of our dogs and cats can be viewed at our monthly adoption days at Sadie's K9 Stay and Play on Argyll Rd. (South side of Edmonton) as well as at many other Edmonton area pet supply retail stores (please check the events page for the dates of upcoming adoption days).

NASAP strives to ensure that all adoptable pets we take in will remain in our fostering system until an acceptable permanent home is found for them. Under all circumstances if an adoptive home does not work out for one of our animals, we encourage return of the animal to NASAP's fostering program. Euthanasia is used only when advised by a veterinarian, typically due to serious injury, grave illness, or behavioral issues which pose a threat to human safety. The decision to euthanize an animal must be approved by the Board of Directors in consultation with the participating veterinarian.

NASAP is a non-militant, non-partisan, non-political organization that concerns itself exclusively with the welfare of homeless animals in the northern Alberta area. We cooperate as often as possible with other animal rescue agencies in this quest. We promote responsible pet ownership and we insist on spay/neuter of the animals we help. We have no jurisdiction to investigate animal abuse or neglect; however we do observe an obligation to report such information to the proper authorities.

Our animal intake is completely dependent upon suitable foster space being available. We reserve the right to refuse any adoption or surrender request. Any opinion expressed by one of our volunteers is not necessarily reflective of the policies or practices of the Society as a whole.

Surrendering Your Animal to NASAP:

NASAP as an animal rescue organization does take in owner surrendered animals when there is space to do so. Priority is given to pound animals as they are out of time and/or have nowhere else to go. Please note that this may mean your request to surrender your animal will have to be placed on a waiting list until space becomes available.

Surrender fees for pets being relinquished by their owners are as follows:

Altered Dogs: $100.00
Unaltered Dogs: $150.00
Altered Cats: $75.00
Unaltered Cats: $125.00

NASAP is able to accept a maximum of one litter of puppies or kittens from any one location/person. Surrender fees for litters will be negotiated upon acceptance of the litter into NASAP's care.

Please remember that NASAP is an organization of VOLUNTEERS committed to caring for unwanted animals and upkeep of said animals, including the surrendered pets, is very expensive. The surrender fees help to offset the cost of caring for these pets until another home is found, which may take months or even years.

In order to surrender your pet, you must contact NASAP and include the following information:

-Your name, address, contact information (phone numbers, email addresses) and the reason you are surrendering the animal(s).
-What type of animal(s) you wish to surrender and their vital information: species and breed, sex, age, spayed or neutered, declawed?
-A description of their current environment and any idiosyncrasies they may have (e.g., lives with small kids, does not like cats, afraid of trucks, requires special diet, etc...).
-You will also be asked to supply vet records for the pet(s) you are surrendering.
-All of the pet's supplies are requested to come with the animal upon surrender, to make the transition easier for the pet.

A NASAP representative will discuss the surrender with you and may request to meet the pet(s) prior to making a decision. Be aware that NASAP has the right to refuse a surrendered animal at any time during the surrender process. If your pet is accepted into care, a surrender form will be completed and signed by the person surrendering the animal severing all claims of ownership to said animal. No individual wanting to surrender their pet will be permitted to foster that pet until a home can be found. An animal being accepted into NASAP's care must be fully and completely surrendered to NASAP.

PLEASE NOTE THAT AT NO TIME AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CAN NASAP ACCEPT INTO CARE AN ANIMAL THAT HAS SHOWN AGGRESSION TOWARD ANY HUMAN BEING. ANY ANIMAL THAT HAS BITTEN A HUMAN BEING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

To submit your surrender request please click the surrender link on the "Contact Us" page and fill out the online questionnaire as completely as possible.