Nearly 100 dogs rescued from a Fort McMurray home

Bylaw officers in Fort McMurray, northern Alberta, executed a search warrant and seized 97 small-breed dogs from a home on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The rescue is being called one of the largest the community has witnessed.

The dogs were found living inside the residence and have all been safely removed. Charges are pending against a person who was present at the home. The animals have since been placed in the care of the Fort McMurray SPCA.

The Fort McMurray SPCA posted on Facebook that while they understand the public's curiosity, allowing immediate visits would add stress to the animals and make it difficult for their team to focus on settling and caring for the 97 dogs. They stated they will inform the public when the animals are ready for adoption.

The municipality noted that each dog requires a medical examination, which may include vaccinations and spaying or neutering. It could take several months before the animals are ready to be placed in new homes. The municipality also urged residents to report any animal welfare concerns and advised pet owners struggling with care to consider rehoming, offering assistance through bylaw services if necessary.

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We understand that everyone is curious and wants to see the new arrivals. But allowing people to come in and visit right now would add additional stress and make it much more difficult for our team to focus on getting 97 animals safely settled and cared for.