The Edmonton Humane Society has won a national award for "leading edge" work in pet adoptions. The award was announced at the Annual Summit for Urban Animal Strategies held in Lake Louise. The EHS was nominated because of the significant increase in adoptions over the last few years.

The society was also recognized for the services it offers over and above adoption, such as spaying or neutering, micro-chipping and medical pet insurance. The EHS hopes the award will encourage pet lovers to adopt animals from shelters.

“Hopefully more and more people will continue to spread the word about great value adopting from a shelter instead of going online or to pet stores that sell pets and getting caught up in that situation where you're really adding to the over pet population problem,” said Shawna Randolph, EHS spokesperson.

The Humane Society was also recognized for reducing animal stress in its facility including soothing music in all areas of the building open to the animals.