Up close and personal with animals in Calgary
While Alberta is farm country, most Albertans live in cities and don’t spend much time with animals other than cats and dogs. Calgary has plenty of places where you can meet, greet and touch beautiful animals big and small.
Spruce Meadows Farms Ltd
18011 Spruce Medws WY SW GD Lcd 1, Calgary, AB T2P 2G8This is the place to visit if you love horses. An equestrian show-jumping facility, Spruce meadows features free admission and many free events and attractions. Tour the stables and watch the trainers put their horses through their exercises.
Calgary Zoological Society
1300 Zoo Rd Ne, Calgary, AB T2E 7V6Home to animals from around the world, the zoo is open year round. Its Karsten Discovery Centre features the daily Creature Feature program in which kids are introduced to the zoo’s unique and beautiful animals by knowledgeable zookeepers.
Butterfield Acres Petting Zoos
254077 Rocky Ridge Rd NW, Calgary, AB T3R 1A6A petting zoo and farm that's open all year, at Butterfield Acres you can get close to pigs, goats, chicks and many other animals. Kids will also enjoy tractor rides. Adult seasonal passes are good April through September.
Calgary Corn Maze & Fun Farm
284022 Township Road 224, Rocky View County, AB T1X 0J6This fun family facility features a petting zoo with miniature ponies and donkeys as well as goats, kittens, sheep, pigs, ducks, chickens and turkeys. Open seasonally during warm weather.
Cobb's Corn Maze
1500 84 St NE, Calgary, AB T2A 7X4Cobb’s features the Three Little Pigs Petting Zoo. Visit its three micro mini pigs — Babe, Wilbur and Kevin. Open July through October, you can purchase family season’s passes that also give you a 10 per cent discount on food and beverages.
Calgary Stampede
This world-famous annual event gives visitors a great opportunity to get up close and personal with farm animals. Featuring rodeo events and a variety of agricultural animal attractions, here you’ll get a chance to see the care and handling of horses, cows and other animals.
Calgary Humane Society
4455 110 Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2C 2T7The Calgary Humane Society does the important job of finding homes for neglected animals, and educates the public on proper pet care. Why not head into the CHS to give a little furry creature a forever home, or volunteer your time and services to help keep animals safe and happy?
Petland
3625 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB T3A 0E2This pet store chain carries pet food and pet-care accessories as well as plenty of aquarium fish, but also puppies, kittens, birds and small animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits. Many of these cuties are available for petting all day long at the Market Mall Petland location in its open-topped animal display area.
Pisces Pet Emporium
4921 Skyline Way NE, Calgary, AB T2E 4G5North America’s largest pet store, Pisces Pet Emporium in Calgary carries a wide range of animals, pet foods and pet care accessories. Pisces also offers tours to school groups and kids’ clubs. While children can ogle aquarium fish, tropical birds and marmosets, these fun and informative visits also allow kids to touch reptiles and various furry animals throughout the store.
