Arizona Animal Welfare League & The Arizona Pet Project Partner to Keep Pet Families Together

Phoenix Shelters Are Seeing an Influx of Surrenders Due to Rising Costs and Affordable Housing

PHOENIX – Two local animal welfare organizations are joining forces to reverse the disturbing trend, resulting in more animals being surrendered to shelters because of a lack of affordable housing, job losses, and other economic hardships that make life harder for pets and the people who love them. The groups, the Arizona Animal Welfare League and The Arizona Pet Project, are partnering by hiring a social worker to help field calls from pet owners seeking to surrender their pets.

“Our hope is that with additional 1:1 support from a trained social worker who listens and understands how to work with people going through trauma and crisis in their lives, we will be able to meet people where they are and provide them with resources both temporary and long-term to keep their beloved pets with them and out of the shelter system altogether,” said Leanna Taylor, CEO of AZ Pet Project, which launched one of the country’s first shelter diversion programs nationwide in 2015 onsite at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. Over the past 7 years, AZ Pet Project has expanded its program, which now includes five social workers who support animal welfare and human service agencies across the State of Arizona and has served over 30,000 families in crisis with pets.

AAWL is now the third shelter AZ Pet Project is working with as part of its long-term goal of expanding shelter diversion programs statewide. The collaborative efforts are made possible thanks to a $1.5 million grant from Governor Ducey earmarked specifically to help people who are struggling with housing insecurity and homelessness issues through temporary boarding, housing assistance, urgent veterinary care, case management, pet food, supplies, and by providing guidance regarding wraparound services.

“Day in and day out, pet owners come to us, crying in our lobby because they are heartbroken about having to surrender their pets because of evictions or the loss of a job or because they can’t afford veterinary care,” said Alessandra Navidad, President/CEO of AAWL. “We are overwhelmed with the number of requests, and historically, our focus has been on trying to create kennel space to accommodate those owner/surrender requests. But the solution isn’t to separate these families. That is traumatizing for both the animal and the pet owner. The solution is to figure out how to help pet owners overcome those barriers, so the animal stays in the home, where they’ll be healthier and happier.”

As part of this collaborative effort, a caseworker will be working at the AAWL shelter three days a week, reviewing applications for owner/surrender and initially prioritizing reaching out to pet owners who are surrendering because of housing issues. AAWL will connect pet owners with vet and behavior care.

“There is so much need right now in animal welfare, and resources are limited, so we must be strategic about collaborating to avoid duplication and focus on our respective areas of expertise. This collaboration is a win-win because it leverages AZ Pet Project’s long-time relationships with human service providers where they can receive more guidance on how to access safe shelter, medical, mental health, and substance use treatment, rent and utility assistance, food banks, etc., and connects pet owners with existing AAWL community programs such as our behavior hotline, dog training, and community vet clinic,” added Navidad.

About Arizona Animal Welfare League

The Arizona Animal Welfare League is the oldest and largest no-kill shelter in the state. Founded in 1971, AAWL has saved the lives of over 100,000 cats and dogs by providing a full range of services for animals and pet owners, including adoptions, behavior training and low-cost medical care. These life-saving programs are only possible because of the dedicated AAWL community, who support the shelter through volunteering, adopting, fostering, and donating. For more information, visit aawl.org.

About The Arizona Pet Project

The Arizona Pet Project is on a mission to create a safer and healthier community for all people and pets by bridging the gap between animal welfare and human services. Founded in 2001, The Arizona Pet Project hired Arizona’s first social worker dedicated to supporting people in crisis with pets, and the team has now grown to include five social workers, and two outreach specialists focused on AZ’s unhoused and Spanish-speaking community members. The Arizona Pet Project is grateful to its compassionate community members, who understand the human-animal bond should be protected, especially for our most vulnerable and at-risk neighbours. For more information, visit azpetproject.org.

November is Adopt a Senior Month

Age is Just a Number, Here’s Four Reasons Why You Should Consider Adopting a Senior Pet

Many older cats and dogs tend to spend more time in shelters waiting for their forever home compared to their younger furry friends. Most people come to the shelter wanting to adopt puppies, kittens, or young adult dogs and cats. According to the ASPCA, senior dogs, for example, have a 25% adoption rate, compared to the 60% adoption rate of younger dogs and puppies.

Potential adopters often look at a senior pet’s age or their wispy looks and assume they are too old to be a good companion, which is simply not true. In honor of National Adopt a Senior Pet month, I want to share four reasons why you should consider adopting a senior pet at your local shelter.

Age Comes with Experience

Senior pets often already have years of experience on how to be a good roommate, so you don’t have to worry about leaving them alone and coming home to a mess. Most older pets are potty-trained and have already mastered basic commands, which means you don’t need to teach them not to destroy your furniture or to let you know when they need to go outside.

If you have a busy schedule or don’t have the time to train a younger pet, a senior pet can have all the joys of being a pet owner without all the added responsibility of training! But that doesn’t mean you can’t teach an old dog or cat new tricks – senior pets are still receptive to learning new skills.

Established Personality

Older pets have had years to develop their own personality and quirks, so when you meet them, you will have an immediate idea if they match your household and lifestyle. Now this doesn’t mean all senior pets have the same behaviors and personality just because they are older.

A pet’s age has nothing to do with their individuality or what activities they may like. A ten-year-old dog may still love daily walks or enjoy playing with other dogs. Or an older cat may still like to play with her toys and run laps around her home!

Instant Friendship

Senior pets have so much love left to give and are so excited to be able to share it with you! It can be difficult for some pets to adjust to losing their homes, and older pets know what they’re missing when they end up at a shelter.

They know what it feels like to have a warm bed and family to call their own, so when they are given that opportunity to again, they want to show how thankful they are to their new family.

Save a Life

Adopting a senior pet will make you feel good! It’s a special feeling when you know you gave a homeless pet a safe place to call home and somewhere to live out their golden years. Plus, you’re helping make room at the shelter for them to save another life!

If you’ve been thinking about adding a four-legged family member to your home, I ask you to consider adopting an older cat or dog. I want you to look past a pet’s age and learn just how special they are, and how grateful they will be when you make them yours. Together, we can work to make sure every pet has a family to call their own.

Here’s a few of our seniors who are looking for their forever homes:

Halloween Safety – Tips or Treat

The holiday season is upon us, and the festivities have already begun! From decorating your home, finding the perfect costume, and stocking up on candy for trick or treaters, it’s a great time of the year!

Halloween is right around the corner which means lots of big round eyes will be begging for your candy and snacks! But before giving in to your furry friend’s plea, make sure those candies, snacks, leftovers, etc. are safe for your pets.

The biggest offender being chocolates. Chocolates are the sweetest and yummiest candy you can have, but to your pets it’s the complete opposite. Chocolate is quite dangerous for your furry friends, doesn’t matter if it’s white, milk, dark, baking chips, anyway it’s made it’s very dangerous for both cats and dogs. Chocolate contains natural chemicals that are harder for dogs to metabolize which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, racing heart rate, panting, excessive urination, or restlessness. The best thing you can do is keep chocolate away from your pets in an area that’s completely out of reach. This could be a pantry, closed cabinet, or anywhere they simply can’t grab it.

Another Halloween favorite to keep an eye on are sugar-free candies. Sugar-free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. Even in small amounts it can be deadly to dogs. Best rule of thumb, no human candies for your pets! But a special ghost shaped pet treat that most likely smells like chicken or peanut butter? Yes, please!

If you’re like us, you want to dress up your furbaby in the cutest, spookiest, or funniest Halloween costume and that’s ok! Just make sure to keep your furbaby’s personality in mind when picking a costume. If they tend to be anxious or can’t stand having anything besides a collar on them, a festive bandana could be the way to go! If they are okay with a more elaborate costume, make sure it’s lightweight and easy to remove in case it gets caught in anything. Also, ensure it does not impair their vision or movement.

If you want to take your dog with you trick or treating, make sure you know your dog is comfortable with loud noises and large crowds. And always, always, always have them secured on a leash with an up-to-date ID collar and microchip information if anything were to happen. But if you’re thinking about staying at home and giving out candies, that’s a fun idea too! If your dog gets worked up from the doorbell or knocking at the door, try finding a spot in your driveway or patio for you to sit and distribute candy. It’s a fun time for all!

All summed up, as a human enjoy the never-ending chocolates and candies, but as a four-legged-cutie steer far and clear from these dangerous snacks. And whether you’re staying at home with your furbaby or responsibly trick or treating, make this Halloween a safe and memorable one! Happy spooky season to all!

Spooky Season Is Upon Us – The Turkey Hat Mystery

Spooky Season is upon us, and our furry residents have already started getting into the spirit! This week’s adventures include mummies, witches, demons, and a couple pumpkins! We’ve told our residents that it’s still September but they’re so excited for fall weather to start they couldn’t help themselves. They were hoping this spooky energy would summon some chilly weather for us all.

The day began with a trunk full of costumes and a group of sneaky cats and dogs, combining forces to make this venture possible. One of our residents, Ears, kept watch. After all, he’s got the best ears in town. Next, Shaggy took on the ordeal of jumping high and low to make it to the trunk and grab everyone’s costumes. Suddenly, Ears heard footsteps approaching… the humans were coming! Shaggy had to work fast, make executive decisions, and came back out before anyone could detect they were missing. Decisions were made under harsh pressure, thus a turkey hat was taken out. Shaggy must have known it couldn’t possibly fit a cat, but he still to this day denies the allegations that he purposely picked it out for the dogs.

The dogs argued between themselves over who would wear the silly turkey hat. Would it be Sammy? Sammy said absolutely not! What about Shawna? Shawna confidently stated she’s already wearing the silly Frankenstein costume. Or Frederick? Frederick reminded everyone they should be grateful he even showed up today. Finally, they all turned to Sycamore. Of course! Who better than the 6-month-old puppy to wear a turkey hat? Sycamore was just happy to be there!

In the corner you could see all the cats giggling and pointing at the dogs. That was until it was time for them to put on their costumes. A spider? A pumpkin for Pumpkin? Sunflower for Sunflower? They did not enjoy the irony behind it. But alas, the chilly weather had to be invoked one way or another!

Sammy brought out the camera and started snapping shots of everyone! The dogs were happy to pose in the yard, getting in some sunshine, grass, and the occasional pee break. The cats however were a bit higher maintenance and decided to put together a backdrop and photo room. If it had to live forever in photo they might as well look fabulous doing so. After a long day, everyone went back to their rooms and slept soundly for the night. The plan the next day was to send out the photos to the furry residents and keep it between themselves.

But the next morning there was a shift in the air, the photos appeared in a Google Drive for us, the humans, to see. How could that be? Rumor has it Sycamore went back for the camera and sent them out anonymously. Others say it was Shaggy’s plan all along. We’ve even heard whispers that Ears is a double agent for the humans. We’re not sure what happened, but what we do know is they all look too adorable for it to be kept a secret!

Guess we’ll never know what happened that cool night in fall…

Cobweb’s Special Day – It’s a Waterful Life

Cobweb is one of our beloved kiddos here at AAWL! So much so that he got his very own special day! That’s right, we declared September 1^st All About Cobweb Day. Make sure to jot that down in your calendar. The day began bright and early at 7am when Cobweb was awoken from his slumber. Well actually, he was already wide awake and was so excited to see his favorite people with leash in hand and ready to go on a walk… or so he thought. Was this Disneyland he was going to? Even better, dock diving for dogs!

The drive was well worth it because among immediate arrival Cobweb got the zoomies! He knew what he was there for and could see the pool, waiting for him to jump in. He’s already been dock diving prior and he’s absolutely loved every minute of it! It’s been a while for him, so it took him exactly one jump to get back into the groove of things and off to the races he went!

There was an indescribable beam of light radiating off him the entire time he was there. He’d jump over and over again fetching a toy that was thrown in, and even went rogue at one point simply swimming around the pool. No worries, no stress, nothing to think about for him besides how far he’s going to jump next time. This was peak happiness for Cobweb, his favorite AAWL people all together watching him jump in and out of the pool, what more could he ask for?

After approximately 17 jumps into the water, Cobweb officially had spaghetti legs! His heart told him he wanted to keep swimming, but his little body was wiped out! He didn’t care, he was too happy to feel how tired he was. He could’ve kept going but it was time to go home. But not before he sneakily got in one last solo jump and did a lap around the pool! And even closing off the dock didn’t stop him from expressing how excited he was, he zoomied all over the open yard. He couldn’t contain his delight!

Once Cobweb was all dried up, he hopped back into the truck and instantly laid down to rest his eyes, of course. He took a long, well-deserved nap all the way back to the shelter. He couldn’t wait to tell all his friends at AAWL about his special day!

Currently Cobweb is looking for a forever home to call his own. He’s been searching high and low for that special person to take him home. He’d make you the happiest person on earth with his loving personality and he’s ready in an instance notice for any adventure! Cobweb has so much to offer that he’d be best as your one and only!

Think you’re the missing piece to Cobweb’s puzzle? Come meet him at our main shelter (25 N. 40^th St.)

AAWL Partners with PetSmart Charities to Address Lack of Accessible Vet Care

The Arizona Animal Welfare League has received a grant from PetSmart Charities® in the amount of $120,000 to address challenges in accessing veterinary care in identified Latino communities in Central City and East Maryvale.

Rising costs combined with geographical and cultural barriers have left many communities out of the veterinary care system altogether. This grant program supports innovative and culturally relevant veterinary programs.

Early in 2023, PetSmart Charities, the top funder of animal welfare in the US, announced a $100 million commitment over the next five years toward improving access to veterinary care. One of these visionary new grant programs focuses on historically excluded communities, many of which lack access to food, housing, transportation, education and veterinary services. Latino communities were selected to comprise the first cohort of grantee emphasis.

“If we’re truly going to improve the health outcomes of pets and stop the vicious cycle of animal sheltering, we must do more to better serve Latino pet owners and deliver services in ways that respects the cultural diversity of pet owners living and working in Phoenix’s communities,” said Alessandra Navidad, president and CEO of the Arizona Animal Welfare League.

While 70% of American homes feature pets, access to basic veterinary services has not kept pace. This is particularly felt in communities that have additional barriers beyond cost, including language barriers and a lack of veterinary clinics in the vicinity. While 62% of Latino house-holds own pets, accessing resources to keep them healthy and in their homes can be challenging.

Instead of taking pre-planned solutions into selected communities, grantees will build relationships and assess specific needs, first. This ensures that communities that have been left out are deliberately included in deciding how and when they will access the healthcare they need for their pets.

“Most people today consider pets family, yet 50 million pets in the US struggle to access even basic preventative care such as spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations and annual exams,” said Kate Atema, director of community grants and initiatives at PetSmart Charities. “While this issue affects families in nearly every community, those who have been historically excluded from human social services are most in need of pet services, too. We’re proud to support this innovative approach that meets the unique needs identified by those living in the communities themselves.”

PetSmart Charities partnered with AAWL in 2022 to fund a community needs assessment that surveyed over 600 pet owners, including 448 Latino pet owners living in these zip codes – 85034, 85006, 85008 and 85009. The bi-lingual survey from 2022 showed that 50% of pet owners struggled to pay for basic needs, and faced barriers with vaccine availability, veterinary access and limited pet healthcare access.

This partnership will continue in 2023, allowing AAWL to further engage in 85009 in East Maryvale, which was one of the zip codes with the highest needs.

This community-centered approach is intended to continue soliciting input directly from Latino pet owners to develop a plan that helps AAWL realign its veterinary services to better meet the needs of community members like Sonia, who has four dogs and lives in the community.

“I really like animals,” said Sonia. “I’m very sensitive when it comes to them.” Having always expressed a lot of love and empathy for animals, Sonia is drawn to helping whenever she can. When available, Sonia spends her time speaking with pet owners who primarily speak Spanish. She understands how hard it is for Latino community members to find services that are accessible. Oftentimes, she finds that locations are too far, appointments are too long, or there are issues with language barriers that discourage owners from bringing their pets in.

AAWL: Our Rebrand Story

As our organization continues to expand our life-saving programs and grow our presence throughout Arizona, we wanted to make sure our brand reflects who we are and all we hope to accomplish in the future.

Our organization has evolved over the years, but our commitment to saving the lives of cats and dogs has remained the same. Since 1971, AAWL has been a safe haven for animals throughout Arizona. It is who we are at our core, and it’s time that our brand truly reflects how our team members, volunteers, adopters, and all our supporters feel when they think about AAWL.

Our new logo symbolizes feelings of warmth, love, and stability, and centers around the outline of a cat and dog who look toward the name that represents the people who care for them not only on a temporary basis but for their entire lives – highlighting the important commitment that AAWL makes to each animal that comes through our shelter: you have a home here no matter what. The year depicts AAWL’s history as Arizona’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter while the modern design represents the future ahead.

A future where we achieve our vision of a No-Kill Arizona that provides compassionate care for animals and the people who love them.

As part of our new five-year strategic plan, we’re striving to become more inclusive and welcoming by better-serving pet owners from underserved communities and helping keep animals with their pet families and out of the shelter system altogether – where no pet owner ever has to make the difficult decision to surrender an animal because they can’t afford vet care or behavior support.

Learn More About Our Vision for the Future Here

Keep Your Pet Safe this Fourth of July

Fireworks may be a fun celebration for us, but they can cause severe anxiety for our pets and can cause them to flee in terror from their homes. Between July 4 and July 6, more pets are lost than any other time of year and local shelters are overwhelmed with the strays entering their doors.

Luckily, there are some precautions that you can take to keep your pets safe during the upcoming holiday weekend:

Plan Ahead

Exercising your pet is a great way to reduce their anxiety by the time fireworks start. Pet owners should research when their neighborhood will have fireworks events and plan to exercise them hours before. Walks or a game of fetch isn’t the only way to exercise your pup, you can also plan some brain puzzles for them to help tire them out before night fall.

Update Their IDS

Make sure to double check that your information on your pet’s ID tag and microchip is up to date in case they get separated from you.

A microchip is a permanent form of identification for your dog or cat that is embedded under your pet’s skin. It stores a unique code that can be scanned by animal shelters or vet offices to pull up your contact info, which makes it easier for you to be reunited with your pet in case they become lost. You just want to make sure that you keep your contact information up to date!

If your pet isn’t microchipped, it’s a very quick procedure that takes less than 30 seconds and will last the lifetime of the animal. The procedure is virtually painless for your pet and can be accomplished through a quick visit with your vet.

Create a Relaxation Zone

Help your pet destress during the fireworks by creating a dark and quiet space for them to get away from the noise. You can also try to minimize the noise by running a fan, a white noise machine, a tv, or radio.

If you know your pet tends to be anxious around loud noise, you might want to invest in a ThunderShirt for your dog or cat, which applies gentle, constant pressure to help calm anxiety. Or talk to your vet about possible medications to help ease their anxiety during these stressful times.

Keep Them Secure

Pets become lost when they try to escape the loud noise of the fireworks, so it’s important to keep pets inside as much as possible during the Fourth of July. You want to make sure that your gates are secured and there are no holes that your pet can get through in your backyard.

It’s also best to keep your dog on a leash when they need to go outside, even in a fenced yard, so they don’t run and hide because of the loud noise. Cats who are allowed to wander outside should be kept inside to keep them safe and secure during the holiday weekend.

If you are having guests come and go from your home, you should keep your pets secure in a another room or behind a gate, so they don’t slide through the open door while trying to find a good place to hide.

If you take these simple precautions, you are not only protecting your pet, but you are also helping limit the burden to local shelters who are already overwhelmed with animals in need.

Water Safety – Keep Your Dog Safe this Summer

The triple digits are upon us, which means many of us will be trying to keep cool and spending more time by the pool or at the lake. All of us know we must be mindful of our kids when they are around water, especially if we have a pool in our backyard. Just leaving them alone for a matter of seconds can lead to devastating consequences, but did you know our pets can be at risk too?

If you have a backyard pool or want to take your dog out to the lake, here are some important water safety tips to ensure you keep your pets safe in and around water this summer.

Never Leave Your Dog Alone in Water

You might think that if your dog fell in the pool that they would be able to get themselves out, but that’s not usually the case. You should never let your dog near your pool if you aren’t outside with them.

If you have a doggie door, you should make sure that your pool is secured behind a fence and that your dog doesn’t have access to it. Otherwise, your dog may fall into the pool when you aren’t outside or even home, and they may not know how to get out on their own.

Practice is Important

If you have a pool in your backyard, you need to show your dog how to get out of the pool using the steps. You should practice getting out of the pool together until your dog learns how to get out on their own. This way if they fall in accidentally, then they will have a better chance of getting out safely.

If you want to teach your dog how to swim and enjoy the pool, you want to mindful of your dog’s breed and age because some breeds are more natural born swimmers than others. Dogs with short snouts like bulldogs or dogs with short legs like dachshunds, will have a harder time keeping themselves above water, so exercise extreme caution when they are near water.

Make sure to start small and to always be in the water with your dog when they are swimming, and never force them into the water if they don’t want to go in.

Make the Investment

If your dog will be around water often, either near a pool or on a boat on a lake, it might be worth investing in a life vest for your dog, so you can ensure that they won’t go under water if they fall in accidentally or if they tire easily.

It’s also a great idea to learn dog CPR, so that you are prepared in case anything happens. The Red Cross offers an online cat and dog first aid class, which includes how to perform CPR on your cat or dog.

Keep Your Dog Healthy

Even if your pup is a strong swimmer, you need to make sure you are keeping a close eye on them in the water. Don’t let them drink the pool or lake water, to prevent them from ingesting chemicals or parasites.

You also want to rinse them down after they have been in the water and dry their ears after to prevent irritation or an infection.

These are just a few things to keep in mind as you enjoy this season with your pup. It can be quite entertaining to watch your dog play in water, but it’s important to do it safely!

The New Year Could Mean a New Adventure – Become a Foster with AAWL

The New Year Could Mean a New Adventure

Becoming a foster with the Arizona Animal Welfare League could be your next big adventure this year. As our organization continues to grow and take in more vulnerable animals, we need more dedicated foster families to help care for them until they are ready to find their forever home!

Here’s why you should consider offering your home, time, and heart to an animal in need by becoming a foster with AAWL:

Give a Homeless Pet a Much-Needed Break from Shelter Life

Fostering gives us the opportunity to learn more about each animal so we can find the perfect family for them.

Find Out If You’re Ready to Adopt a New Family Member

Are you not sure if you are ready to add a pet to your household? Fostering is a great way to find out if you are ready to adopt a pet.

Temporary Commitment with High Rewards

Fostering might be a short-term commitment, but it will be an adventure that you will remember for a lifetime.

Endless Supply of Entertainment

Fostering can be a whole lot of fun, from taking your foster dog on walks or hikes around town or playing for hours with your foster kitten.

Foster One and Save Another

When you bring a pet home to foster you are creating space in our shelter for another life to be saved.

Still need a little more persuading? Take it from one of our dedicated fosters and their experience over the last 25 years fostering for AAWL:

I fostered my first dog in 1995. His name was Axl (left photo). He’d been at the shelter for a while and was starting to break down. He was plain-looking with no particular features that would make him stand out to potential adopters. Who knew that he was the best dog EVER! After a month or so in foster care, Axl decided to stay and spent the next 12 years with me being spoiled. He taught me so much about how to properly care for a dog. I think of him every day.

My current foster dog is Raja (right photo). She’s been at home with me for six months recovering from several medical issues. Though some days are a struggle for her – – and me – – there’s nothing better than seeing her have a good day and enjoy being a normal dog. She fits in great with my five other dogs and despite her health struggles seems truly happy. She is, in short, completely wonderful.

In between Axl and Raja, I’ve fostered more dogs and cats than I can count. Each is special, each is treated like family, and each touches my heart forever. Saying goodbye to a foster is difficult, but knowing they are in loving forever homes makes everything worthwhile. My life is richer beyond measure because of these little guys.

Whether you’re looking to add to the family, have some time to spare, or want to add some temporary excitement to your life, you can make a HUGE impact on the lives of homeless pets! Plus, AAWL supplies our foster families with everything they need to care for their temporary new family member, all you need to provide is the love.