“Let’s Save One More.”

My name is Herman, and I was that “one more”. On Nov. 3^rd, you’re walking to give animals like me a second chance at life. From now until Nov. 3^rd, AAWL will give all funds raised for their Walk To Save Animals to their Medical Miracle Fund to help animals like me who need lifesaving medical care.

I’m 7 years old and have been battling glaucoma for years without any treatment. The pressure is so bad, people say it feels like the worst headache of your life that never ends. The pressure built so much that one of my eyes died, and now the other one is swollen and slowly dying.

When AAWL found me at a small rural rescue(who loved me, but couldn’t afford my medical care), they were loading up a lot of dogs to help them find homes in Phoenix. They saw me, an old cattle dog who can barely see with bulging, injured eyes and began calling their medical team, asking about how much money they have in their “Medical Miracle Fund.” They came back, sat with me and said, “Let’s save one more.” AAWL took me in and is now preparing for my surgery this week, giving me my life back.

I want other animals to be given the chance that I had, a second chance at life. Please sign up, donate, or raise money for the walk, because all week your donations will go directly to their Medical Miracle Fund to help animals like me every day. Please, let them save “one more.”

Register for the Walk To Save Animals HERE.

Six Survivors

Carrying them out of the truck, we realized this may be the longest time they had been outside their entire lives. As we unloaded the six puppy mill rescues from our partner, we knew they were in for a long road to recovery, but it was worth it so they could be free. Ranging from 10 years old to barely one, all six had lived in cages barely larger than their bodies, forced to stand on metal grating their whole life, never walking on the ground or even outside. Receiving no medical care and almost no human contact, our survivors were finally free to live the lives they deserved; as we have given the other 150+ puppy mill survivors we have rescued over the years.

The Arizona Animal Welfare League has fought for years against Puppy mills. In the last few years, we:

-Replaced a puppy mill store in Chandler Fashion Center and have adopted over 6k rescues since we have been open

-Worked with the City of Tempe for months as a resource to help draft anti-puppy mill store laws and provided testimony against puppy mills in the state

-Provided legal statements in support of the city of Phoenix in their fight against puppy mill stores

-Fought in the state legislature against representatives and senators supporting puppy mill stores

-Support anti-puppy mill groups at our Walk To Save Animals

-Spread awareness through media, on NBC, AZFamily, PBS, and more

-Work as a partner to help other rescues take in puppy mill survivors from National Mill Dog Rescue

-rescued over 150 puppy mill survivors

And we aren’t going to stop. Ever. We know the power of adopting can help shut down puppy mills. We know awareness to these cruel institutions will end their support. We know we can make a difference.

We still have 5 of our puppy mill survivors looking for their furever homes. Handsome poodles and mini aussies that deserve a life of love. And you can give it to them.

To learn more about adopting one of our puppy mill survivors, you can meet Honey bunches and Oats at our Chandller Mall Adoption Center or email our behavior manager at Edillon@aawl.org.

Want to help us provide medical care to our survivors, and animals like them? R egister for the Walk To Save Animals Today. All money raised for the Walk To Save Animals from Oct. 27th to Nov. 3rd will go to our Medical Miracle Fund to help animals who need above and beyond medical care.

Somebody To Love

I love you. I may never meet you, I may never lay with you on a comfy bed or lick your hand, but believe me when I say – I love you.

My name is Viola, and for ten years I lived a beautiful life. Toys, doggie friends, a family. I loved everyone I met, and they loved me. My body changed as I aged, as we do, but I refused to let what happened on the outside affect how I felt on the inside. When the growth grew over my eye and blocked my vision, I still loved. I could still feel the happy warmth of the sun as I lay in the grass, no matter how little I could see. When the Valley Fever took hold untreated, finding its way into the corners of my body, I still loved. It would not stop me from snuffling into your hand searching for a missed crumb before dinner. And finally, when the bump on my foot became more than a bump, and cancer became a dirty word in my home, I still loved. My swollen paw could still hold my favorite toy as I poked and prodded its well-worn squeaker.

When I was returned to AAWL after ten years – with the growth, the cancer, and Valley Fever – I learned to love even more. I loved the people who did not know me, but loved on me and my failing body. I loved the woman who held my hand as I fell asleep, waking to see clearer than I have for years, no growth blocking my site. I loved the man who sat in my kennel and hugged me the first time we met.

Because no matter how I may look or what ails my body – what the valley fever, what the cancer can never take away – is my love. That will always be mine.

I hope I can find somebody to love me as I love them. As they walk the buildings with treats and praises, as they bend down and greet bouncy puppies or shy but loving bullies, I hope they see past my gray muzzle, the scars around my eye, and a smile that I imagine has aged as well as the rest of me. I won’t measure my remaining time in days or months, but in the moments I share with those who love me, in times I rally my inner puppy during playgroups, in the gazes I share with new friends and potential families. I hope they see the love I can give for as long as I am with this world, for as long as I am with them.

No matter what, remember that I love you. Even if we never meet, never share a gaze, I love you.

Viola

Want to help pets like Viola all year long? Join our Monthly Giving Program!

AMAZING UPDATE: I have a new dad! He lost his senior dog a month before he met me, and he told me he wanted to give another senior dog the best years of their life. Now we are together, and my life is full of happiness and love.Thank you to everyone who helped share my story!

Black Dog Syndrome: Mysterious, but true!

Black Dog Syndrome: The mysterious, impossible to prove, totally true problem afflicting shelter dogs across the country.

You’ve seen them, or maybe you haven’t: The faces of black dogs through the kennel doors when you visit a shelter, but did you know there is a very good chance they will be at the shelter longer than other dogs simply because of their color? Black Dog Syndrome, or sometimes called “BBD” for “big Black Dog” is seen all across the country in shelters, but nobody knows why!

Black dogs have been historically portrayed as bad omens with the English and Scottish, long haul truckers, and even mentioned in the worldwide phenomenon Harry Potter Series(#justiceforSiriusBlack). Some believe they “disappear” in their kennel with their dark coloring, and people walk right past them. Others associate Black dogs as “scary” due to their use in movies and Hollywood as villains or aggressive. No matter why it happens, the color of their fur does not affect their temperament, their playfulness, or their capacity for love.

Studies have been done to try and prove “Black Dog Syndrome” is real, but come back inconclusive or that color is not affecting their adoption – but ask any adoption counselor or shelter worker. They will tell you even the sweetest BBD’s will languish in their shelter more than most. So, what do we do about it? Better photos, colorful bandannas, PSA’s to break stigmas? All of the above!

At AAWL, we know “Black Dog Syndrome” is affecting our dogs finding their families, so we are highlighting them for the weekend of June 15^th. We are tying colorful bandanas around their collars, featuring them all weekend on social media with awesome pictures, taking $100 off their adoption fees, and spreading the word that our dogs should be loved not because of the color of their fur, but by the love in their heart.

Stop by this weekend and meet some of our amazing “BBD’s”, we know you will see their color is only skin deep, but their amazing personalities shine through. Stop by and meet:

Shadrac: Our Big, Black floof cloud is a perfect couch companion for those long Netflix binges.

Keanu: Even the international movie star can’t hold a candle to our action packed, heart of gold handsome boy.

Ellie: You looking for that beach body? So is Ellie! Why hire a personal workout coach, when you can adopt one!

Osa: Our sassy senior is the perfect companion for anyone that takes themselves too seriously.

And many more! See all of our adoptable dogs here

I have you, You have me: Charlie and Caleb

Charlie and Caleb had a tumultuous life before coming to AAWL. A gentle man living in rural California provided a safe haven for dogs he found dumped in the desert near his house for years. As they wandered to his property for food and water, he invited them into his ever-growing pack of abandoned animals. Charlie and Caleb were two of those abandoned animals. They became friends at the small house and looked out for each other like brothers.

One day the unthinkable happened, the good Samaritan who opened his doors passed away unexpectedly in his home – Living alone as he did, no one noticed his absence. For almost a week. Charlie and Caleb, along with over a dozen dogs, scrounged for any food or water they could find trying to survive. Any morsel left in a bowl, any water dripping from a faucet. Sadly, some of their friends did not make it, but Charlie and Caleb stuck together and survived through what was undoubtedly the hardest time of their life. Through partnerships built across states, all the animals were placed with different groups after they were rescued, with Charlie and Caleb travelling hundreds of miles to AAWL.

Caleb, the most shy of the two, spent his first week shaking on his bed, refusing to make eye contact. He shuffled to the farthest corner when anyone tried to visit. How do you convince him he had been through hell, but now was safe? The ever-brave Charlie perched on top of Caleb all day and kept watch, Caleb’s “Rock”. As more and more volunteers and staff slipped them treats, soft neck rubs, and the always constant, “good boy”, Caleb grew confident, and Charlie flowered into a total goofball full of kisses and snuggles. We knew they could now find their new fur-ever homes.

We think they need a fresh start in life, new friends to give them a second chance. They can flourish if adopted separately and make new memories, happy memories, but they both would love a doggie companion. Caleb would love a mellow, understanding older friend, someone who can give him confidence, but also the space to become his own loving dog. Charlie would love a friend who can match his energy, who loves to play, and who doesn’t mind being sat on!

When they went through the hardest chapter of their life, they had each other, but now they need you.