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.
How one rescue dog drove me to save thousands more
Bob Colabianchi is the general manager of Chapman BMW on Camelback.
As the general manager of a luxury car dealership, it was always important for me to support my community as they have supported us, but I never thought a rescued cattle dog I met through our annual promotion would change my life.
My dealership, Chapman BMW on Camelback, has partnered with the Arizona Animal Welfare League on charitable promotions in the past. However, I wanted to do something that would create a dynamic impact for our next initiative; for every car we sold during the last two months of 2019, we would sponsor the adoption fee of a homeless animal. I thought having a rescue dog in our showroom would help spread the word and help more animals find families, so I offered to foster an adoptable dog during this promotion. What started as a marketing idea became so much more. It was the beginning of my life with Beemer.
Beemer’s story is filled with sadness, but also second chances. Found abandoned at a derelict home in northern Arizona, she was surviving with two other dogs looking for the kindness of a helping hand to save them. Through AAWL’s network of Rural Rescue partners, they were rescued and driven hundreds of miles for medical attention and to find the families they deserve.
When she first arrived at my dealership, I set up a fluffy bed next to my desk, gave her a pile of toys, and continued my day of phone calls and meetings. Within an hour, she was nudging my hand for pets and leaning against me while I was working. It was almost human like; she could sense when I was stressed and gave me all she had to offer, love. She offered that love to everyone who met her: the customers who proudly showed me pictures of their rescued animals, the staff who would stop by for Beemer’s affection, and my family.
I would have thought her hard life formed an armor of distrust and fear, but from the moment I met her she exuded this love and compassion I had never seen before in a dog. It showed me rescue dogs have a different connection to people because of what they went through. Less than 24 hours with Beemer in my life, and I had already fallen in love.
We went everywhere together, inseparable for months. I would joke it was all part of the promotion, but in truth, I hated being away from her. Corporate meetings, customer support, sharing fries on our way back to the office; everything was better with Beemer. She was my copilot, my right-hand girl, and I didn’t want it any other way.
I’ve had dogs my whole life, but Beemer was my first adopted dog. In the past, we would visit pet stores and buy a puppy, not knowing about the terrible conditions of puppy mills and the plight of homeless animals. She opened my eyes to the power of rescue, of the incredible animals in shelters waiting for the new homes. It became my mission to spread the message of saving lives through rescue, finding families for animals like Beemer needing a second chance.
Since she joined my family, Chapman BMW on Camelback raised enough money to pay for 400 adoption fees, I joined the board of AAWL to help save the lives of thousands more animals in need, yet still I feel the need to do more to help the Beemers of the world and to give others the happiness I feel every day with her.
What began as an important partnership to help my community has grown into a passion in my life. I may have given Beemer a home, but she has done more for me than I have done for her.
I encourage those in my community to visit the Arizona Animal Welfare League; see the animals who you can help save, learn their stories of survival and hope, and make a difference in their lives through either adoption, donation, or volunteering. Your life may change like mine, but the support you give to these animals will definitely change theirs.
For the second year in a row, Chapman BMW on Camelback is sponsoring the adoption fee of a homeless animal For every car they sell in November AND December of 2020! Learn more HERE!
Watch Beemer’s Road Home!
Petite Puppies Protected By Pyrenees From Porcupine!
65 schnauzers, bottle baby puppies, porcupine attacks, and one brave Pyrenees: This is one of the CRAZIEST Rural Rescue Stories we have ever told.
Earlier this year, an unfortunate accident led to the death of a woman who owned 65 Schnauzers on her expansive rural property in the desert of northern Arizona. After the family placed almost all the animals, our Rural Rescue partner was called to rescue the last 8 dogs who were very shy and under socialized. She knew AAWL could take in the most difficult cases, as we had done for years through our partnership and Medical Miracle fund.
Our partner spent the day coaxing and catching the schnauzers running on the property, then drove them hundreds of miles to AAWL. As they arrived, our medical team discovered something very unusual about one of the females. She was producing milk, but there were no puppies on the transport! Our team immediately called our partner, who was not told of any puppies when she was rescuing the dogs. She called the family, who did not know one of the dogs was ever pregnant.
There were now puppies living in the desert by themselves, and their mom was hundreds of miles away.
Our Rural Rescue partner scoured the desert, under every bush, every dirt mound for signs of newborn puppies. It was like finding a needle in a haystack; until they saw a giant white dog standing in the distance. Great Pyrenees had been bred to watch over flocks while shepherds were away and were lauded for their courage and loyalty. This Pyrenees had lived with the schnauzers, keeping a watch over his “flock”. Our partner cautiously approached the notoriously shy dog and noticed 2 small bodies underneath him; the puppies had been found! His lifetime of loyalty drove him to protect the tiny, week-old puppies after their mom had left, watching over them until someone returned.
His actions were not without sacrifice. AAWL’s partner looked at his giant head as she scooped up the puppies, the Pyrenees was riddled with porcupine quills. While protecting the tiny puppies, he was struck by the tail of a porcupine, some embedded deep into his nose and mouth. Wrapping in a blanket the crying puppies who hadn’t eaten for days, she led their protector back to her car, knowing she had only one option.
With no bottle baby fosters or access to emergency medical care, she must get them all to AAWL immediately hundreds of miles away.
Our Rural Rescue partner drove hours to AAWL, knowing both cases needed immediate medical care. Our medical team swiftly went to work bottle feeding them their first meal in days. Their great protector was carried gently into the surgery suite where a team of vets and techs removed the deeply lodged porcupine quills. Even after hours of surgery, some spines were too embedded to remove without causing irreparable damage. “Spike” was given heavy antibiotics and pain medicine to help push the quills out of his face. A second surgery was scheduled days later, and all the quills were finally removed!
Unfortunately, when the puppies arrived at AAWL, Dorothy could no longer care for them and the chances of their survival begin to dwindle. They were placed into one of our most experienced bottle baby foster homes, an employee who has cared for the hardest of the bottle babies for years. All while raising three kids under 18! Her children are all passionate animal lovers and help feed the tiny babies every three hours (!) for weeks.
Today, Spike is recovering wonderfully and is making new friends! Spending years alone and selflessly throwing himself between those he loves and danger, he has now learned the kindness of strangers and will hopefully be ready for his own family soon.The puppies are growing exponentially, thanks to their amazing foster family, and have no medical issues from their fight for survival!
Spike has no idea he is a hero to those puppies, so we tell him every day.
Although this story may seem unique, our team works with 32 partners around the state to rescue animals like Spike, the Schnauzers, and these puppies every week. When you support Our Walk To Save Animals Nov 7th, you help us continue our lifesaving mission.
Register today for the Walk and every dollar raised this week until November 7th will fund the Medical Miracle Fund, providing above and beyond care for our most difficult medical cases, like Spike and his puppies.
21 Dogs Rescued From Commercial Breeders Across Country
Last week, in partnership with National Mill Dog Rescue, AAWL took in 21 dogs saved from commercial breeders across the country. Due to the poor conditions in which they lived their lives before rescue and the lack of human interaction, NMDR spent months helping these wonderful dogs feel safe and loved. Much like AAWL, they are constantly receiving calls for help. Luckily, due to our relationship built over 7 years and over 200+ rescues together, we were able to help them so they could rescue more this week, and we now can carry on the care of these 21 dogs. To save the most lives, it is vital we all work together for the betterment of these animals, and our team drove to Colorado to make it easier for both groups to save more animals.
Covered in matted fur, scared of human touch, medical issues compounded from years of neglect, the journey for these dogs has been far from easy the last few months. Hundreds of hours spent by staff and volunteers at NMDR has given our staff and volunteers the perfect building blocks to continue their care and find their furever homes. They will slowly be coming up for adoption, as it is 100% on the timeline of the dog when they feel ready behaviorally and medically, but here are some snippets of these wonderful pups.
-Yukon the Klee kai was at NMDR for 2 years and has made incredible strides with them. Shy at first, he walks like a dream on the leash now, and spent the last few days making friends at the front desk and in employees’ offices!
-Danny the doodle loved the flirt pole and play bows to new friends, two legged and four legged. He was up for adoption for less than 2 hours before finding his family this weekend He came from the same commercial breeder as the last two doodles we helped rescue, and their coats were so matted from neglect they had to be totally shaved.
Rae the mini aussie was one of their longest residents due to her shyness, but every day is a little better. She likes spending time with Yukon and has made a very special staff friend already at the shelter. She has the cutest sway when she walks!
Stetson is the perfect lap dog! He has overcome many medical issues and actually skipped play time with other pups to sit in laps! Talk about huge accomplishment!
Ole – He grumbles all. The. Time. Happy? Grumbles happily. Long day? Grumbles quietly. NMDR’s behavior team put an incalculable amount of hours into making him the good dog he is today. And the grumbles are very endearing 🙂
Oshen – The sweetest pibble baby girl. She is battling heartworm after receiving no medical treatment until NMDR. The treatment will take months and can be dangerous, but she is doing great with our medical team now. How can you not love that face??
Seville -Seville will receive his own post about the ordeal he has suffered at the hands of commercial breeders. He will be visiting medical specialists for the next few weeks to determine how we can best care for him, but even through all his difficulties, there is happiness in his eyes from the love he has received after being rescued months ago.
Watch our page as we follow along their journey to their new families, and always remember to #AdoptDontShop. This is how we win. The breeders only care about money, and supporting rescue will take away their power.
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.
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!
