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The mercury has dropped substantially in recent days. The cold weather doesn't affect just people.

Monika Sperke from the Arizona Animal Welfare League offered a good rule of thumb: If it's too cold for you, it's too cold for your pet.

She also introduced April Warnecke to an adorable pup that's hoping to find a forever home this holiday season.

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High goals having been reached, the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA is reaching for more when the state's largest and oldest no-kill animal shelter conducts its second Empty the Shelter Adopt-a-Thon this weekend.

Last year, 180 animals were placed in homes in a 12-hour period.

This year, the group hopes to match more than 200 animals with owners.

That's nearly 17 dogs or cats an hour.

In the wake of two major dust storms, you've probably heard quite a bit about valley fever. The respiratory illness doesn't just affect people. Pets can contract it, as well.

April Warnecke's dog, Merton, was diagnosed with valley fever a few years ago.

Valley veterinarian Dr. Claudia Channing stopped by to chat with Warnecke about the signs and symptoms of valley fevers in pets. She also talked about treatments.

Some say Skip the dog was perfectly named because of how he bounces when he walks.  Others think it's because your heart may skip a beat when you read his story.

Skip proves that it's not just cats who have nine lives. The terrier dachshund mix was left in a hot car with the windows rolled up on one of the hottest days of the year last weekend.  The SUV was parked at the Swap Mart near 40th and Washington streets. Passers-by called it into police.

A Tempe couple found two dogs wandering an alley in Tempe with collars tightly fit around their neck that could become embedded into their skin.

Shannon Blizzard, Director of Operations for the Arizona Animal Welfare League and Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said puppies can grow quickly, their collars can become tight for them and "if the collar is not loosened to keep pace with the dog's size, it can literally grow into the skin causing excruciating pain."

It's a problem every dog owner encounters at some point -- bad doggy breath.

Dr. Claudia Channing with Arizona Animal Welfare League ran down some solutions for 3TV's Scott Pasmore.

While dental care for your dog will eventually require a vet visit, there are some things you can do to keep your dog's teeth as clean as possible.

According to Channing, a finger brush is a good option if your dog will tolerate it. Chew toys and hard treats can also be beneficial. She also suggest frozen soup bones, but cautioned that these require close supervision on your part.

Many Valley residents have been to the county's animal shelter and seen those precious faces staring back.

Right now there are thousands of Valley dogs that need to be adopted, but some will never get that chance because they will be euthanized before that one family can make it there.

"If we can't take them, this dog will die at 5 o'clock tomorrow morning," said Shelby Erdman, an animal behavior counselor for the Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL).

Erdman and her co-worker Erin Quigley are what some might call "dog saviors".