PawPrints Magazine: Spring 2018

SPRING 2018

Published For Friends of the Arizona Humane Society

#WAGLOCAL PAGE |

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60,000 MORE PETS SAVED PAGE |

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DO THE CRIME, DO THE TIME PAGE |

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OUR MISSION Every pet deserves a good life. With a vision to end animal suffering, we rescue, heal, adopt and advocate for sick, injured and abused animals.

OUR VISION End animal suffering, homelessness and needless euthanasia.

OUR VALUES Innovation, Compassion, Excellence.

MILLIMETERS FROM DEATH Her condition when she arrived at the Arizona Humane Society was horrific. Her throat slashed, just millimeters from her jugular. Panda, a 2-year-old pit bull, was lucky to be alive.

Panda had been found by Chandler police officers as a stray, with a severe laceration to her throat – a nearly fatal wound investigators believe was intentionally inflicted by someone with a sharp object.

She was turned over to AHS’ trauma hospital for treatment, where our skilled medical team performed surgery to save Panda’s life.

Our trauma team continued to care for Panda over the next few critical days before she was transferred to the home of a dedicated AHS foster hero, where she spent several weeks completing her recovery.

Even after her traumatic ordeal, Panda’s trust in humans never wavered, and this sweet, loving girl eventually found a forever home in Peoria.

Panda is just one of more than 11,300 animals we treated in our trauma hospital last year – a 27 percent increase over the year prior. It is thanks to your generosity that Panda and thousands of other sick, injured and abused homeless animals are given a second chance at life.

Dr. Steven R. Hansen President & CEO 2017 AHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Suzanne Pearl, Chair Andrea Marconi, Vice Chair Bryan Albue, Vice Chair Kerry Milligan, Secretary Matthew Waller, Treasurer Ann Damiano, Past Chair Melinda Gulick, Facility Development Committee Chair Dr. Craig Thatcher, Governance and Board Relations Committee Chair BOARD MEMBERS Anthony Alfonso Courtney Beller Katherine Cecala Deborah J. DePaoli Dyan Getz Susie Ingold Tracey Lyons Kimberlee Reimann Padilla Melissa Rupoli-Katz Ann Siner Patricia Tate Jen Weinbrenner

AZHUMANE.ORG

SPRING 2018

P.U.P. PARK PARTYING

ASK EDDISON Eddison is one of our animal teachers who interacts with children at camps, birthday parties and in classrooms. In each issue of Paw Prints, Eddison will answer a question we receive from our supporters.

Q: I’d love to become a volunteer and help pets. What do I do?

Our volunteers are my absolute FAVORITE people, and now is the perfect time to join our volunteer pack!

We recently shifted to an online orientation process that makes it super simple to join our volunteer ranks from the comfort of your own home. I recently completed the online orientation myself and it was so convenient.

I didn’t even have to get out of my pajamas!

Additionally, we have rolled out a new software that will pave the way for easier online scheduling, digital sign-in stations, remote check-in options, automatic shift reminders and better communication tools.

But, wait, here’s my favorite part…we have developed tiered volunteer levels, which will create more clearly defined roles and responsibilities, more options to get involved, as well as provide a “career path” for growing as a volunteer. Sounds awesome, right?!?!

When you become a volunteer, you’re saving lives. And you may even get to meet me one day! Learn more about joining our volunteer pack at azhumane.org/volunteer.

Our pups have a new spot to have fun at our Sunnyslope Campus while they wait for loving homes. AHS’ P.U.P. Park, or Pop Up Pup Park, is a portable dog park that will be used to walk and exercise AHS’ dogs, including those recovering in our trauma hospital. There are also a number of enrichment activities along the walking path leading to the P.U.P. Park, including dog-friendly plants and scent markers. The park and walking path were created in partnership with PetSmart Charities and Sunburst Landscaping.

SNIP, SNIP, HOORAY Hundreds of pet owners wrapped around the block eagerly awaiting free spay/neuter services for their pets as part of the Alliance for Companion Animal’s Fix.Adopt.Save.’s Spay & Neuter Weekend. AHS, along with Alliance partner Altered Tails and private veterinarians, took part in the two-day event where more than 800 pets received free surgeries. Nearly 1,500 vouchers were given out as well, courtesy of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust and PetSmart Charities. For more information on Fix.Adopt.Save., please visit www.fixadoptsave.org.

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60,000 More Pets Saved, Thanks to You. After nearly 60 years as Arizona’s leading animal welfare organization, saving sick and injured pets was routine for the Arizona Humane Society. We had a successful rhythm.

A groove. Things were good.

But in 2014, we decided our good routine simply wasn’t good enough.

We set an ambitious goal to end animal suffering, homelessness and needless euthanasia in Maricopa County. To do more. Help more.

Save more.

And it worked. 60,000 times.

That’s right – 60,000 additional lives were saved. 60K more pets are safe in loving homes today thanks to your support of lifesaving programs like our trauma hospital for the Valley’s most vulnerable animals and our rescue and cruelty investigation team. Our spay/ neuter outreach and Pet Resource Center help struggling pet owners, while behavior rehabilitation and new medical programs like Mutternity Suites, Bottle Baby Kitten ICU and Parvo Puppy ICU have redefined our community into a national model of what’s possible when saving lives becomes the top priority.

60K. The sum of lives saved is astounding.

The individual stories of these survivors are even more extraordinary.

We’ll share a few of these stories, made possible because of your donations, on the coming pages. To see more remarkable stories of hope, visit azhumane.org/60K.

Life #

55,433

Saved

Crosby

Crosby’s story actually begins with his mom Lucy, who was found in a parking lot and brought to AHS. Lucy was pregnant, and at the time, AHS had multiple pregnant moms who needed foster care, so AHS President and CEO Dr. Steven Hansen and his family welcomed Lucy into their home.

Within a few days, there were five new mouths to feed, including Crosby. After weeks of helping to care for the puppies, Dr. Hansen and his family had fallen in love with Crosby’s sweet, playful nature and couldn’t resist keeping Crosby.

Five years ago, Crosby likely wouldn’t have survived as the shelter environment is not optimal for pregnant dogs or those nursing babies.

Lucy and Crosby’s story and others like them, led to the creation of our Mutternity Suites, where we can now provide adequate care for pregnant moms who give birth at the shelter and save the lives of those we couldn’t save before.

“Crosby has brought my family so much happiness, and 60,000 other dogs and cats are creating countless memories in their homes too,” Dr. Hansen said. “With our community’s continued support, we will save 60,000 more pets.”

SPRING 2018

Life #

47,971

Saved

Suzie Suzie was one of 49 dogs rescued from a hoarding situation by our animal rescue and cruelty investigation team. Suzie was stressed, shut down and extremely scared upon her arrival. After months of socialization, work with our behavior team and a compassionate foster home, Suzie was adopted by the foster hero who helped give her a second chance.

Teddy Teddy was unable to move with a broken left leg and a luxated right hip after being hit by a car.

He required several surgeries with a specialized vet and in AHS’ trauma hospital and battled ear infections, allergies and required dental procedures while recovering in a foster hero home for nearly two years. But after 500 days, Teddy’s road to recovery was complete and he found a loving family in Phoenix.

Life #

56,171

Saved

Life #

55,187

Saved

Omar Omar arrived at AHS just days old and required 24hour care in our Bottle Baby ICU. The little kitten eventually transitioned into a foster home, where his care continued until he was ready to find a permanent family. When his special day came, Omar’s foster hero couldn’t resist keeping the rambunctious, loving kitten.

Omar was just one of the more than 2,000 kittens cared for this past year in our Kitten Nursey and Bottle Baby ICU.

Porter When Porter fell gravely ill as a puppy, his family believed their best option to save Porter’s life was to surrender him into the care of AHS’ Parvo Puppy ICU. Porter spent several weeks in the ICU, where he was given a second chance at life.

Eventually, he found a second chance with his family, as well, who welcomed Porter back into their home after his recovery.

Life #

58,467

Saved

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#WAGLOCAL AND SAVE LIVES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY There continues to be a great deal of confusion regarding our affiliation with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The Arizona Humane Society is an entirely separate separate Arizona-based non-profit that is not part of any other local, state or national animal welfare organizations, including HSUS. It costs an average of $910 to care for each pet who enters our shelter, and when you make a gift to the Arizona Humane Society, you’re saving the lives of homeless pets right here in our community. We know you love local pets as much as we do, and we encourage you to tell your friends to join our #WagLocal movement by visiting azhumane.org/waglocal to learn more.

WHY WE GIVE We have been making monthly contributions to the Arizona Humane Society since moving to Arizona. We really didn’t know what all AHS did until we were invited to tour the Sunnyslope Campus. It was truly an eye opening experience, and we were particularly touched by the intensity of the care given to the puppies in the Parvo Puppy ICU. After touring the Sunnyslope Campus, we thought it would be time to consider adopting again and saw Lucy on the AHS website. Lucy is a Parvovirus survivor! If it hadn’t been for the care provided at the Parvo Puppy ICU, she wouldn’t be with us today.

We have been blessed with this great little pup, and because of that, we have designated funds, in addition to our monthly donation, to support the project that will ultimately put AHS into a new campus. We have also included AHS in our estate plan so that their wonderful work with other puppies suffering from Parvo can continue when we are not around anymore.

If you aren’t already, please consider becoming a Legacy Circle member at azhumane.org/legacycircle.

-Dr. John and Gail Hafer

SPRING 2018

time for the punishment

to fit the crime

The Arizona Humane Society, in partnership with the Humane Legislative Coalition of Arizona (HLCA) and County Attorney Bill Montgomery, introduced SB 1295 in an effort to seek more appropriate consequences for intentional and knowing acts of violence against pets, which result in serious physical injury to, or the death of, the animal.

SB 1295 makes it a class 5 felony to: • Intentionally or knowingly subject a domestic animal to cruel mistreatment.

(To torture, inflict unnecessary serious physical injury or kill the animal in a manner that causes protracted suffering.)

• Intentionally or knowingly kill a domestic animal without either legal privilege or consent of the domestic animal’s owner or handler.

“Every day, our emergency animal rescue and cruelty team and trauma hospital see horrific cases of animal cruelty,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, Arizona Humane Society President and CEO. “Our current laws must be stronger, and penalties greater.

Prosecutors need the right tools to ensure the punishment fits the crime.”

For more information on SB 1295 and how you can help be a voice for animals, visit azhumane.org/advocacy.

JUSTICE FOR JESSE AND BEAR In June of 2017, AHS animal cruelty investigators responded to a call of two dogs who were without any water. When investigators arrived, they discovered both dogs were also severely emaciated and suffering from Valley Fever. Jessie and Bear were immediately seized by Phoenix Police and taken to AHS’ trauma hospital for care.

After months of medical care and AHS’ testimony in court, the owner pled guilty to intentionally, knowingly or recklessly subjecting any animal under their control to cruel neglect or abandonment. The owner has been sentenced to 36 months

of probation and may not own or care for any animals while on probation.

Thanks to you and AHS’ continued advocacy efforts, pets like Jessie and Bear have been given hope and new, loving forever homes.

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Phoenix, AZ Permit No. 456

1521 W. Dobbins Road Phoenix, AZ 85041 azhumane.org

ADOPTABLE PETS NOW IN SCOTTSDALE! The Arizona Humane Society has teamed with the PetSmart location in Old Town Scottsdale at 4830 N. Miller Road to adopt out our adorable dogs and cats. Our pets could sure use some volunteers at this location to help them find forever homes. If you’re interested in volunteering, visit azhumane.org/volunteer.

SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUNG ANIMAL LOVERS Young animal lovers ages 6-17 are invited to explore the world of animals and animal careers through AHS’ Summer Camp programs. Children will learn how to train and care for animals, be responsible pet guardians and make our community a safer place for all animals. Visit azhumane.org/camps to register.

M O R E S PAY S , L E S S S T R AY S The Arizona Humane Society has taken the lead in working with animal welfare organizations throughout the state to raise awareness for a new way to help animals during tax season. A new law allows Arizona residents to make a voluntary contribution via a check box on your tax form to fund much-needed affordable spay/neuter services throughout Arizona. AHS has created a toolkit that is being provided to other animal welfare organizations to promote this new initiative and combat pet overpopulation.

For more information, visit azhumane.org/morespays.