Published For Friends of the Arizona Humane Society
SPRING 2021
BANFIELD FOUNDATION DONATES NEW MOBILE CLINIC PAGE // 3
SAVING LIVES DURING UNPRECEDENTED TIMES PAGE // 4
LAZIN ANIMAL FOUNDATION’S $3 MILLION GIFT TO TRANSFORM ANIMAL WELFARE PAGE // 6
2
PAW P R I N T S
ASK EDISON Edison is one of our animal teachers who interacts with children at camps, birthday parties and in classrooms. In each issue of Paw Prints, Edison will answer a question we receive from animal lovers like you.
Our Mission We save the most vulnerable animals and enrich the lives of pets and people.
Our Values Innovation. Compassion. Excellence.
Q: Is it true that pets can really improve people’s health? I have to tell you that I have it pretty good here at AHS. They cuddle, feed and take care of me when I am not feeling so hot, but I gotta say I am not all take, take, take. I like to give just as much as the next pet. And you know what? Hundreds of studies on the “human-animal bond,” as the two-leggeds like to call it, indicate just how important we are to each other’s lives – physically, psychologically and emotionally. Not only do we make people’s hearts happy, but healthy and strong as well. We get our humans off the couch and increase their activity for an improved socially-distanced social life. These activities help reduce stress and anxiety and give extra meaning and purpose to people at a time when loneliness and social isolation has been at an all-time high due to the pandemic. According to my friends at the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), 81 percent of pet owners now feel closer to their pets due to the pandemic. So, if you haven’t already, get out there and get a pet today! You will be rewarded in many different ways!
A Virtual Partnership Volunteering has gone virtual! The residents of First Place AZ, a community that offers adults with autism and other neurodiversities a chance at independent living, made Milk-Bone and cheese sandwiches for AHS’ pups… all from the comfort
Dr. Steven R. Hansen President & CEO
2021 AHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee Andrea Marconi, Chair Dr. Craig Thatcher, Vice Chair Bryan Albue, Secretary Matthew Waller, Treasurer & Finance Chair Suzanne Pearl, Past Chair & President’s Club Steering Committee Chair Tracey Lyons, Governance Chair
Board Members Anthony Alfonso Courtney Beller, Compassion with Fashion Co-Chair Yvonne A Betts Andrea L. Claus, Planned Giving Chair Ann Damiano Debbie DePaoli Dr. Karla Fisher Dyan Getz, Circle of Friends Co-Chair Suzanne Hensing Susie Ingold Julie Johnson Ann-Marie Lee Kerry Milligan Kimberlee Reimann Padilla Ann Siner Patricia Tate Jo Taulbee-Flittie Dr. Linda Groomes Walton
of their own home! Learn how you can get involved at azhumane.org/ volunteer. AZHUMANE.ORG
SPRING 2021
Adopt/Foster to Help Those Impacted by COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has left thousands of pets across the country and in Arizona at risk of being surrendered to animal shelters by the families who love them, but may be forced to choose between finding a place to live and keeping their pets. In our never-ending commitment to keep pets and people together, the Arizona Humane Society and Arizona’s leading animal welfare organizations have partnered to establish the Pet Housing Help AZ Task Force with a goal of collectively offering community-wide solutions for pet owners in need. One of these solutions includes the launch of pethousinghelpaz.org, a community-wide website that provides a one-stop shop of resources for pet owners in need. The specialized site features bilingual resource sheets and a network that connects people in need of help directly with other Valley residents to permanently rehome or find temporary housing for their pets. If you are interested in learning more or helping to make a difference by adopting or temporarily fostering an owned pet until their owner gets back on his or her feet, please sign up at pethousinghelpaz.org.
Banfield Foundation Donates New Mobile Clinic to Support Community Vet Services Thank you to our partners at the Banfield Foundation who have generously donated a $300,000 mobile veterinary clinic to help us bring much-needed medical care to pets in need right here in our community. This state-of-the-art Healthy Tails Mobile Veterinary Clinic is designed to help low-income pet parents across the Valley overcome barriers, such as unreliable transportation and financial hardships, so that their pets can continue to receive comprehensive medical care. In partnership with Food City and Boehringer Ingelheim, AHS has already used this new mobile clinic to reach pet owners in four targeted areas and provide pets with free wellness exams, vaccinations, microchips, and preventative treatments for fleas, ticks and heartworms. These targeted efforts are expected to serve an additional 6,000 pets in need each year. Our veterinary clinics, along with our Pet Resource Center, connect pet owners with affordable medical, behavior and support services to help keep pets and people together. Thank you Banfield Foundation!
3
4
PAW P R I N T S
Your Support Saves Lives During Our Most Unprecedented Times 2020 was a year unlike any other. Masks and social distancing became the new norm. Quarantine became a way of life, and all of us were impacted in ways we couldn’t have imagined possible. Through the most difficult times, you stood by us and our community’s most vulnerable animals. You helped our Pet Resource Center keep pets and people impacted by COVID-19 together. You made it possible for our Emergency Animal Medical Technicians™ to remain on the road 365 days of the year rescuing sick, injured and abused pets. You helped our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™ treat and save lives – at one point even shifting to a 24-7 operation. Our Kitten Nursery and Bottle Baby Kitten ICU cared for more kittens than ever before. Our Parvo Puppy ICU gave new life to those who needed hope, and our Mutternity Suites gave hope to those given new life. All possible because of you. All during the most unprecedented times. And our pets say thank you a million times over.
Wow! You Sure Do Make a Lot Possible! Even during the most challenging times your support had a profound impact on our community’s most vulnerable pets. Here’s all you helped make possible in 2020:
• 11,547 owned and shelter animals were spayed/neutered
• 6,642 pets kept in their homes through
resources and assistance provided by our Pet Resource Center
• 6,051 sick and injured animals brought in through ambulance rescue
•
6,211 suspected cruelty investigations performed
•
11,254 lives saved through adoption, rescue and placement
•
335,795 hours donated by 2,315 volunteers and Foster Heroes to provide love and care for our pets
• 10,814 homeless pets received lifesaving care in our trauma hospital
• 15,019 dogs and cats taken in and cared for • 13,916 owned pets received affordable veterinary and wellness services
• 4,423 animals showered with love and compassion by our Foster Heroes
• 2,260 fragile kittens nurtured in our
lifesaving Bottle Baby Kitten ICU and Kitten Nursery
• 290 critically ill dogs treated in our Parvo Puppy ICU
• 251 moms and their babies were cared for in our Mutternity Suites
• 748 pets reunited with their loving families • 31,257 animals served through our programs and services
SPRING 2021
Odie’s Transformation Odie was rescued by our Emergency Animal Medical Technicians™ from a horrific situation in which a rubber band was tied tightly around his muzzle. This suffering, 10-year-old Poodle was also extremely matted, had overgrown nails and advanced dental disease. Odie was taken to our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™, where our compassionate medical team removed the rubber band, tended to his wounds, provided Odie with a mercy groom and performed dental surgery. After recovering in the home of one of our loving Foster Heroes, Odie was adopted by his forever family in Phoenix. Our comprehensive medical, behavior rehabilitation, surrender intervention and spay/neuter initiatives have helped us become a safety net for the Valley’s most vulnerable pets like Odie and save an additional 115,000 lives over the last seven years.
Zion Learns to Walk Again Zion, an orphaned 5-day-old kitten, was born unable to walk. In addition to needing round-the-clock care in AHS’ Bottle Baby Kitten ICU to survive without his mother, he was badly knuckling on his back feet and unable to use his legs normally. Thanks to innovative thinking from the AHS veterinary technician team, they fashioned together tiny splints out of a tongue depressor, gauze, medical wrap bandages and tape in hopes of giving him a chance to live a normal life. After a little more than a week with his special splints, continued care and lots of love, Zion began using his back legs normally. After several weeks of care in a Foster Hero home, this adorable kitten was adopted and is now enjoying life in Goodyear. Lifesaving programs like our Bottle Baby Kitten ICU, Kitten Nursery, Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™, Mutternity Suites and Parvo Puppy ICU save the lives of pets routinely euthanized in shelters.
5
6
PAW P R I N T S
Lazin Animal Foundation’s $3 Million Gift to Transform Animal Welfare We are thrilled to announce a $3 million gift from the Lazin Animal Foundation (LAF) to AHS for our proposed new Central Campus & Animal Medical Center expected to break ground in the fall of 2021. This milestone gift to name the Lazin Animal Foundation Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™, the largest shelter-based trauma center west of the Mississippi, will impact the lives of thousands of sick, injured and abused homeless pets each year. LAF was established in 2011 by its namesake and founder, Terry Lazin. Before succumbing to ovarian cancer in 2015, Terry made it her mission to prevent the abuse, neglect, suffering and euthanasia of treatable and adoptable homeless dogs. “So many homeless animals suffer unnecessarily or lose their lives due to injury or disease that can be treated. Through our partnership with AHS, we find great comfort and joy knowing that thousands of lives will
be honored and saved,” stated Susana Della Maddalena, Chairman of the Board. “LAF’s board is excited and pleased that with this gift, Arizona’s homeless animals will be touched by Terry’s fighting spirit, unwavering compassion and dedication for so many years to come.” “LAF’s gift, along with the timing of this milestone gift during such a challenging year for all, is a true testament to Terry’s fighting spirit and the worthiness of this transformative project,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, AHS President and CEO. “Terry not only fought for herself, but also against the unnecessary abuse, neglect and euthanasia of homeless dogs and this gift will continue that quest for thousands of the most vulnerable pets in Arizona for decades to come.” To learn more about Terry Lazin’s legacy, please visit www.lazinanimal.org. To learn more about AHS’ Campaign to Transform Animal Welfare, please visit www.azhumane.org/transform.
SPRING 2021
Why I Give — PE N N Y M E TZG E R I believe that domesticated animals are born innately dependent on us, through no fault of their own, and it is our responsibility to take care of them. I have been a donor to the Arizona Humane Society since I was in college, but I got deeply involved 23 years ago when I was considering including AHS in my estate plans. I wanted to know how that money would be invested in the future of animal welfare, so AHS’ then-President Ken White offered me a tour of AHS’s Sunnyslope Campus, which included the hospital. That was it for me — I was hooked!
Someone said recently that she thinks it
I didn’t just want to be a donor, I wanted to help in that hospital, which is now the Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™. At that time, volunteers weren’t allowed to work in the hospital, but I promised to be on my best behavior and convinced them to give me a chance! I have been volunteering with the hospital ever since. Today, I am also a docent, a President’s Club donor, a Legacy Circle Member, a six-time adopter, and a frequent thrift donor (I even put together little potted cacti for them to sell).
is extraordinary that I do so much for the Arizona Humane Society, but I explained to her that I don’t actually want to be amazing or extraordinary — I would much rather just be seen as average because it would mean that everyone got this involved and found ways to give too. So, why do I give to AHS? I give because I have learned that every animal who comes through our doors is better off here than wherever they came from because now we are going to take care of them.
Become a Legacy Circle member today when you include the Arizona Humane Society as a beneficiary: - in your will or trust - to a retirement account, insurance policy or bank account - to a charitable remainder trust - to a charitable gift annuity These are just a few of the ways you can help to ensure a bright future for your own pets as well as the sick, injured and abused pets we help each and every day! For more information about Legacy Circle and the Continuing Care Program, please contact our Planned Giving Team at 602.997.7585 Ext. 1098 or email legacycircle@azhumane.org.
7
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Phoenix, AZ Permit No. 456
1521 W. Dobbins Road Phoenix, AZ 85041 azhumane.org
Summer Camp for Young Animal Lovers Summer camp is back in session! AHS offers summer camp programs for young animal lovers who are interested in exploring the world of animals and animal careers. Campers learn how to care for animals, be responsible pet guardians, and make our community a more compassionate place through hands-on learning and animal interactions. Summer camp will be held in June and July for youths ages 9-17. CDC guidelines will be followed. Sign your child up today at azhumane.org/camp!
Don’t Kit-nap Kittens When we find a litter of kittens, our good-hearted instincts tell us to rush to the aid of these fragile felines. Thankfully, human intervention is typically not required. In fact, the best thing we can do is leave the kittens alone. Mom will likely return shortly, and it’s critical that the kittens remain in her care as she offers the best chance for survival. If you find kittens and are extremely certain that they are orphaned, you can then step in and help by caring for the kittens until they’re old enough to find homes. Learn more at azhumane.org/foundkittens.
Don’t Trade It , Donate It! Donate your unwanted vehicle to our Wheels for Wags program and help our community’s most vulnerable pets. Unlike most car donation programs, we skip the middleman and sell directly to the public, so your money goes farther to help homeless pets and you get a bigger tax write‑off. And since we handle the entire process from pickup to tax receipt, donating to a pet in need has never been easier. Learn more at azhumane.org/wheelsforwags.