Published For Friends of the Arizona Humane Society
SUMMER 2018
LOOK BEFORE YOU LOCK PAGE // 2
KITTENS EVERYWHERE! PAGE // 3
BACK FROM THE BRINK OF DEATH PAGE // 4
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BRUSH WITH A BULLET There was a screw trapped in between two bones in Giovanni’s leg. At least that’s what our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™ veterinarians thought they saw when they first looked at an x-ray of the 10-month-old cat’s fractured limb. But when our medical team went in to remove the screw, what they found was shocking – a shotgun pellet. No one knows how or when a bullet wound up in the leg of Giovanni, who was brought to AHS by a Good Samaritan who found him limping on the streets, but our skilled team retrieved the bullet and saved Giovanni’s leg. Giovanni then spent more than two months recovering in our trauma hospital and the home of a loving foster hero before finding a forever family in Gilbert. “AHS is committed to helping sick, injured and abused animals like Giovanni through our animal rescue and cruelty investigation team and trauma hospital,” said Dr. Steven R. Hansen, AHS President & CEO. “It’s thanks to your support that we can give second chances to pets like Giovanni and end animal suffering, homelessness and needless euthanasia in our community.”
Look Before You Lock #DontLeaveMeBehind This summer, AHS and Phoenix Children’s Hospital have teamed up with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office on their “Don’t Leave Me Behind” Vehicular Heatstroke Awareness Campaign. Working together, we are challenging everyone to keep the number of incidents of children and pets left in hot cars this summer to zero. Last summer, AHS helped spearhead HB 2494, legislation allowing Good Samaritans to take action should they see a child or pet in a hot car. Learn more at azhumane.org/nohotdogsaz and www.safekidsaz.org/vehicular-heatstroke.
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.
Dr. Steven R. Hansen President & CEO
2018 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 Lawrence Pobuda Kimberlee Reimann Padilla Melissa Rupoli-Katz Ann Siner Paul B. Smith Patricia Tate Jen Weinbrenner
AZHUMANE.ORG
SUMMER 2018
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: It’s kitten season! How are you helping all of those cats? I LOVE cats! They’re my favorite animals (well, besides ferrets, of course). I try to make friends with as many of them as I can when they arrive at AHS, and we do get a lot of them this time of year. Thankfully, my two-legged pals here at the shelter are doing some great new things to help out my feline friends. Like the other day, I attended one of our Bottle Baby Kitten Workshops. It was so much fun! I learned how to feed and care for bottle baby kittens so now I can foster any time I want to. If you’ve never fostered bottle baby kittens, try it out! It’s so rewarding, and those little kittens are SO cute too! You can sign up at azhumane.org/foster and then come check out a workshop.
educates the community on the importance of leaving found kittens alone. Their mother is likely away (she has to eat, ya know) and will return shortly, and it’s critical they remain in her care. In conjunction with the campaign, we’ve implemented a new Surrender Intervention Specialist position to help educate Good Samaritans who believe they are doing the right thing in bringing kittens to the shelter. The Surrender Intervention Specialist provides carein-place kits, resources and training so Good Samaritans can care for the kittens in their home if the mother has vanished. AHS also offers free vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery and help finding the kittens homes once they’re ready should the Good Samaritan agree to care in place. Thank you to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust for funding the Don’t Kitnap Kittens campaign and care-in-place program. Learn more about the campaign at azhumane.org/foundkittens.
Speaking of kittens, we also recently introduced our Don’t Kit-nap Kittens campaign that
You Look Paw-velous! Our pets have never looked better thanks to our new Groom Room at our Sunnyslope Campus. Our certified groomer helps two dozen shelter and foster pets a week with a variety of services, including medicated baths, mercy grooms and even show-stopping haircuts so they can look their best for prospective adopters. The Groom Room includes a motorized grooming table, blow dryer, drying kennels and we’re still using a professional grooming tub donated by AHS President’s Club members Jo and John Flittie. We’re so thankful for their investment in keeping our pets clean and looking great!
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Back from the
Brink of Death URGENT
Summer Fund Drive
The fact that she was even alive was remarkable...
Baby upon arrival.
YOU
The video was horrific. It showed a frail Labrador mix who was skin and bones attempting to stand on her own after being let out of a crate.
It is now seven months later and Baby’s road to recovery remains ongoing. Medically, she will likely be on Valley Fever medication for life and is still learning how to be a dog.
Fortunately, a Good Samaritan took action and rushed the dog, named Baby, to AHS’ Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™.
Baby’s journey showcases a very real side of animal rescue and welfare. Not every animal trusts and not every case resolves quickly. It’s often a long journey and it costs an average of $910 to care for each animal who enters our shelter. The resources put into animals like Baby far exceed this amount, as her care has totaled nearly $3,000 thus far. Yet they are all worth it. Baby is worth it.
“In my seven years at AHS’ trauma hospital, I have seen unbelievable cases of neglect, yet Baby’s case was shocking,” said Dr. Melissa Thompson. “The fact that she was even alive was remarkable.” Weighing just 36 pounds, Baby’s toenails were overgrown, she was swollen, unable to put weight on her back leg and had a laceration under her eye. Tests also revealed that she was living with untreated Valley Fever. Perhaps most heartbreaking was that Baby was extremely shutdown and fearful of everyone. Concerned for her mental and physical wellbeing, Baby’s treatment transitioned into a staff office for concentrated rest and human interaction. For weeks, she retreated into the corner when approached and when it was time to move her into an AHS Foster Hero home she had to be carried, flailing and eliminating on herself out of fear. It was incredibly heartbreaking, albeit understanding, to see her so scared of the people who were there to help her.
Make this a summer of love for homeless and hurting animals like Baby by making a donation to our urgent summer fund. Give now at azhumane.org. You can also help by shopping at AJ’s Fine Foods during the month of August and donating at checkout. We will put your lifesaving donations to work immediately. To learn more about Baby’s transformation, tune in to Pets on Parade on Saturday, August 25th at 12:30 p.m. on 3TV. Baby (left) in her foster home with best friend Paws.
SUMMER 2018
200 LIVES SAVED Starving, emaciated pets packed in dark, overcrowded kennels. The stench of urine overpowering the air. The sights, the smells, the sadness of more than 200 dogs and cats suffering. It was a scene our Emergency Animal Medical Technicians™ and medical team will never forget when they rescued these neglected pets from horrific conditions at a Phoenix boarding facility earlier this year. Months later, what began as a heartbreaking tale of neglect has transformed into happy tails and triumphs. After weeks of recovery in our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™, socialization with our Behavior team, and care, cuddles and love from our staff, foster heroes and volunteers, the vast majority of our Planet Petopia pets are now in new forever homes.
But there are more starving, neglected and abused animals who need our help. More cases of abuse are occurring every day here in the Valley, and we are committed to leading animal welfare legislation efforts to fight animal cruelty and engage our community to promote the protection of pets. To learn more about our advocacy efforts, visit azhumane.org/advocacy.
The sights, the smells, the sadness of more than 200 dogs and cats...
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COMPASSION WITH FASHION FUELS $1 MILLION FOR PETS! For the first time in the event’s 20-year history, Compassion with Fashion hit the $1 million mark thanks to the more than 1,000 animal lovers and sponsors who joined AHS on March 26 at Camelback Inn for the landmark event.
Left to right: Tess Loo, Emmi Loo with Chunk and Ann Siner with Bella.
The event, featuring a live and silent auction as well as a live performance by Urban Electra during the My Sister’s Closet Fashion Show, was chaired by sisters Ann Siner and Tess Loo and honored long-time AHS supporter Daryl Weil as this year’s inaugural Cat’s Meow recipient.
Thank you to the founders of Compassion with Fashion – Beth, Betty and Stephanie McRae, as well as our presenting sponsor PetSmart Charities and all of our other incredible partners for making this day record-breaking for pets in need.
Sixteen pets found their forever homes that day, including Chunk, a 12-week-old Pit Bull pup who stole the show.
Save the date for the 21st annual Compassion with Fashion – March 31, 2019 at the Camelback Inn!
Your gift saves pets within our community. #WAGLOCAL Give Now at azhumane.org
SUMMER 2018
THANK YOU TO OUR COMPASSION WITH FASHION SPONSORS!
WHY WE GIVE CHAD AND SOPHIA LITTLE
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PRESENTING FASHION SHOW SPONSOR
Chad & Sophia Little, Valley residents and lifelong animal lovers, are the proud parents of three rescue dogs. As animal advocates, they understand the critical importance of supporting the affordable spay/neuter programs provided to the community by the Arizona Humane Society and will be hosting a fundraiser in November to support our homeless pets. The fundraiser will showcase the gorgeous works that Chad creates in his Paradise Valley studio, and a generous portion of all works sold will benefit the animals at AHS. Learn more about Chad Little’s artwork at www.chadlittleart.com.
“People support charities that resonate with them. This support is a personal belief that becomes someone’s motivation to support a cause. Chad and I are driven to help stop the overpopulation of dogs and cats. AHS is one of the best organizations in Phoenix which we are proud to support. Their comprehensive approach to the animal overpopulation problem in our community as well as their tireless efforts to decrease animal suffering pairs perfectly with our beliefs. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them on our Fall Gallery Showing of Chad’s works”. -Sophia Little
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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
OUR PETS WANT TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU! Did you know we’ve been growing the number of ways you can volunteer with AHS? While our best-known jobs of dog walking and animal care are oh-so important, there are so many other ways to help! From assisting with adoptions, helping at community events, sorting items in our thrift stores, to being a professional kitten cuddler, the opportunities are endless! Apply today to become a volunteer at azhumane.org/volunteer. We need your help!
FROM FOSTER HOME TO FOREVER HOME FASTER AHS’ Home-to-Home Heroes program encourages Foster Heroes to become matchmakers and find adopters for their foster pets, allowing foster pets to go from a foster home directly to a forever home. AHS provides training and resources to help Foster Heroes market their pet and complete adoptions all on their own. We will soon have a special “Coming Soon” section on our website featuring our Home-to-Home pets. Interested in becoming an AHS Foster Hero and saving lives? Learn more at azhumane.org/foster.
Help Save Homeless Pets Want to help us cut down on printing and mailing costs so we can buy more toys for our pets? If you would prefer to receive the electronic version of Paw Prints, sign up at azhumane.org/pawprints.
PUTTING THE BR AKES ON PET OVERPOPULATION You can help drive away pet overpopulation by purchasing pet-friendly license plates. Pet-friendly Arizona plates are available for only $25 per year, and $17 from each plate helps support spay/neuter services for dogs and cats in Arizona. Order your plates at azpetplates.org or call the ADOT Motor Vehicles Division Offices near you.