PawPrints Magazine: Winter 2021

ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY

WINTER 2021

A GROUNDBREAKING MOMENT FOR PETS

ASK EDISON Edison is one of our Animal Teachers who interacts with children at camps, during birthday parties and

Our Mission We save the most vulnerable animals and enrich the lives of pets and people.

Our Values Innovation. Compassion. Excellence.

in classrooms. In each issue of Paw Prints, Edison answers a question we receive from animal lovers like you.

Q: With summer camps months away, are there other ways to get my child involved at the Arizona Humane Society?

Definitely! While you must be at least 16 to volunteer, there are some really stellar ways kids can help the pets at AHS while learning about cool animals like me at the same time. For example, Reading Fur Fun is a special program where young readers can practice their reading skills on shelter dogs—and those pups tell me they love the attention! The folks at AHS are also always in need of enrichment toys to keep all the pets entertained.

My Animal Teacher friends and I also work hard to inspire a compassionate and caring community for all animals through education and outreach. We’re often out and about meeting kids through Boy Scout and Girl Scout troop visits, school trips, AHS birthday parties and even virtual birthday shout out videos. (What can I say—we’re a popular bunch!)

Dr. Steven R. Hansen President & CEO

2021 AHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee Andrea Marconi, Chair Dr. Craig Thatcher, Vice Chair Bryan Albue, Secretary

Suzanne Pearl, Past Chair & President’s Club Steering Committee Chair Tracey Lyons, Governance Chair

Matthew Waller, Treasurer & Finance Chair

Board Members

You can find enrichment toy instructions and all things kids-related at azhumane.org/youth.

Anthony Alfonso

Dr. Linda Groomes

Courtney Beller, Compassion with Fashion Co-Chair

Suzanne Hensing

Yvonne A Betts Andrea L. Claus, Planned Giving Chair Ann Damiano Dr. Karla Fisher Dyan Getz, Circle of Friends Co-Chair Lisa Grayson

Susie Ingold Julie Johnson Ann-Marie Lee Kerry Milligan Kimberlee Reimann Padilla Ann Siner Patricia Tate Jo Taulbee-Flittie

AZHUMANE .ORG

2 | PAW P R I N T S

ROXIE GETS

HER SMILE BACK Roxie’s owner was out of options. Poor Roxie had gingival hyperplasia—the abnormal growth of gum tissue. It’s a generally mild condition, but it can be hard to treat because the underlying cause is not fully understood. Some pets need multiple surgeries, laser therapy and medications to keep it under control.

Roxie had already had surgery with a dental specialist in 2019 to scale back the inflammation, but now it was back with a vengeance. And due to hard times because of COVID-19, another pricey surgery just wasn’t an option for Roxie’s family.

But at our affordable veterinary clinics, we do everything we can to connect pet owners with affordable medical services to keep pets with the people who love them. Thanks to generous grants from the Elinor Patterson Baker Foundation, PetSmart Charities, and Petco Love, we were able to cover Roxie’s surgical costs. Dr. Melanie Peters delicately removed the overgrown gum tissue and teeth, giving Roxie back her beautiful smile!

CHOLLA CHARLIE’S

PRICKLY SITUATION This little Chihuahua was having a very bad day. At just five months old, he was not only lost on the street—he’d also managed to stumble into a cholla cactus. His tiny body was covered in more than 100 cactus spines. Luckily, he’d been taken in by Surprise Animal Control and then quickly transferred to our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™.

Our skilled veterinarians sedated him so he wouldn’t have to feel any pain. Then, they got to work carefully removing the spines in his body and face. Affectionately named “Cholla Charlie,” this pup was then given a home with a Foster Hero where he could recover in peace.

Not a month later, he was fully healed and eager to find his forever home. And boy, was he a charmer! His playful personality in the face of adversity won the hearts of over 40 different hopeful adopters who saw his story on our social media pages. But at last, he started his new life with Liz and Larry, a loving couple who knew it was meant to be.

BEFORE

AFTER

WINTER 2021 | 3

“ I COULD SEE DOWN TO HER BONE”

LORELAI WAS ALONE

ON THE HOT SUMMER STREETS

We’ll never know what happened to her, really.

We only know that when Greta was spotted and brought to us by a Good Samaritan, she was covered in open wounds. Her rescuer had wrapped both of her hind legs and her front leg because he could see down to the bone.

Once this two-year old Doberman Pinscher was in our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™, our team leapt into action to treat her wounds. Who can say how she received such terrible injuries—or how long she waited for someone to find her?

Greta’s recovery took two months, during which time she stayed with one of our incredible Foster Heroes and began to share her sweet personality.

And every effort was worth it when she finally found her forever home with a loving adopter in Laveen.

While we love to share stories like Greta’s, the truth is there are still countless homeless animals who need our help.

Will you help us provide medical care and find loving homes for these pets in need? Your support of lifesaving programs like our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™, Mutternity Suites, Kitten Nursery, Bottle Baby ICU and Parvo Puppy ICU save the lives of pets routinely euthanized in shelters, and it’s what makes these success stories like Greta’s possible.

Make a difference today by giving to our 2021 Holiday Drive to Save Lives at azhumane.org/ holiday. Thank you for being a guardian angel for these deserving animals.

4 | PAW P R I N T S

Lorelai was a little cat on the street suffering from an open wound on her ear. When a Good Samaritan brought her to a local emergency hospital, it was clear the kitty was dehydrated from her wandering. What’s more, her ear had a hematoma—a pocket of blood that can easily lead to painful ear infections.

We picked her up and transferred her to our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™, where our vets got to work fixing up her ear. And when she was taken in by one of our incredible Foster Heroes, she finally got to experience what it’s like to have a safe place to stay.

Our comprehensive medical, behavioral rehabilitation, surrender intervention and spay & neuter initiatives have become a safety net for the Valley’s most vulnerable pets—like Lorelai. Since 2013, we’ve been able to save an additional 115,000 lives.

As for this kitty, when her ear had finally healed, Lorelei was ready to find her forever home—and is now cuddled up with her new family!

KEEPING PETS IN LOVING HOMES:

MAGGIE MAE’S STORY Susan came to us seeking help for her best friend, a beautiful Great Pyrenees named Maggie Mae. Maggie Mae had been limping, and Susan was worried something was wrong. But Susan was on a tight income and struggling to get Maggie Mae the care she needed.

It’s for situations like this that AHS’ Bridge the Gap program exists. Through Bridge the Gap and our Real Time Solutions Fund, we were able to connect Susan with resources and financial support to bring Maggie Mae to the great veterinarians at Sun Valley Hope. The pup was diagnosed with valley fever and able to start treatment. AHS helped cover the exam and first round of medication so that Susan could save for Maggie Mae’s continued treatment plan.

Keeping pets in loving homes is a vital part of the work we do at AHS. In addition to our Bridge the Gap Program, AHS’ Project Home Away From Home helps provide foster care for pets whose owners are in crisis and need a temporary place for their pets to stay while they secure stable housing. We also formed Pet Housing Help AZ with other leading animal welfare groups in Arizona to provide easy access to resources for pet owners across the state. To help house a pet or get resources for yourself, visit PetHousingHelpAZ.org.

AHS’ PET RESOURCE CENTER RECEIVES

$50,000 PULLIAM GRANT The warmest of thank-yous to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, which awarded our Pet Resource Center (PRC) with a $50,000 grant. The PRC is our first line of support to help pet owners find the resources they need. They take calls from across the Valley, helping our community get access to financial aid, pet care resources, information on AHS, and details about adoptable pets. This award will help us impact so many more lives!

WINTER 2021 | 5

FINDING SPECIAL HOMES

FOR SPECIAL PUPS Distemper: A highly contagious disease that leads to automatic euthanization in many shelters. But at AHS, we’re able to fight for the dogs who test positive. While there’s no known cure, these pups get separate kennel spaces and medical support to help their bodies fight off the illness without infecting our other canine residents.

The thing about distemper, though, is that it can hang around for months. A dog can be very healthy but still shed miniscule amounts of the virus, meaning they can’t be around other dogs.

This is an awful catch-22 because the stress from living in a shelter for so long—no matter how much love and enrichment they receive—can wear down their immune systems and make a full recovery difficult.

So, we took action. We started an innovative adoption program to find special homes for the dogs who were otherwise very healthy but just needed to stay quarantined until their tests came back negative. At first, we were worried—would our community accept these pups who needed to stay safely at home for a while? But you absolutely answered the call, and now these dogs are living in new, loving homes away from other animals. What’s more, tests for many of these dogs are finally coming back negative!

HELPING WITH

HURRICANE IDA Our Emergency Response Team is used to deploying to emergencies here in Arizona. But rarely do we receive the call for help across state lines. And this one came all the way from Louisiana: animal shelters were losing power after the hurricane, and they needed to evacuate their pets. Quickly.

So began a rapid road trip across the American South. Our team of six drove three vans through the night, each pair switching off to get there as quickly as possible. They met with a team from the Louisiana SPCA who had brought 26 dogs and 14 cats to the meetup point in El Paso, Texas. After giving the pets a chance to stretch their legs, our team buckled everyone in safely and turned right back to Arizona to find these pets their forever homes.

It’s through partner collaborations like these that we are able to place pets in foster, rescue and permanent homes, reduce overcapacity in other shelters and reunite lost pets with their owners. This kind of lifesaving work is only possible because of our generous donors, and we’re honored to have been able to answer the call for help!

6 | PAW P R I N T S

KALLIE ROSE AND ROHIT TRIPATHI CREATING A LASTING IMPACT FOR HOMELESS PETS The thing about the Arizona Humane Society is that it’s very difficult to visit just once. At least, that seems to have been the case for Kallie Rose and Rohit Tripathi.

It started with Bono, a little black kitten they adopted from AHS. Then came volunteering a few years later. Kallie, a devoted animal lover, had worked with other animal welfare organizations in the past and was eager to get involved. Of course, working in cat admissions brings you into contact with a lot of cute kitties, and the couple soon adopted another star-studded member of their family: a six-year-old tuxedo cat they named Cary Grant. “He’s so polite,” Kallie laughed, “He knows Bono is older, so he’ll let him eat first.

And he’ll groom Bono, until Bono gets tired and slaps him. But Cary loves him anyways because Bono is super sweet and has taught him so much!”

Kallie became a member of the President’s Club in 2020, and she and Rohit both became Legacy Circle members not long after. But it

The couple first bonded over their love

wasn’t until the couple toured the Sunnyslope

for animals and vegetarian lifestyle. Now,

Campus that they realized the depth of

supporting AHS is the next step in that

the impact they could have. “We were so

journey. “We want to inspire others to do

impressed with the trauma hospital, how

what they can to help make the world a

everybody was working so well in that small

better place for all animals,” said Rohit.

space,” Kallie said. It was that experience that

The pair feel it’s important to support the

led them to make a generous gift to the Capital

underdog (literally). “The animals in the

Campaign, which will help us build the new

society we’ve built aren’t treated well,” Kallie

Papago Park Campus. “We wanted to dedicate

said, “They don’t have a voice, so we have to

more of our life to helping animals, and this

ask, how can we help them?”

seemed like the perfect opportunity.”

WINTER 2021 | 7

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

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

THE 2022 AHS CALENDAR

IS HERE! Filled with our pet photo contest winners and some of our favorite rescue stories, this glossy calendar is the perfect stocking stuffer for pet lovers—and all profits go directly to help save more animal lives.

Get yours for just $20 plus shipping and handling at azhumane.org/calendar.

THE BEST WAY TO

DONATE YOUR VEHICLE When you donate your car, truck, boat or other vehicle to AHS’ Wheels for Wags program, we go the extra mile. We’ll pick it up, make repairs and find a private buyer to fetch a top-dollar sale price. That means more money for pets, and a greater tax refund for you!

Learn more at azhumane.org/wheelsforwags.

MAKING VETERINARY CARE ACCESSIBLE

FOR EVERYONE In September, we were finally able to resume our Healthy Tails Mobile Veterinary Clinic— courtesy of the Banfield Foundation—after being on hold due to the pandemic. At St. Vincent de Paul’s Companion Animal Program event, we provided free pet vaccinations, exams and spay & neuter vouchers to pet owners experiencing homelessness. Attendees also received pet licensing and microchip registration from Maricopa County Animal Care & Control, free pet supplies and a framed photo with their pet.

We’re honored to be there for our community!

A GROUNDBREAKING MOMENT FOR PETS

Maricopa County used to be one of the worst places to be a pet. In 2013, we were facing the worst pet overpopulation crisis in the United States. The Arizona Humane Society was a large shelter taking in thousands of homeless animals, but there were still many pets with treatable illnesses being euthanized throughout the state.

We knew a radical shift in thinking was needed to save more animal lives. So, we began systematically launching multiple initiatives to care for the most vulnerable in our community: Our Bottle Baby ICU and Kitten Nursery take in kittens who wouldn’t be able to

The Pet Resource Center keeps families together by connecting pet owners with

survive without intervention, and our Mutternity Suites provide a calm space for mother dogs and their new puppies.

financial support and other resources to help them care for their pets.

The Parvo Puppy ICU and isolation kennels take in dogs with contagious diseases who would be automatically euthanized in other shelters.

And every day, our Emergency Animal Medical Technicians™ (EAMTs™) are traveling throughout the Valley to respond to reports of injured and abused pets, many of whom receive lifesaving care in our Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™ at our Sunnyslope Campus.

And these efforts have worked. As a result, we’ve decreased euthanasia by 82%, saving an additional 115,000 lives. The programs we began have transformed animal welfare in our community, and some of our practices are even being taught and emulated at other shelters around the country.

Now, it’s time to expand our reach.

On November 4th, we officially broke ground on our new Papago Park Campus—a dream that has been years in the making. And this groundbreaking marks the beginning of a whole new era for the Arizona Humane Society.

COME SEE THE

FUTURE

OF ANIMAL WELFARE

IN ARIZONA.

FINDING OUR

FOREVER HOME The journey began with a search for the right location. Safety and accessibility were paramount. We wanted all of our visitors to feel comfortable being on-site at any time of day—whether they were an adopter looking for a new family member, a Foster Hero bringing a pet in for a late-night emergency or a volunteer taking a dog out for some exercise around campus.

Dr. Hansen, President and CEO of the Arizona Humane Society, officially breaks ground on the new facility. To see photos from our groundbreaking event, visit azhumane.org/groundbreakphotos.

The building itself has been designed by the pet facility architects Animal Arts and will be the Southwest’s most advanced care facility for homeless animals. Every space has been carefully planned out with heavy involvement from our staff to create a facility that is both efficient and welcoming. The campus will serve as the regional hub for AHS’ acute medical care for trauma patients, foster services, adoptions, spay and neuter, behavior rehabilitation, rescue and cruelty investigations, and educational outreach—all This Papago Park location met all of our priorities and more. The new campus is situated near the juncture of the 202 and 143 freeways. In addition to its convenient location, the five-acre property was already zoned for the kind of services we provide. A portion of the Papago Park Campus land was donated by Cindy and Mike Watts, making the acquisition a great value for our organization.

of which will be expanded. Ultimately, the Papago Park Campus will replace the majority of operations at our aging Sunnyslope Campus, allowing us to serve vastly more pets. This is vital as we prepare for the Valley’s population growth, as we’re currently one of the fastest-growing regions in the US.

THOUGHTFULLY DESIGNED

FOR PETS AND PEOPLE

With the number of departments and vast range of lifesaving programs that make up AHS, it was important to create a space that would be easy to nagivate and promote positive experiences for pets and their new families. The 72,000+ sq. ft. facility will take the form of a pair of two-story buildings connected by a dynamic pedestrian “canyon” between them. Adopters will enter through the Jamie L. Middleton Welcome Lobby. From there, they’ll be able to use the calm meeting spaces to get to know the pets. There’s even a designated leash-fitting zone to encourage good walking behavior with a dog’s new owner.

Outside, the campus will include a dog park, a pavilion, the Serenity Garden, and even a sensory garden with lavender, rosemary and other pet-safe plants for dogs’ olfactory enrichment.

Calm meeting spaces provide a positive experience for pets and guests alike.

PROVIDING MEDICAL CARE

TO THOUSANDS MORE PETS The Second Chance Animal Trauma Hospital™ at our current Sunnyslope Campus provides lifesaving care to more than 10,000 pets every year. But there are still so many pets who need our help.

Integrated technology will allow veterinary students to view live surgeries as a part of our teaching hospital program.

Our new Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital will replace our outdated facilities and expand our capacity for treating the most vulnerable homeless animals by 25%. That’s thousands of animals every year. This will reduce the number of animals needlessly euthanized in shelters across our state. Our vet team has worked closely with our architects to design a space that is highly efficient, easy to keep sterile, and outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment to treat a wide range of illnesses and injuries.

In addition to the trauma hospital, the Watts Family Medical Complex will also include the BISSELL Pet Foundation Spay and Neuter Unit, as well as our Parvo ICU, Bottle Baby ICU and Kitten Nursery, Mutternity Suites and new Meowternity Suites, and other intensive care units. These specialized care centers allow us to take in pets who other shelters can’t care for and give them a second chance at a happy, healthy life.

The BISSELL Pet Foundation Spay & Neuter Unit.

THE NEW PAPAGO PARK CAMPUS COMING EARLY SPRING 2023

THE HIGHEST STANDARDS

OF ANIMAL CARE It is a sad truth that our old Sunnyslope Campus was designed to adopt out healthy animals and euthanize sick ones when it was built in 1957. Its layout reflects the old

“traditional shelter” thinking of the time. So while it has served us well for 64 years, it’s now bursting at the seams and is not conducive to healing. Our new space, on the other hand, will provide the absolute best environment for shelter pets in the Southwest.

In the Papago Park Campus, the kennels will be full of natural light and provide easy access to enrichment spaces for out-of-kennel time—including “catios” to provide outdoor enrichment for cats. Our dog and cat areas will be separated by sound walls and separate airflow systems to reduce stress. The facility will also have separate housing spaces for puppies and for dogs with contagious diseases to minimize transmission.

By keeping the buildings narrow, kennels will have

These plans all support our goal of reaching 100%

maximized daylight to enable

compliance with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’

natural circadian rhythms and

Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters. Only

promote healing. (Note: This

one other shelter has ever reached 100% compliance, and

is a rough rendering and does

with this new facility, we’ll finally be able to leap across the

not show the final colors.)

finish line ourselves!

A NEW LOOK FOR

A BRIGHT FUTURE Have you noticed our new look?

Alongside the groundbreaking, the time was right to create a bold new look and feel for our organization. This new branding mirrors the great strides we’ve taken in creating a bright future for Arizona’s pets.

Since 1957, our commitment to saving pets has never wavered. And in recent years, we’ve made more progress toward that vision than ever before. It has been a long journey to transform Maricopa County from one of the worst places to be a pet to one of the best. And now, it’s time that our organization’s look and feel matched the innovative organization you know us to be.

Our new logo is designed to be a beacon to the Valley of transformational rescue, treatment, care and love for animals. The silhouette of the paw represents the footprint we’re leaving on Arizona. The sun communicates that the future for Arizona’s pets is so much brighter than it was. And the new color represents positivity, inspiration and innovation.

Brands are always evolving, and while we may now look different, we are still the same innovative, compassionate organization we have always been, and we remain committed to living out the values that have brought us here. We couldn’t have accomplished so much without you, and together, we will continue to work steadily towards our vision of a future where no pet has to suffer.

Classrooms and multipurpose community spaces will support our summer camps and educational events.

AND IT’S ALL THANKS TO OUR

INCREDIBLE SUPPORTERS

As you read this, construction is underway. Our team is buzzing with excitement and already beginning preparations for the big move. This new location will save so many more animal lives—and it has only been possible because of our donors.

Because of many generous individuals and organizations, we have so far raised $22 million in funds and in-kind donations to complete this new facility. These donors are making the dream of the Papago Park Campus a reality, and we are absolutely humbled by the outpouring of support and compassion for Arizona’s pets.

Thank you for your enthusiasm, and for your trust. We are eager to welcome the Valley to our new campus with open arms in 2023.

The Papago Park Campus Has Been Made Possible By: Anonymous (18) Diane & Paul Abe Martha & Bryan Albue Anthony Alfonso Ellen Altman Debra & Jeff Andrews Dede & David Areghini Tom & Boots Arnold Dr. & Mrs. Kenneth A. Batko Michael & Courtney Beller Jeffrey F. Berg & Debra H. Paget Yvonne & Steve Betts Barry & Jean Bingham Charitable Giving Fund BISSELL Pet Foundation Chelsea Blandford Steven Bobbitt Geoffrey Brewster The Brooks Keeping Families Together Fund Don & Leslie Budinger – Rodel Foundation of Arizona Dr. Merrill S. Chernov Cecilia Claudio Andrea & Todd Claus James C. & Esther M. Crabtree Jan & Tom Crews The Cutter Family Ann C. Damiano Jennifer & Eric Danziger

Joni & Scott Davis Deborah J. DePaoli Jacquie & Bennett Dorrance Dorrance Family Foundation Herbert H. & Barbara C. Dow Foundation Susan & Bob Duffy Colleen & Jim Edwards Chris Erblich Ardie & Steve Evans, Evans Charitable Foundation Dr. Karla Fisher & Mr. Frederick Webster Jo & John Flittie The Foster Family Cheryl J. Hintzen-Gaines & Ira J. Gaines Suzanne & Paul Geimer Linda & Pat Gentry Dyan & George Getz Globe Foundation The Gibney Williams Family In Memory of Bonnie Lee Grainger and Norman & Helen Willis Heather & Michael Greenbaum Dr. Linda Groomes Kathy & Dan Grubb Melinda Morrison Gulick Dr. John & Gail Hafer Dr. Steven Hansen &

Mrs. LuAnn Hansen Debbie & Larry Harlan, The Bach Family Trust Cynthia & Doug Harmon Suzanne & John Hensing, MD Joan Herstein Judy Hewson Jamie Hormel Patience & James Huntwork Susie Ingold Raya Irakliev Jill Jackson & Robert Lorman Laurie & George Jackson Christine Jensen Erick & Teresa Johnson Sharon R. Johnston, MD Meher Kaur & Soul Singh Khalsa Jan & Nita Kieser Lou Kissling Dave Kopp Carole & Richard Kraemer Sandra Kramer Williams Bill & Julie Lavidge Lazin Animal Foundation Richard & Sally Lehmann Kathryn Lincoln & Christopher Perez Sandra Luke & Richard Warnick Tracey Lyons Susan & Andrew Magee

Andrea Marconi Lauren Martich & Adrian Gonzalez Franya Marzec In Memory of Jinx McCreary Barbara & Michael McLean Jamie L. Middleton Kerry & Bob Milligan Nancy Mitchell Dawn Nehls Doris S. Norton Dr. Donald E. & Barbara A Novicki Owen P. O’Malley Kimberlee & Amador Padilla Fred Pakis & Becky Pierson Pakis Family Foundation Papp Family Foundation Andrea & John Pappas Chris & Kelsea Patton Suzanne J. Pearl Dwight & Kathryn Peters Ken & Skip Pollock Lisa & Blair Portigal Bill & Mary Kay Post Gloria & Bernie Rinella Kallie Rose & Rohit Tripathi Ryan Companies Lois Savage & Meredith Savage Jeff & Saundra Schrock

James & Melinda Sharp Kelly & Joe Sicari Jay & Suzanne Simon Ann Siner Suzanne Singer & Tegan Lamb Wendell & Sandra Smith Brad & Ellen Soultz Linda Srere & Bob Bendotti Bob Stamper Patricia A. Tate Craig Thatcher & Ken Schutz Stuart & Ted Tufty Missy Turner John C. Walker Matt & Stacee Waller Cindy & Mike Watts Ronald & Debra Webster Chip & Daryl Weil Jeff and Dian Weisman Willard E. White, PhD Janet E. Wieder & Rev. Dr. Walter F. Wieder Jana Wilcke Michael Williamson Keith & Patty Withycombe Juliane & Robert Wolfe Kelly & John Woudenberg Susan & Peter Yannitelli, In Memory of Dolly & John Hutira Italicized names represent those who have passed away.