Jennifer Birney, PIO Intern
Maricopa County Animal Care and Control
The holidays are a busy time of year for everyone; including Maricopa County shelters and rescue groups. Did you know that our community has one of the highest homeless pet populations in the country? During our last fiscal year, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control took in 36,047 dogs and cats – that’s an average of 100 animals each day
How can you help? What can you do to make the season a bit brighter for homeless pets? Here are a few ideas:
- Host a donation drive for a local shelter or rescue group. Many organizations are in need of food, toys and blankets for the dogs and cats in their care. Visit http://pacc911.org/coalition-partners for a list of just some of the groups located in Maricopa County.
- Sign up to volunteer! We are always in need of volunteers to help with adoptions, off-site adoption events and walking dogs at our shelters. The process is simple! Check out http://www.maricopa.gov/pets/help.aspx for a full list of volunteer job descriptions, time requirements and dates for the next scheduled volunteer orientation session
- With year’s end rapidly approaching, consider making a monetary donation to the animal charity of your choice. Make sure to check with the charity to ensure that your gift will be tax deductible! FRIENDS of Animal Care & Control (http://www.azfriendsofanimals.com) is a nonprofit agency that provides funding for our Spay Neuter Assistance Program. Fix.Adopt.Save. is a collaborative effort between seven different animal welfare agencies in the Valley – donate to them and support several causes at one time! Visit www.fixadoptsave.org for details.
- Once the hustle and bustle of the holidays has settled, visit your local shelter and adopt a homeless pet! Make it a family decision – discuss with each other the different breeds and what type of animal would be best for you. Who will feed the new pet? Will you take turns providing the new dog or cat daily exercise? Who will handle training? These are all important questions to have answered BEFORE you head down to the shelter. If you are looking for a specific breed, check out some of the Valley’s breed specific rescue groups.
- Resolve to make sure your dog is licensed! In Maricopa County, dogs over three months of age are required to be rabies vaccinated and licensed. Animal Care & Control offer FREE rabies vaccination clinics throughout the Valley on a monthly basis. You can find a list of upcoming events at http://www.maricopa.gov/pets.
These are some of the ways you can help. But remember, homeless pets need help all year round, not just during the holidays!
