PHOENIX (AZ Family) — If you’re looking to add a new fur baby to your family, there are hundreds of dogs in Phoenix area shelters who could use your help!
The authorities describe the situation in the shelters as “terrible.” Between Arizona Humane Society and Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, there are nearly 2,000 dogs in need of loving homes, as well as more in need of foster care.
AHS spokesman Joe Casados said the shelter is beyond its maximum capacity. He said the humane society has about 1,000 dogs in pounds, 150 more than the same time last year, and the most in the shelter at one time in more than a decade.
Casados said there are also currently 630 dogs in foster homes and another 100 in need of foster homes.
Dogs available for adoption at Arizona Humane Society
Dogs available for adoption at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control
“This kennel space crisis is not a new trend,” Casados said. “Our 50+ pound dogs are staying longer than ever in our shelter. Our no-kill ethical philosophy means we never euthanize due to space or length of stay. Some of our pets have been here for over 100 days and are still waiting to be adopted, which means we have less space in the kennels to bring in new pets that need them.”
Casados said adoption, fostering and spaying/neutering are very necessary right now, particularly ahead of the Fourth of July, when record numbers of pets go missing. With shelters running out of space, he urged Valley dog owners to keep their pets this holiday season.
There are some steps AHS is taking to help free up kennel space:
- All large dogs (over 50 pounds) have waived adoption fees indefinitely.
- The “Adopt Today, Take Home Tomorrow” program allows shelter visitors to view and adopt pets who are awaiting their spay/neuter surgery before they can take them home.
- We recently started a “Snip Snip Hooray, Take It Home Today!” program that will allow visitors to view photos of pets receiving their spay/neuter surgery that day. Those pets can then be adopted, allowing them to return home immediately after surgery so that an adoption kennel is not necessary.
In addition to the dogs available at AHS, MCACC officials are also sounding the alarm for help. Spokeswoman Kim Powell said MCACC had 814 dogs in shelters as of Tuesday morning, about 200 more than its capacity.
From now until Sunday, AHS is waiving adoption fees for all dogs, including puppies! All dogs will come home spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.
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