Carolina and her teenage son stood in the lobby of a Phoenix animal shelter, tears streaming down their faces. The boy clutched a black and tan dog to his chest, occasionally whispering reassuring words into the pup’s floppy ear. An adviser for Arizona Pet Project noticed their plight and invited them to share their story.
After 13 years in their home, Carolina and her family were told they had to move out in just 30 days. The doting mother has managed to find an affordable place in the incredibly competitive housing market; they even allowed dogs. But with the first and last month’s rent and the added moving costs, Carolina couldn’t manage the extra pet deposit demanded by her new landlord.
The decision was heartbreaking: give up the new place and risk homelessness while searching and saving for another pet-friendly rental, or give up Maggie, the dog her family cherished.
Carolina knew she had to keep a roof over her children’s heads. So, heartbroken, she headed to the same shelter where she had happily adopted Maggie five years prior. Fortunately, the Arizona Pet Project was on the scene. Within minutes of entering the shelter, Carolina’s grief turned to pure joy. The 501c3 Nonprofit has offered to bail out Maggie’s pet so she can stay where she belongs: in the arms of her loving family!
Unfortunately, Carolina and Maggie’s story is not unique. Countless pets are abandoned at shelters each year due to financial constraints or personal crises. Whether a family is facing poverty, housing challenges, or domestic violence, the Arizona Pet Project is here to provide services and resources to prevent the unnecessary surrender of their beloved companions.
No one should have to say goodbye to their pet due to an unforeseen medical event.
Whether a pet suffers an injury or a pet parent is diagnosed with an illness, companionship is more important than ever in times of medical crisis. Laurie was suffering from horrible back pain when she learned that surgery was her only option for relief. As Pippa’s doting dog mother for eight years, Laurie’s first concern was what would happen to Pippa during her recovery.
Faced with months of excruciating pain and limited mobility, Laurie felt her only option was to hand over ownership of the senior Schnauzer. As Laurie left a Phoenix shelter in tears, Daniel, one of the Arizona Pet Project counselors, caught up with her. Daniel helped Laurie find care and support for Pippa so they could stay together through her recovery and beyond.
Homelessness shouldn’t be a crime
Homeless people are often charged with minor offenses like trespassing while simply trying to survive on the streets. This was the case of Taydra, who found herself facing a 6 month prison sentence and the loss of her dearest companion, Whinny. With the help of their extensive network of nonprofit partners, the Arizona Pet Project placed Whinny in a wonderful boarding house until she and Taydra could be reunited.
Pets also deserve to be protected from abuse
Like many victims of domestic violence, Sarah refused to leave her abusive relationship without her beloved dog. She was lucky enough to find refuge at the Sojourner Center, which offers a Pet shelter to keep families and pets together. However, Sarah’s dog bit another resident’s dog amid the stress and chaos.
Terrified of losing her pooch, Sarah contacted the Arizona Pet Project, which paid temporary boarding. Sarah was able to stay at the Sojourner Center until she could find permanent pet-friendly housing.
Everyone deserves a furry friend
The wonderful folks at the Arizona Pet Project believe that everyone deserves to experience the love and joy that comes with having a pet. That’s why they’re ready to help people in all sorts of different situations. Take Wanda, for example. She fell in love with a rowdy puppy named Baby.
Wanda wanted to give baby an amazing home, but she needed help shopping for supplies. She contacted the Arizona Pet Project, and they provided her with a crate, pee pads, and nutritious puppy food to help baby grow strong and healthy.
How does the Arizona Pet Project do what it does?
This unique organization began in 2001 as Friends of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. At the time, Phoenix-area shelters took in about 105,000 dogs and cats each year and euthanized about 70,000. To stem the influx of homeless animals, they became a shelter prevention agency offering free spaying and sterilization services. With the problem of puppies and kittens under control, the number of admissions to shelters has fallen to less than 50,000 pets per year and less than 9,000 euthanized.
Already a huge success, the team has begun tackling issues faced by older pets. They focused on community issues and created intervention programs to keep pets safe at home. Through a mix of grants and private donations, the Arizona Pet Project uses its partnerships with various social service agencies to provide temporary boarding, foster services, pet depots, emergency veterinary care , pet food and supplies, animal control fees and more.
Where to find help in your area
Although there aren’t many organizations like the Arizona Pet Project, people outside the Phoenix area can still find help. If you or someone you know is dealing with the loss of a pet, consult resources for this post from the Humane Society of the United States.
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