· Rescued Dogs Adopted
HSSA Focuses Care on Severe Medical Cases >
Thanks to an outpouring of support from the community, all of the dogs taken from a hoarding case in Avra Valley who are available at this time have been adopted. Since Thursday, adoption counselors with the Humane Society of Southern Arizona have performed approximately 100 adoptions each day, a record in the organization’s 64-year history. The staff of HSSA has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the public and amazed at the generosity of our community.
Potential adopters who received numbers on Friday can choose to be placed on a waiting list for animals that become available over the next few months. However, HSSA encourages the public to visit the shelter and meet our other dogs and cats, who are still in need of good homes.
Right now, HSSA’s veterinary staff is focused on treating about 100 dogs in need of intensive medical care. Experienced animal care specialists are working to care for dogs afflicted with severe eye conditions and medical conditions due to age. HSSA staff is also attending to and rehabilitating animals like the dogs taken from the Avra Valley home with missing paws, who have undergone difficult surgeries to amputate their legs.
Meantime, foster care coordinators have placed mothers and their litters in foster homes within our community. These animals will be cared for by experienced foster care workers, who will help raise the puppies until they are old enough to be adopted by the public.
The staff and resources at HSSA have been stretched to the limit over the past few days as we work to feed, care for and adopt these animals. HSSA estimates this operation alone will cost the agency $400,000. Since the nonprofit does not receive any assistance from government agencies to fund rescues like this, the need for financial contributions is urgent. To donate, call 327-6088 or use link at right.
· Hundreds of Small Dogs Rescued From Hoarding Case >
Right now, animal care specialists with the Humane Society of Southern Arizona are accepting and cataloging aproximately 752 small dogs and 36 exotic birds in what investigators believe is a case of animal hoarding.
On the morning of March 10th, officers with Pima County Sheriff’s Dept responded to the home and found hundreds of the dogs. Some are very ill and some have already passed away. To care for the surviving dogs, HSSA is assembling pens at its shelter to house the dogs as comfortably as possible while permanent homes are found.
This case underscores the problem of pet overpopulation in our community. Since February 15th, HSSA has accepted more than 70 dogs from the county shelter, to give PACC the flexibility to accommodate the pit bulls from last month’s raids on dogfighters in our community. Now, as HSSA prepares to accept hundreds more dogs connected with this hoarding case, resources and shelter space have been stretched thin. We desperately need the community’s help to deal with this massive influx of animals at our site. Here’s how:
Spay or neuter your pet now! The overcrowding at these facilities highlights the pet overpopulation problem in our community. HSSA receives, shelters and cares for an average of 13,000 animals each year, and that number is expected to climb. Taking preventive steps can have a profound impact on alleviating this strain on our community.
Donate to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona! Because HSSA does not receive state or county funding to take part in operations like this, there are no additional funds to cover the increased cost of caring for the animals. To make a donation, use the PayPal link at right, or call the shelter at 327.6088.
Adopt! The small dogs in this case are currently being evaluated by HSSA’s veterinary staff, and may soon be available for adoption. There are also dozens of other dogs from various breeds available for adoption. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona is committed to helping our community in any way possible and will continue to do so. We welcome any support from the community while we care for and find homes for our community’s orphaned pets. |
