PACC Blog

• AWASA Expands “Pet Fix” Free Spay / Neuter Program

On December 9, 2009, the Pima County Board of Supervisors renewed the contract with the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southern Arizona (AWASA) for pet spay and neuter services. The contract is funded by donations from citizens, Pima Animal Care Center licensing fees, and purchases of the pet friendly license plates through the Arizona Companion Animal Spay and Neuter Program.

Last year, the AWASA program provided free spay and neuter services to over 2,120 pets. AWASA’s goal for this year is to increase the number to over 3,100 animals and include feral cats and rescue animals.

Pima County Board of Supervisors’ support of AWASA demonstrates their commitment to humane care of animals, and advocacy for reducing unwanted or abandoned pets in our community.

AWASA is hosting several free spay and neuter clinics. Following is an announcement for the first round of clinics being held.

On August 30, 2009 the saga of a special chocolate lab began when she arrived at Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) following a sad and cruel event. Someone had taped her mouth shut with duct tape, shot her with an arrow and was suffering from a very serious eye infection. It was her good fortune that a caring person spotted her and took her to PACC where she received immediate medical care and treatment. This brave and gentle dog captured the hearts of Pima County, as her sad story was told by local news. Her journey inspired her name “Nezbah”,  Navajo for “Woman in Battle”. Even when wounded and in pain, she showed her gentle spirit and expressed her gratitude with a wag of her tail and a lick on your hand. After weeks of care and recuperation Nezbah was available for adoption. A happy and sad day for those who cared for her as a special lottery was held due to the number of people wanting to give her a loving home. This special day was captured by channel 4 and 13 as Jackie Sarik was selected to be Nezbah’s new family. Through tears of joy, Jackie recounted how her daughter had dreamt of soon having a new dog that they could call Maddy. There were other tears that day from PACC staff that had come to love this gentle spirit and kind hearted lab.

There are many loving and gentle animals waiting for a good home, please consider visiting PACC to find your Nezbah. We are located at 4000 N. Silverbell Road on the northeast corner of Silverbell and Sweetwater. For the month of December all adoptions are $25 plus the $15 licensing fee.

Below are a couple of the pictures from the day Nezbah became Maddy.

November 24, 2009 ‐ Tucson AZ: In August we shared the story of the chocolate Labrador found in the vicinity of Kinney Road and Ajo Highway. The female lab, who was found suffering from an old
untreated eye injury, had also sustained a fresh wound to her side from an arrow.

Nezbah, a Navajo word meaning ‘woman in battle’, was treated at the Pima Animal Care Center for her injuries and began her road to recovery. While law enforcement investigated the acts of cruelty taken
against her thereby extending her stay at the Center, she maintained an exceptionally happy attitude hroughout her treatment endearing her to Center staff.

Sadly, Nezbah has lost the use of her right eye. A recent consultation with Dr. Meredith of Southern Arizona Vet Specialty Center confirmed the assessment of the long term injury. Although opaque in
color, the eye is clinically stable and requires no further treatment at this time.

With this good news, Nezbah will be made available for adoption at 12:00 noon this Friday, November 27, 2009, at the Pima Animal Care Center. The Center is located at 4000 N. Silverbell Road.
A special adoption rate of $25 on all animals (plus license for adult dogs) is currently available. The center is open for adoptions, redemptions, animal intake and licensing services Monday through Friday
Noon until 7pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am until 5pm. Telephone licensing is available Monday through Saturday 8am to 5pm.

For further information call 243‐5900. Click here for more pictures.

It’s time to get your pets ready for winter!  Our weather is changing and it’s time to make sure our pets are protected from the upcoming cold temperatures.  Consider the following recommendations for cats and dogs that spend a majority of their time outside.

1. Make sure that they have a protected area or space with three sides and a roof.  The space needs to be big enough for them to comfortably fit but small enough that their body heat can help keep them warm.
2. Be sure their bedding is dry and clean. Straw, blankets or bath towels that help to trap warm air are some good choices.
3. Do not use commercial insulation, fiberglass is not good for your pet and can irritate their eyes, nose, and paws.
4. Increase your pets’ food during cold days.  They need extra calories to keep warm during the cold nights and mornings.
5. Outdoor dogs do not need to be shaved during the winter months.  Continue to keep your dogs’ coat brushed.  It helps them to hold warm air better than if their coat is matted.
6. If you bathe your pet, make sure that they are completely dry before you put them outside.
7. For short haired breeds, consider getting them a coat or sweater.
8. Outdoor cats love the heat from the engine and may climb up under the hood by the motor to get warm.  Bang on the hood before you start your car.

In addition to keeping your pets safe and warm this winter, we have one more reminder regarding the coolant system in your car.  If you change out the anti-freeze in your car the Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) would like for you to take the following precautions:

• Do not leave anti-freeze open or spilled on the ground, it is extremely toxic to animals.  Not knowing any better, they like the taste of it and will lick it up.

Remember, your pets are counting on you to help them be safe and warm this winter. Make sure they have a warm cozy place to sleep that is up off the ground and away from drafts.  At PACC our shelter is heated, animals are brought in from outside runs, and blankets are provided for puppies and short haired dogs.

Looking for a warm body to keep your feet warm?  The animals at PACC may be just the ticket.  We have lots of wonderful pets for you to choose from. Come take advantage of our new hours of operation and find a pet that is just right for you!

Pima Animal Care Center is taking steps to provide better customer service and greater availability for the community to adopt a pet.  Effective Sunday, November 1st, Pima Animal Care Center will expand their walk-in hours to better serve our community.

The new hours will be Monday through Friday 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Center Manager Kim Janes stated “our staff and volunteers are committed to increasing the number of adoptions and we hope the new hours will help make that a reality.”

The addition of evening and Sunday hours will help facilitate adoptions, redemptions and licensing of pets over the weekend. Phone licensing will continue to be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.  Intake, enforcement and administration hours will remain the same.

With over 300 animals to choose from any day is a good day to adopt a pet.  Take advantage of our new expanded hours and a special adoption rate of $25 and a $15 licensing fee.

The expanded hours will give the public the opportunity to come in after work and on weekends.  The Pima Animal Care Center hopes more animals will be placed in loving homes.  We are located at 4000 North Silverbell Road and look forward to seeing you soon.

One of the most common animal law violations is the unlawful use of animal tie-outs. The only exception is the temporary tethering of horses.  Most jurisdictions within Pima County have laws to protect against animal neglect in reference to tie-outs. 

The tie-out law was enacted because of the extreme heat and dry conditions of the desert we live in.  With temperatures regularly exceeding the 100 degree mark, a dog that is tied out can become entangled and unable to access water and shelter.  This can result in the dog dying in a very short time from heat and/or sun exposure.  Dogs, unlike humans, cannot sweat and dissipate the heat from their bodies to cool down.  Dogs pant to physically cool their bodies and to keep from overheating; therefore, access to shade and water is imperative.

Section § 6.04.130 of the Pima County Code gives a peace officer or Pima Animal Care Center enforcement officer the authority to remove or impound animals found at risk for neglect or physical distress. While acting with a valid search warrant, or by observing an animal in plain view, an officer may remove or impound an animal if it appears to be in distress resulting from mistreatment or on a tie-out.

So, be a responsible pet owner and assure your animals have access to adequate shelter, shade and fresh water while they are in your yard.  Remember, if you live in Pima County, don’t use tie-outs.  The following pictures were taken by Pima Animal Care Center enforcement officers.  These pictures serve as a visual reminder to the dangers of tie-outs.  Don’t let this happen to your pet.

Some of the unsung heroes at Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) are the volunteers who selflessly give of their time and monies for the well being of the animals in the shelter.  PACC is grateful for these dedicated volunteers who take an active role helping to improve the stay for the animals.  When you visit the shelter you will find volunteers serving a variety of roles such as, shelter manager, working the front desk at the clinic, walking the dogs and volunteering at off site adoption locations.  The presence of these dedicated volunteers is vital to PACC and the animals.

One of our volunteers, a member of Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), shared a conversation he had had with a guest at PACC.  Someone had asked him about his volunteer affiliation and how many dogs he had and he responded, “about 107.”  Stunned, the person then asked where he kept them all, and he answered “right here at PACC.” This volunteer explained that he cares for each one as if they were his own until they were adopted.  This is just one example of the deep commitment the PACC volunteers have for these animals.  Our Wags and Walkers group not only walk the dogs, but they also take the time to groom them. No dog is too big, too small, or too undesirable for the walkers to handle and groom.

FOUND! are regular volunteers at the shelter, taking pictures of animals, sometimes outside of the shelter, and posting these pictures on their website to help reunite animals with their owners.

Our cat volunteers do a wonderful job petting and playing with the cats awaiting adoption.  Some are more anxious and benefit from this added one-on-one attention.

We can not say enough about the off site adoption events.  Individuals volunteer to host off site adoption events to help animals find homes and to promote PACC’s shelter as a place to find great pets.

PACC volunteers make a BIG difference in the many ways they volunteer whether it be interaction with the animals or helping with paperwork.  Without our volunteers, PACC would be lost.   If you would like to volunteer please go to our website at www.pimaanimalcare.org  and click on the volunteer link.  We have a great cadre of volunteers and would love to have you be a part of it.  Stay tuned for our next installment of animal heroes when we will feature rescue groups partnering with PACC.  Below are some photos of our dedicated volunteers.

FlightSafety International decided last fall that based on the economy, to implement strategies to expand their charitable giving. FlightSafety International is the world leader in aviation training and has over 40 learning centers in the U.S. and abroad and employs over 80 people at their Tucson operation. Because of the strong commitment that many of their staff have for animals, PACC was a logical choice for their third quarter charity.  With another month still to go FlightSafety employees are gathering food, toys and bedding for the animals at PACC.  An instructor, Mr. Leslie Morris a F-86 and Learjet pilot, decided to get a early start and personally bought five bags of high quality dog food, five cases of wet cat food and four bags of dry cat food and delivered them to PACC.  These products will help the animals that have been nutritionally challenges before coming to PACC.  Donations of food, toys and bedding help stretch PACC’s dollars enabling the Center to care for a larger number of animals.  Following are some pictures of Mr. Morris, who informed PACC staff that he has several animals at home and if he adopted another one his wife would have him residing at PACC.

Justin Gallick an Animal Care Advocate for PACC (left) and Leslie Morris from FlightSafety International (right)

Hello I’m Frasier the resident K9 at the Pima Animal Care Center (PACC). The great staff at PACC set up a Twitter account for me. Now I can share with you what PACC is like and all my cool friends that are ready to be adopted. Please visit my Twitter page at www.twitter.com/k9tweets to see what I am up to.

I will cheer you up if you are having a ruff day.

- Frasier the Boxer

Exciting things continue to happen at PACC. Our community outreach has resulted in a strong partnership with over 25 active animal rescue groups. An animal rescue group is an organization of individuals that foster animals that are not ready to be adopted by the general public. All animals are evaluated at PACC prior to being placed up for adoption, as well as monitored while they are available for adoption. If during either of these periods a concern is noted they are then evaluated to be placed on our daily rescue list. These concerns vary from medical to behavioral.

We will address dogs and their rescue group structure first. For dogs the adoption criteria is they must be at least eight (8) weeks of age, be of sound disposition and have no obvious signs of illness. Some of the common reasons that lead to an animal being placed on the rescue list are kennel cough (bordetella), being too thin to undergo the spay or neuter surgery required by law, behavioral issues such as, extreme shyness, or lack of socialization due to abuse or neglect.

Dog rescue groups are categorized by “all breed,” meaning they take any and all breeds including mixes or “breed specific”, which are rescue groups that specialize in a certain breed of dog and are intimately acquainted with that breeds’ issues and needs.

Cat rescue groups have a similar structure. At PACC we have two strictly cat rescue groups and four rescue groups that accept both cats and dogs. Cats are held to the same adoption standards as dogs; they must be at least eight (8) weeks of age, weigh at least two pounds, have no obvious signs of illness and have a good disposition. The most common reasons that cats are placed on the daily rescue lists are being too young/underweight, lactating mothers and showing signs of an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI).

To become involved with a rescue group please visit www.pimaanimalcare.org and click on Rescue groups. There are several to choose from and all of them are in need of foster homes to care for their animals until they are adopted. Simply contact one of the many rescue groups to begin the process to becoming a lifesaver. Most require an on-line application and/or a phone interview in an effort to assist you in finding a foster animal that will work out well in your household.

For many of the animals that come through PACC the rescue groups become their champions in finding them the life that they deserve. By working together, we can save more lives and bring the joy of companionship to all those in need.

For those that do not want to be affiliated with a formal rescue group, another option is to do a special needs adoption. This is just as it sounds; you can come down and do an adoption of one of the animals on the rescue list, with an understanding that you are assuming all responsibility for veterinary care. Should you want more information on this feel free to contact Justin Gallick, our Animal Care Advocate at (520)243-5929.

There are many positive stories told from those that have fostered or adopted an animal in need. We would love to give you the opportunity to tell yours

Following are two stories of animals that are available for rescue. Take a moment and read about them and if this is something that you would like to become involved in, please contact us or one of the rescue groups.

Kellogg the Dog
Shepherd/lab mix
10 mos old
Male

Kellogg came into PACC as a stray, when no one showed up he was evaluated and placed up for adoption. 3 weeks later he came down with kennel cough and has been placed on the rescue list. He is a very sweet, loving dog that loves to go on walks and play ball. He knows how to sit and is working on his other basic commands.

Omar the Cat
Domestic medium hair
Orange tabby
5 weeks old

Omar came into PACC as one of a litter of 9 along with his mother. The entire family is looking for a loving home to foster them until they are old enough to be altered and the mother has finished lactating and can be spayed.