Image taken by: Chris Scragg
The State of Adoption
Article written by: Chris Scragg
Image taken by: Chris Scragg
Thousands of lovable dogs and cats in Phoenix need help. Some roam free, under fed and skittish, while others huddle in crowded and stressful shelters hoping for a human to take them home.
There is a great effort by remarkable people in Phoenix to take care of rescued or surrendered animals. But this network of government employees, non-profit workers and volunteers is continually burdened by the large numbers of needy animals in the Valley and lack of resources.
In front of the Phoenix Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Facility, a large sign signals that the location is “dangerously full.” A message that means there are ten or fewer kennels available, said Jose Santiago, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Services Public Information Officer.
Santiago said at this point the agency works desperately to free up space by transferring animals to private shelters in Phoenix and across the country. He said they often transfer a hundred dogs a week.
While MCACC has a 95 percent save-rate, meaning only five percent are euthanized for health or aggression issues, many agree that shelters are problematic and uncomfortable spaces for dogs and cats.
Dee Alschuler Director of Lucky Dog Rescue, said conditions in the MCACC shelters have improved over the years, but it’s still not ideal.
“You have to first of all understand that the County is completely overloaded. When a dog hits the county system, they only have so many days, Alschuler said”
“We do everything we can to keep the animals as adoptable as possible but when there’s stress within the kennel, that can lead to aggression,” Santiago said.
MCACC has one of the largest animal intake facilities in the country and is often strapped for resources.
“In the summer months we can have upwards of a thousand to 1100 (animals) and that’s a tremendous strain on us,” Santiago said. “It takes us $16 million a year to run this facility, and we only get 750 thousand from the County, so we rely heavily on donations.”
Donations can take the form of money, dog food, toys and volunteering hours. Santiago said they have a program for people to spend time with the dogs or foster them for a day. Santiago said giving dogs extra attention or time outside of the shelter makes them more likely to find a home.
There is a great effort by remarkable people in Phoenix to take care of rescued or surrendered animals. But this network of government employees, non-profit workers and volunteers is continually burdened by the large numbers of needy animals in the Valley and lack of resources.
In front of the Phoenix Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Facility, a large sign signals that the location is “dangerously full.” A message that means there are ten or fewer kennels available, said Jose Santiago, Maricopa County Animal Care and Control Services Public Information Officer.
Santiago said at this point the agency works desperately to free up space by transferring animals to private shelters in Phoenix and across the country. He said they often transfer a hundred dogs a week.
While MCACC has a 95 percent save-rate, meaning only five percent are euthanized for health or aggression issues, many agree that shelters are problematic and uncomfortable spaces for dogs and cats.
Dee Alschuler Director of Lucky Dog Rescue, said conditions in the MCACC shelters have improved over the years, but it’s still not ideal.
“You have to first of all understand that the County is completely overloaded. When a dog hits the county system, they only have so many days, Alschuler said”
“We do everything we can to keep the animals as adoptable as possible but when there’s stress within the kennel, that can lead to aggression,” Santiago said.
MCACC has one of the largest animal intake facilities in the country and is often strapped for resources.
“In the summer months we can have upwards of a thousand to 1100 (animals) and that’s a tremendous strain on us,” Santiago said. “It takes us $16 million a year to run this facility, and we only get 750 thousand from the County, so we rely heavily on donations.”
Donations can take the form of money, dog food, toys and volunteering hours. Santiago said they have a program for people to spend time with the dogs or foster them for a day. Santiago said giving dogs extra attention or time outside of the shelter makes them more likely to find a home.
Some animals are brought to shelters because their owners can’t afford to take care of them. That’s when Daniel Gonzalez steps in.
Gonzalez is a shelter intervention counselor with the Arizona Pet Project. He works inside the MCACC and can offer assistance if people surrender their pets for financial reasons. He also works on messaging to increase awareness of the resources available for struggling pet-owners.
“Specifically within the Spanish-speaking communities, there is a big lack of knowledge about these resources … we try to target those areas to provide them with the right services they need,” Gonzalez said.
Santiago said, he hopes to end the stigma that shelters only have two breeds. He said people should consider visiting a shelter before buying a dog from a breeder.
He said there’s a variety of breeds at the shelters and that it’s more important to connect with an individual animal rather than a breed.
“I think people tend to fall in love with breeds in their head...it’s always best to walk around a shelter environment and try to connect with a specific animal.”
Overall, MCACC has seen a reduction in the number of animals in their facilities as the economy has improved, but increased awareness can help save more animals and give them healthy, happy homes.
Gonzalez is a shelter intervention counselor with the Arizona Pet Project. He works inside the MCACC and can offer assistance if people surrender their pets for financial reasons. He also works on messaging to increase awareness of the resources available for struggling pet-owners.
“Specifically within the Spanish-speaking communities, there is a big lack of knowledge about these resources … we try to target those areas to provide them with the right services they need,” Gonzalez said.
Santiago said, he hopes to end the stigma that shelters only have two breeds. He said people should consider visiting a shelter before buying a dog from a breeder.
He said there’s a variety of breeds at the shelters and that it’s more important to connect with an individual animal rather than a breed.
“I think people tend to fall in love with breeds in their head...it’s always best to walk around a shelter environment and try to connect with a specific animal.”
Overall, MCACC has seen a reduction in the number of animals in their facilities as the economy has improved, but increased awareness can help save more animals and give them healthy, happy homes.
“The best moments are when the families … are thanking you,” Gonzalez said. “We can’t save them all, I’m one person and I have to keep reminding myself of that.”