Remember to Spay and Neuter Your Pets
By Kelsey Dickerson
Not since 2012, when more than 100,000 animals collectively entered Valley shelters, has our community struggled like it does today with unprecedented numbers of pets who have nowhere else to turn. With an estimated 3 million missed spay and neuter surgeries during the pandemic, coupled with economic and housing instability, shelters are straining to meet the community’s demands to help homeless and owned pets.
Despite these challenges, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) continues to care for more than 24,000 sick, injured and abused pets each year, and provides resources for owned animals to ensure a brighter future for all of Arizona’s pets. This commitment includes robust spay and neuter efforts both within its shelter walls and its public and mobile veterinary clinics.
Last year, AHS veterinarians performed more than 17,000 spay and neuter surgeries on both shelter and owned dogs, cats and rabbits. Spaying and neutering pets is the No. 1 solution to not only reduce the homeless pet population but also decrease needless euthanasia within our community.
In addition to preventing unwanted litters, fixing your pet also offers the best protection against serious health issues such as reproductive cancers, as well as the development of negative behaviors, including roaming and marking. AHS recognizes that providing affordable, accessible veterinary care is crucial in keeping pets with their loving families and out of overcrowded shelters.
And, thanks to a grant from the McS Charitable Foundation, even more spay and neuter surgeries will be performed this year and beyond. The lifesaving grant, appropriately named the “What Would Mary Do?” Grant, will help provide low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for thousands more owned pets each year at the Nina Mason Pulliam South Mountain Campus’s Margaret McAllister Brock Veterinary Clinic.
The funding will allow veterinary teams at the South Mountain location to expand spay and neuter services to two additional days per week, preventing an estimated 15,000 more pets from having unwanted or accidental litters within the first five years alone.
“We’re so thankful for the opportunity this grant provides in offering affordable spay and neuter services to pet owners in our community,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, AHS president and CEO. “With veterinary costs continuing to be out of reach for many families across the Valley, affordable options can keep pets and people together and save countless lives. This is all in honor of Mary Carol Sheets – an incredible pet lover who continues to leave a lasting legacy of compassion.”
Whether you’re adopting your next best friend or ensuring your four-legged family members at home receive the best care possible, AHS could not be a voice for the voiceless without the support of animal lovers right in our backyard.
To learn more about AHS’s spay and neuter services or to book an appointment, visit azhumane.org/spay.
Keeping Pets and People Together,
One Online Vet Visit at a Time
By Joe Casados
The virtual vet will see you now.
In a historic leap for animal welfare, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) has become the first animal welfare organization in the nation to offer online veterinary care services for owned pets.
Pet owners across Arizona can now schedule virtual appointments with licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians through AHS’s new telemedicine platform. With just a few clicks, pet owners can consult with medical professionals via video, eliminating the barriers at traditional veterinary clinics including transportation, distance and long wait times.
This milestone comes on the heels of the animal welfare organization’s broader advocacy efforts, which helped pass Senate Bill 1053 two years ago. The bill allows Arizona veterinarians to legally establish a veterinary-client relationship via telemedicine, making Arizona one of just a few states to embrace this progressive model of care.
“Online veterinary care doesn’t just help pets here in the Valley, it helps pets throughout the state of Arizona,” says Dr. Melissa Thompson, AHS vice president of Animal Welfare and Medical Services. “By expanding access to care for more pets, we will not only be able to keep more families together but also help relieve the number of pets being surrendered to shelters due to lack of veterinary care.”
In Maricopa County, where shelters are overwhelmed and pet surrenders remain high, this virtual option couldn’t come at a better time. Two of the top reasons pets are surrendered are the high cost of care and lack of access to veterinary services. With AHS’s online veterinary care, families have more options when it comes to accessing care, even if they are hundreds of miles away from a vet.
The virtual service is ideal for non-emergency issues like minor skin irritations, small wounds, weight fluctuations, sneezing and even behavioral concerns. Pet owners can also get advice about medications, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, and overall wellness – without ever stepping into a clinic.
But the impact goes beyond convenience. Arizona, like much of the U.S., faces a statewide veterinary shortage, especially in rural areas. AHS’s telemedicine platform connects pet owners anywhere in the state to experienced vets, breaking down geographical and financial barriers.
There are a few things pet owners should know: Virtual appointments are only available to pets currently residing in Arizona, and they’re not suited for emergency situations. In urgent cases, AHS recommends visiting a nearby emergency veterinary clinic.
For those wondering if online veterinary care is right for them, AHS makes it easy to learn more and get started. Information, including how to book an appointment, is available at azhumane.org/onlinevet.
With this pioneering move, AHS isn’t just making history, it’s rewriting the future of animal care in America.
“Unleashing Love” for Arizona’s Most Vulnerable Pets
By Jennifer Armbruster
This fall, animal lovers will come together for another unforgettable Compassion with Fashion – a dazzling celebration of hope, heart and haute couture, all for a cause close to home: saving sick, injured and abused pets across the Valley.
Benefiting the Arizona Humane Society (AHS), the annual event always includes a glamorous runway and wagging tails, where the pets are just as fabulous as the fashion.
This year’s theme, Love Unleashed – conceptualized and brought to life by the event’s dedicated committee members – will shine through as guests enter the Parisian-styled venue, strolling with sleek cocktails in hand as they pause to meet adoptable animals or bid on unique French-inspired packages during the silent auction.
As always, the show’s stars are the four-legged friends walking the “catwalk,” all of whom were rescued and are ready for their forever homes. The pups walk the runway paired with AHS staff members, such as the veterinarians, emergency animal medical technicians and foster team members who were integral in their lifesaving care.
And it’s not just the pets turning heads. Students from Arizona State University’s FIDM fashion program wow with their original designs. Each piece showcases the emerging talent of Arizona’s young creatives.
And the annual event is not complete without a live auction where guests enthusiastically raise paddles for pets in need.
As more animals will enter AHS’s doors this year than ever before, Compassion with Fashion is more than a feel-good event – it’s a critical lifeline. Every ticket purchased, every paddle raised and every corporate partner helps fund vital programs for the Valley’s most vulnerable pets including the Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital, specialized ICUs and ambulance services.
“Every year, Compassion with Fashion celebrates the amazing work of the Arizona Humane Society,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, AHS president and CEO. “This event allows us to sustain many lifesaving programs and highlights the generosity of all our donors and the hard work of our staff and volunteers. With 24,000 pets expected to enter our doors by year end, we are more appreciative than ever.”
Thanks to support from partners like Fetch Pet Insurance, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and others, the event ensures AHS will be a safety net for the Valley’s most vulnerable pets for years to come.
Because in Arizona, when fashion meets compassion, it can save lives.
2025 WINNERS
Buford T Dog
Buford T Dog is a 5-year-old bloodhound who loathes long walks and the backyard birds who steal his breakfast. The house is covered in his drool, which may or may not have magical properties. Visitors beware, he is fiercely (and loudly) protective of his people. In his heart of hearts, he is a 100-pound snuggly dog, and we love him.
Mackie-Moto San
We were told Mackie did not pass his health certificate exam as a kitten. He had a heart murmur, [and] we were not obligated to take him… He turned 10 years old on October 3, 2024… bringing him home was one of the best decisions we have ever made. He is an awesome fellow: so handsome, a comedian, loving, the best purr-purr on the planet. We are so lucky to have him in our home! We are truly blessed!
Nakira, aka Kiki
Kiki is a feisty, chestnut, 9-year-old mare. She offers healing to individuals who have experienced trauma by creating a safe space for them to relax and be vulnerable. She even gives kisses for carrots.
Local Love
PAWS Pet Products
In the pages of PHOENIX, you’ve read about Arizona wine, Arizona heritage grains and even Arizona-forged steel skillets. But Arizona pet-urine and odor stain remover? You bet your bottom dachshund. Co-founded by M. Lee Pipgras – owner of Phoenix-based trucking firm MTE, Inc. – PAWS uses a non-toxic, hydrogen peroxide-based formula to defeat stains and odors caused by pet urine, feces and vomit. It’s biodegradable and works on tile, carpet and furniture. Plus: PAWS loves animals as much as you do. Visit pawspps.com/mte-dog-rescue to read about the Mesa company’s pet-rescue efforts.
