Extreme heat forecasts mean the Arizona Animal Welfare League is taking an unusual step this weekend. They’re closing up shop on Sunday — typically a big day for pet adoptions — when it could hit 119 degrees in the Phoenix area.
Michael Morefield is with the AAWL. He says while the shelter is used to dealing with hot temperatures, "it’s so much so fast that we want to make sure that we are being as safe as possible. So yes, it’s unprecedented that we’re closing the shelter on Sunday due to the heat, but we don’t want to take any risks. It’s such a huge spike."
According to the Weather Channel, temperatures are expected to jump more than ten degrees from Friday to Sunday.
Morefield said staff and volunteers are helping out by taking as many dogs as possible home with them. The shelter will use additional cooling units, fans and swamp coolers to keep the remaining animals comfortable.
On Friday and Saturday, the shelter will run an adoption special to encourage potential adopters to act now. For select dogs, the outdoor temperature that day will be the adoption fee.
For more information about the shelter and adoptable dogs, go to AAWL website or call 602-273-6852.
