Maricopa County announced it’s looking to create a new nonprofit dedicated to supporting shelter pets. The funding received would support services like spay and neutering and vaccinations.
The nonprofit is called Friends of Animal Care and Control. And the goal is to raise funds for homeless pets in the community, while easing pressure on public resources.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin says the county has a responsibility to protect animals.
“We have to take care of dogs. That is a mandate for county services — just like it is for public safety, just like it is for air quality," he said.
Galvin says the number of homeless pets fluctuates throughout the year.
“We try to get them back into their homes of their owners, but many times we're unable to do that. Also, during periods of economic unease or during a recession, unfortunately, a lot of people either have to move out of state or move to a different community where pets are not allowed," he said.
By creating this nonprofit, Maricopa County’s Animal Care & Control can work closely with donors and explore grant opportunities.
-
There’s been a sharp increase in canine parvo cases in Maricopa County and on tribal lands. According to the Arizona Humane Society, cases have quadrupled compared to this time last year. -
A new study that started at Northern Arizona University found the amount of salt in an environment significantly limits population growth for Earth’s largest herbivores. -
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it's looking for ways to make hundreds of wildlife refuges and dozens of fish hatcheries more efficient. -
Arizona could soon have a state law to mandate the kind of advice your mother would give you: Wash your hands after petting farm animals. -
Conservationists say the plans for managing the declining species could push them closer to extinction.
