Heat Boosts Capacity Crisis At Arizona Animal Welfare Organizations

PHOENIX (August 10, 2023) – Animal welfare organizations across the Valley were already dealing with an overcapacity crisis. Then came the record-breaking July heat.

Last month, the Arizona Humane Society (AHS) cared for more than 2,000 pets, which is a 15% increase over July 2022. Overall, the shelter is seeing an increase in pets surrendered by their owners, primarily due to costs and housing restrictions, as well as an increase in heat-related cases that are treated at AHS’ trauma hospital. To continue to care for the Valley’s most vulnerable animals, AHS is asking the community to help place 300 animals in new homes this weekend by waiving adoption fees for all adoptable pets at both locations this Saturday, August 12 and Sunday, August 13.

“We are on pace to care for 20,000 animals this year, which is a number we have not seen in almost a decade,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, AHS President and CEO. “This time of year, we fill up our kennels just as quickly as we clear them out which is why finding new homes for the pets that have already received care at AHS is such an integral part of our System of Care.”

Pets like Sarge, a 6-year-old German Shepherd, is just one of the 1,300 animals AHS has cared for so far this year with heat-related medical needs.

Sarge was brought to AHS’ trauma hospital in July with burnt paw pads and in need of medical attention.

Video of Sarge’s healing journey can be found here.

Other heat-related cases include pets in hot cars or those who do not have access to water or shelter. “The summer is always the busiest time for our Field Operations team, but this July was especially difficult in terms of the number of calls our team received and the number of animals we took into our care,” said Tracey Miiller, AHS Director of Field Operations. “Not only has call volume increased, but tragically, so have the number of pets who have died due to the heat, including two dogs who died of suspected heat exhaustion this week on closed Phoenix hiking trails. These stories are all heart-wrenching not only because they’re preventable, but because they also increase the strain on our organization, leading to more animals needing rescue and more animals coming through our doors in need of care and kennel space.”

August 12-13 Adoption Special Details:

To open much needed kennel space and help even more pets with nowhere else to go, AHS is launching a weekend adoption special to help 300 animals find new homes.

• ALL fees waived for ALL pets of ALL ages
• Both AHS South Mountain & PetSmart Scottsdale (Miller/Camelback) adoption locations
• All pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and adopters will take home a starter kit of Hill’s Science Diet food. AHS’ 100% Adoption Guarantee means that if an adopted pet is not a great fit for a family, the pet can be returned to our shelter for any reason, throughout their entire life.

Take the first step toward finding your new furry family member by viewing our pets available for adoption.