Thanks to a generous grant from PetSmart Charities, we’ll be having loads of pit bull-focused fun at our Adore-a-Bull Adoption Party! All bully breed dogs and puppies will have no adoption fee all weekend long, and all our other critters will be half-off. The specials will be honored at all locations, but come to the Main HSSA shelter for the party! The attractions include special gifts bags with cute car magnets for bully breed adopters; free copies of “Saving Audie” for families with children (while supplies last); free kids’ crafts; glitter tattoos, games and prizes for all; and more!

WHEN:

• Friday, May 17^th, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (With free iced eegee’s from 4 to 7 p.m. and free pupcakes, too!)
  
  
• Saturday, May 18^th, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (With a food truck roundup!)
  
  
• Sunday, May 19^th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (With free fresh and hot mini donuts!)

WHERE:  HSSA Main Shelter, 3450 North Kelvin Boulevard – Tucson, AZ – 85716

Start Date: Friday, May 17, 2013 

End Date:   Sunday, May 19, 2013 

Address:

3450 N Kelvin Blvd

Tucson, AZ 85716 

United States

WHAT: 6^th Annual Howling for the Hounds benefit hosted by the Wolves Motorcycle Club of Tucson

WHEN: Saturday, May 11^th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: 2702 N. Flowing Wells Rd. – Tucson, AZ – 85705

WHY: The big-hearted members of the Wolves Motorcycle Club put on one heck of a fundraising party for the HSSA! It's just $10 to enter, $5 for a BBQ Brisket plate, and they’ll be raffling off chances to win a 50” flat screen TV and other prizes. It's a rowdy ROCKIN' time and ALL the proceeds benefit our work with homeless pets!

CONTACT: Call the Wolves at 461-8508 or write wolvestucson@hotmail.com for more information.

Date: Saturday, May 11, 2013 

Time: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM 

Address:

2702 N Flowing Wells Rd

Tucson, AZ 85705 

United States

Dog Days in the Desert provides children with in-depth, hands-on education about animal care and the human-animal bond. Our curriculum-based activities require a high level of participation from the enrolled children. Participants will enjoy a variety of classroom activities, creative and artistic exercises; hands-on animal care and character-building lessons that will stimulate their minds and their consciousness.

During Dog Days 2013 programs, children will be divided up by age groups and topics will vary depending on the group for which they are registered. Topics will include but are not limited to, New Pet Ownership and Responsibility, Animal Handling and Bite Safety, Kindness and Compassion, Pet Adoption Promotions, Domestication of Cats and Dogs, Native Wild Animal Habitat and Ecology, Building Pet Living Areas and Careers.

Dates of 2013 Summer Programs: 

Freshmen Programs (ages 6-8): 

Pampered Paws & Cuddle Companions:

Monday-Thursday, June 3-6

Pet Vet: Caring for Furry and Four-Legged Friends at the Children's Museum: Monday-Thursday, July 15-18

Junior Programs (ages 9-11):  

Featured Pet Productions: Monday-Thursday, June 10-13

When Dogs Were Wolves and Cats Were Wild: Monday-Thursday, July 8-12 

Senior Programs (ages 12-14): 

Junior Vet: Caring Careers: Monday-Thursday, June 17-20

Pet Pads and Cool Cribs: Monday-Thursday, July 22-25 

Time: 9–3 p.m. daily 

Program Description: These fun and instructive four-day programs use classroom activites, individual and group projects, arts and crafts, guest speakers and hands-on animal interaction to teach children about animal care and their humane responsibility toward animals. A large part of the daily curriculum will include foster care of Humane Society shelter animals, particularly puppies, kittens, and several smaller animals like rabbits, guinea pigs and gerbils. 

At the end of the four-day program, participants will celebrate in a fun recognition party. 

Location and Address: HSSA Companions for Life Center, 3465 East Kleindale Rd.

Fees: $225 for public; $200 for HIP members; $225 to register for camp and HIP membership

Contact info for staff: Inge Koopman-Leyva (520) 321-3704, ext. 142, or email  ikoopmanleyva@hssaz.org., fax (520) 382-2994 

Limited scholarships may be available. Please do not register online if you are interested in a scholarship!  Please call (520) 321-3704, ext. 142, for more information.

Summer is coming. That means we will be seeing an average of 85 animals coming to our shelter every day, with some days topping 100.

There are many ways that community members can help us in our mission to reduce the numbers of homeless animals and help those in our shelters have a second chance at finding a loving household.

• Consider a rescue pet when it's time to add a pet to your household. Many of our pets are perfectly healthy, well-socialized animals whose owners might have underestimated the responsibility that comes with owning a pet, or experienced life changes that prevented them from caring for their pet. Not only will you help save a life, but you'll get a great bargain on a new pet that will be spayed or neutered and will go home with a rabies shot, a microchip and a license.
• License your pet. It's the law. But it's also the best way to make sure we can reunite you with your pets if they lost.
• Donate. Supplying food, medical assistance, staff time, gasoline, utilities and other services costs an average of $17 per animal per day. Donations are accepted online for your convenience and you may designate your donation to help us with specific needs, such as a spay/neuter services, adoptions or community outreach.
• Volunteer. We couldn't offer the services we do without the dedicated volunteers who assist families in finding the right pet and help our animals get exercise and socialization. We have 45-minute Open Houses coming up Thursday, April 25, and Saturday, April 27, where you will get all the information you need on how you can help animals in this community. For more information, call 243-5920
• Share the word about Pima Animal Care Center. If you have friends or family members looking for a new pet send them to our adoption center, 4000 N. Silverbell Road, to see if we have the right addition to their household.

It happens like clockwork. Every spring, as temperatures rise, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona receives a flood of unwanted and abandoned kittens and puppies. “Litter season” is in full swing and the HSSA reports that it is taking in numerous litters every day. The situation is compounded by the fact that the HSSA has more than 300 animals currently in its care, including many long-term dogs and cats who continue to be overlooked.

To free up limited space for the barrage of youngsters who will soon be available for adoption, the HSSA is offering half-off adoption fees for all cats 5 months and older and all mixed-breed dogs 5 months and older and 25 pounds and over at all locations. As with every animal adopted from the HSSA, each dog and cat will go home microchipped, vaccinated, vetted and spayed or neutered. If you’ve been thinking about welcoming a pet into your family, the HSSA encourages you to find the perfect companion this weekend!

What: Furry Frenzy adoption weekend

When: Friday-Sunday April 5-7

Where: All Humane Society of Southern Arizona locations, including the main shelter at 3450 N. Kelvin Boulevard, PAWSH at Park Place and La Encantada and PetSmart on River and Orange Grove and I-19 and Irvington.

Why: Help the Humane Society of Southern Arizona make room for the hundreds of puppies and kittens expected to arrive this summer with half-off adoption fees!

Household pets are adorably curious, but they can’t read labels or plant their own gardens.

One of the biggest mistakes pet owners can make is to underestimate a pet’s curiosity and overlook dangers of common household items, both indoors and outdoors. It’s up to us to read labels for them, make sure cleaning chemicals and other toxins are out of reach and maintain gardens that stimulate our pets’ curiosity with safety in mind.

“Responsible pet ownership is about more than feeding your pet nutritious meals and going on walks.  It’s more holistic -- it’s a lot like caring for a child,” says Dr. Tiffany Bierer, health and nutritional sciences manager at Mars Petcare US. “You need to anticipate certain dangers and remove them from the realm of possibility. That’s what we did in our office and it only takes a little effort to do the same at home.”

Mars Petcare US, knows all about designing spaces with pet safety as a top priority, particularly when it comes to common toxins.  Safety measures are fundamental since the company’s employees are encouraged to bring their dogs to work each day. But the type of thoughtful and preventative planning they’ve deployed throughout their office isn’t reserved only for pet food companies -- it’s within reach for every pet owner in their own homes.

As such, pet owners could borrow a few tips from the makers of Pedigree, Cesar and Sheba pet foods: 

• Be mindful of toxic plants. Many common plants, such as Azaleas, Oleander, Daffodils, Lilies, Tulips and Hyacinth, are toxic to pets and should be avoided in indoor and outdoor areas where pets are free to roam. Many mushrooms also present dangers, including death. It’s important to do your research since mushrooms can be difficult to identify.

• Use caution when applying garden poisons, insecticides and fertilizers. Many gardeners use traps for small rodents, snails and slugs. These are extremely toxic if consumed, requiring immediate veterinary attention. 

• Most over-the-counter insecticides and fertilizers can upset a pet’s stomach, but some contain more dangerous chemicals that can cause death if consumed. It’s important to follow directions when applying a chemical to your yard and keep pets away from the area. Inform neighbors when applying insecticides and fertilizers since these products can drift in light winds, and always store them in controlled areas.  

• Always store household cleaning supplies in controlled spaces. Like insecticides and fertilizers, household cleaners should be stored in controlled spaces since they can cause death very quickly. Batteries, fire logs and glue should also be kept out of reach of pets.  

• Keep toxic foods and medicines out of reach. Chocolate, raisins, sugar-free gum, star fruit and grapes are toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach, just like ibuprofen and amphetamine medications.

“Following these tips is the next best thing to teaching pets to read labels,” says Dr. Bierer. “It not only makes your home a safer place for your pets, it makes it safer overall.”

If you suspect your pet has consumed a toxic substance, immediately contact your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Hotline at 800-231-6680. To learn more about preparing your home for pets, visit www.banfield.com or www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

A little preparation can help ensure your pet’s safety.

Pima Animal Care Center is privileged to care for homeless animals in the community, but to be honest, we see too many of them. And just as we do every spring, we'll be seeing litters of kittens and puppies brought to the shelter in need of homes.

If you want to help, the single most important thing you can do is spay or neuter your pets so they can't have new litters of kittens and puppies. As cute as they are, they grow into adults. And we already see upward of 23,000 stray, abused or abandoned animals a year at our shelter.

"Not only is spaying and neutering the responsible thing to do to improve animal welfare throughout the entire community, but on an individual basis, it will also help make your pet happier and healthier," said Kim Janes, Manager of Pima Animal Care Center.

It might be work revisiting some common myths:

-My pet will lose energy and pack on the pounds.

Altering your pets may reduce their tendency to wanter and may reduce some undeseriable incliniations, such as marking or being aggressive to other animals. The act of spaying or neutering alone won't lead to lethargy and/or weight gain, but all animals need proper exercise and diet to remain healthy and active.

-Children should have the opportunity to experience birth.

With educational content easily accessible online, there are other ways to provide your children an educational experience. Animals typically seek privacy when giving birth, so the additional stress of multiple witnesses could be disturbing to your pet. Spaying and neutering might be an important lesson for children in and of itself.

-Isn't anesthesia dangerous?

there is always a slight risk involved with undergoing anesthesia, but veterinatians can monitor the health of your pet during the procedure. If you're worried, talk to your vet. You'll find the health benefits associated with spay/neuter is likely to exceed the risk.

-Isn't it painful?

Your pet will be under anesthesia, so he or she won't feel pain. And any discomfort usually goes away with 1-3 days.

A key piece in addressing the steady stream of unwanted and abandoned pets involves turning off the faucet.

Effective this year for any pet owner on government assistance, the Pet Fix program will provide free spay-neuter surgery for up to two pets a month at a participating clinic. Those with more than two pets may still apply for the services, but will require a subsequent visit.

Government assistance might include Section 8 housing, the state’s Medicaid program commonly known as AHCCCS or food stamps.

Folks also can qualify for the pet sterilization services if they live in one of 16 residential areas, regardless of government assistance. The program is sponsored in part by the Pima County Health Department and administered by the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southern Arizona.

In Central Tucson, for example, any resident within the core area bounded on the west by Interstate 10, Prince Road to the north, Columbus Boulevard to the east and Speedway to the south is eligible for assistance. Other neighborhoods include Pueblo Gardens, Littletown, Midvale Park, Barrio Hollywood, Three Points, Picture Rocks, Flowing Wells, Catalina, Ajo, Arivaca, the City of South Tucson, Avra Valley, and the Pascua Yaqui and Tohono O’odham communities.

Participating clinics include:

 Ajo Veterinary Clinic, 382 W. Ajo Way, 623-5728

 Animal Birth Control, 1145 S. Craycroft Road, 745-4564

 Arizona Spay/Neuter Clinic, 4 W. Grant Road, 624-5005

 Guadalupe Veterinary Clinic, 5107 S. 12th Ave., 889-5949

 Humane Society of Southern Arizona, 3450 N. Kelvin Blvd., 881-0321

 Santa Cruz Veterinary Clinic, 5408 S. 12th Ave., 889-9643

 The Spay and Neuter Clinic, 7340 Cortaro Farms Road, 744-3458

A few other items of note:

 Dogs must be on leashes or in carriers; cats must be in carriers.

 Pets should not have any food after 6 p.m. the day before the surgery, although water is fine.

 Pets must be between the ages of 2 months and 5 years, and weigh at least 3 pounds.

 Appointments are available on a first-call, first-serve basis.

For more information, please visit http://www.awasa.org/awasa/

Valentine's Day might be over by Feb. 18, but you can still make life a little sweeter for the pets at Pima Animal Care Center while they wait for loving homes.

Although the adoption center will b eclosed for the County holiday, volunteers will gather at 10 a.m. on President's Day, Feb. 18, to cuddle some kitties and walk some dogs.

The scenic Silverbell Lake behind our adoption center, 4000 N. Silverbell Road, is a great place for you and our dogs to enjoy a little fresh air exercise and together-time. Experienced volunteers will be on hand to help any news participants who want to join in the fun.

For a safe excursion it's a good idea to slather on sunscreen, wear pants, skip the sandals and drink plenty of fluid before and after the walk. Bring your own leash if you can, although we'll have plenty on hand if you don't have on handy. Participants must be at least 16 years of age and those under 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a release form.

Please RSVP to at jacneu@yahoo.com by Feb. 16 2013 so we know you're coming! And if you want to bring any used blankets or towels to donate to the shelter, or some canned dog or cat food, we'd be even more grateful!

And as always, if you are looking for your own sweetheart, we have many to choose from, in all sizes shapes and colors. Please visit our adoption center from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekends and noon - 7 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays, or visit us online at www.pima.gov/animalcare