(BPT) - Holmes and Watson, Riggs and Murtaugh, Starsky and Hutch – when it comes to sleuthing out just what critter is munching on your spring garden, you may feel like your partnership with Mother Nature is as contentious as any that ever graced the big, or small screen. After all, how are you supposed to fight the “crime” of a decimated garden if you can’t identify the suspect who’s been devouring your daylilies?

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!

(StatePoint) Whether you’re making a fast trip to the store or leaving on a two-week vacation, are you confident that locking your doors is enough to keep your home safe and secure?

(NAPSI)—In the history of efforts to smell good, humans have tried all kinds of inventions. Ancient Egyptians placed scented cones of wax on their heads, while other cultures sipped rose water or chewed fennel seeds. Modern efforts at odor control have led people to “crop dust” their clothes in a haze of wet sprays that may even be worse than the problem they aim to solve.

FLORENCE, AZ - ALmost half of all animals taken in by Pinal County Animal Care & Control in 2012 were released for rescue or public adoption. That's a stark contrast to 2010 when Pinal County took in 8,176 animals and less than a quarter were released.

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

Tucson, Ariz. (January 23, 2013) - spring is right around the corner and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona wants you to "beat the heat" by spaying your cat to preventing unwanted litters from being born. Thanks to the PetSmart Charities grant, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona will be able to provide 200 cat sterilizations for $20 each during February.

(NewsUSA) - It's the season when welcome mats will be rolled out in homes across America to greet houseguests arriving for shared meals and warmth. While friends and family are welcomed visitors, there are other, less welcome guests who don't need an invitation to enjoy the treats and trimmings the winter offers -- rodents.

(BPT) - Most pet owners can tell you that the first few days with a puppy in the house can be a handful, but the job of being a good pet parent does not stop when your new pal sleeps through the night for the first time. After you finish guiding your pup through his earliest life stages, it is important to keep in mind that he will be going through his own version of the “teen” years and will rely on a guiding hand.

(BPT) - Whether it's guests arriving for a holiday party, visiting relatives or holiday revelers, your home can feel like a revolving door during the holiday season. Unfortunately, all of this added traffic can also bring unwanted dirt and germs that can outweigh holiday cheer. Keep your home looking clean, germ-free and ready to welcome guests throughout the holiday season by establishing a cold-weather cleaning routine.

A Humane Society of Southern Arizona volunteer found two three-week old Easter chicks in the wash behind the shelter this week.

MOVIES

Think green this Halloween

Local residents can audition for "The Voice"

Thursday, May 19

MOVIES

What is Dispose-A-Med program?

Rainy weather prevented pet adoptions, but only for now

While some choose to throw away old and expired coupons, a group of residents at Splendido at Rancho Vistoso have been snipping, stuffing and sending coupons to military personnel overseas.

Letters to the editor published in the June 24, 2009, edition of The Explorer.

Letters to the editor published in the May 13, 2009, edition of The Explorer.

Every summer, the Pima Animal Care Center sees a rise in misplaced animals, and unwanted litters of dogs and cats.

Compiled from stories published in 2005