News

Starting Dec. 14, Pima Animal Care Center staff and pets will begin their long-awaited transition to their new modern animal care facility. All operations in the new building will be open-for-business by Dec. 26. 

Phase I of the new PACC facility will open this December. Hundreds of dogs and cats will move into new kennels, and play in new yards and “catios”. Some will be cared for in a modern veterinary area, all of them – we hope – will meet their new pet parents in comfortable modern spaces.

PACC has a dedicated staff who really benefit from learning new practices and knowledge in animal welfare. Friends of PACC recently helped Dr. Wilcox, PACC’s amazing shelter veterinarian who saves the lives of our community’s most neglected pets, receive training in forensic veterinary medicine. 

A longtime Tucson resident and alumna of the University of Arizona, Jennifer Camano, CFRE is the new Executive Director for Friends of Pima Animal Care Center. Jennifer is an experienced development professional who has been an integral part of the Tucson non-profit community since 2003.

In-kennel enrichment greatly benefits PACC dogs, as they spend up to 23 hours a day in their kennels. Stress levels increase the longer they stay in a shelter setting.

The wonderful veterinarians at PACC do miracles with the equipment and medications that the county is able to provide.  But even these miracle workers need help in the form of more specialized medications and equipment.  This is when Friends of PACC steps in.  In 2016, Friends of PACC spent over $25,000 on medications needed to save the lives of pets.

PACC takes in thousands of kittens every year. We are especially slammed during the summer months with orphaned, infant kitties.

Since our successful campaign earlier in October, Sooey’s surgery for both palettes is now scheduled for later this month. Thank you to those who gave to this cause. We will keep everyone updated on her progress.

Pima Animal Care Center has hired Kristen Auerbach, who currently serves as deputy chief animal services officer at Austin Animal Center in Austin, Texas, to serve as its department director. Auerbach, who is a nationally recognized expert on creative lifesaving solutions for municipal shelters like PACC, begins her new role July 10.

Memphis is a 15 year old dog who was brought into PACC when his owner passed away. PACC doctors saw that Memphis still had life left in him and wanted to find him a comfortable home to live out his retirement.

Shima had been waiting at PACC since early August. She came to the shelter with an enlarged kidney, and thanks to the community’s support, PACC’s doctors were able to perform surgery and save her life.

Roo, a spunky and sweet Chihuahua born without front legs, was one of 40 small dogs Pima Animal Care Center rescued from a hoarding house last year.

Parvo Pups – With the help of Friends (like you) of PACC, we saved dozens of puppies with Parvovirus this summer — thank you! Parvo, which is preventable by a relatively inexpensive vaccine, is a highly contagious virus that causes diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Without prompt treatment, it is deadly. 

You amazed us with your generosity on Arizona Gives Day. Because of your support, we not only met the generous matches offered by Bonnie Kay and the John M. Simpson Foundation, we beat them.

Last year, on Arizona Gives Day, more than 300 friends of PACC supported our efforts to purchase a dental x-ray machine for our county shelter. Since then, you’ve helped PACC save the lives of nearly 200 dogs and cats.

We can't imagine what Sunny went through before we rescued her from a tree where she'd been hung by ropes and left to die. But we do know that her future is only full of health, happiness and love – and that her save was thanks to you.