APRIL 2018 16 | A newly created mural at the West Valley shelter was recently donated by Tito's Handmade Vodka. Each year, thousands of dogs and cats make their way to Maricopa County Animal Care shelters. Consider adopting a shelter pet – you never know what you’ll find! To learn more, visit maricopa.gov/214/Adopt-a-Pet.

APRIL 2018 | 17 COVER STORY CONTINUED selected as a 2018 Hero Award winner from the Arizona Pet Project. While BB Bear is Two Pups’ most famous patient, Silver has heard dozens of touching stories and received many letters about Two Pups assistance over the past year. Still, Mary Martin says the organization’s impact can’t be quantified. “It’s really more the idea that whenever we see anything that’s going wrong, now there is always that hope that we have an opportunity to do something besides euthanasia,” she said. Today Maricopa County Animal Care and Control has one of the best outcome rates — what they call live release rates — for any agency of its kind nationwide. What Two Pups has done, according to Martin, is change the entire culture of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. “We were the agency that would say, ‘Sorry, we can’t. We don’t. We don’t have.’ Now the staff is far more filled with hope,” she said. Today, when a dog or cat is injured or ill, the staff asks if it’s a case that Two Pups can take on. “That was never how it was before,” Martin said. “It really was a culture of learned helplessness. Now it’s a culture of can-do. It has changed the organizational culture completely.” Not only has Two Pups changed Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, it has also changed the outlook for Martin. “I don’t think I could have survived without it. I really don’t,” she said. “It is just so sad to watch what happens to the animals who are living in poverty.” Now, thanks to Two Pups, shelters and rescue organizations have resources that provide a feeling of hope. “We come in the morning ready for the day because we know that mostly it’s going Three Lucky Dogs Beau This is Kelli with her dog, Beau. Beau had a cold when he was adopted and Kelli was given antibiotics to take home. Despite the medication, Beau continued to spiral down and was diagnosed with pneumonia shortly after. Kelli spent more than $1,000 on treatment before asking Maricopa County Animal Care and Control for help. Two Pups Wellness Fund stepped in to assist with medical costs and today Beau is a happy, healthy dog. Bella Bella came into the shelter with two large fungal masses on her neck as well as Valley Fever. With such conditions, she had little chance of being adopted. Thanks to Two Pups, the masses were removed, the Valley Fever was treated, and Bella found her forever home. Cara Cara had been dumped on the I-10 by friends of her owner’s boyfriend. Cara’s leg was badly broken and her owner had no money, phone, or place to go. Cara needed help immediately — help that her owner couldn’t provide. Normally, amputation would be the only option under the circumstances, but with assistance from Two Pups, Cara was delivered to Pet Urgent Care and her leg was saved. After being splinted, Cara was quickly adopted and is now living a safe and happy life.