apartment where pets are not allowed, or there are breed or size restrictions. This, coupled with the usual life events of a family member who passes away and doesn’t have a plan in place for their animals, has left families scrambling. It takes longer for animals in our care to get adopted, which means that we cannot save as many because they stay in our care longer. HALO is focusing a little less on taking animals from our partner shelters and accepting more animals from the public due to an increased community need. 2 P.M. >> REMAINING PAWSITIVE An important part of my job is to set the tone for the team on who we are and what we’re here to do. We try to find the positive in things and look for ways to help where we can, because it’s hard to see all these stressed animals that want to go home and don’t understand. It can be overwhelming for your heart. I accept the sad parts of seeing people in really difficult situations. Our job is to help people with their pets, remain compassionate and understand that they don’t tell us their whole life story. We shouldn’t expect them to. We should always come from a place recognizing they need us and don’t need our judgment. 3:30 P.M. >> DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES I considered becoming a veterinarian, but there was no vet school in Arizona when I was in college. I love the medical aspect because it keeps my heart happy. At HALO, I have the opportunity for hands-on work and am involved in making medical decisions for treatment and intake. Two years ago, nine Goldendoodle puppies were abandoned in a crate behind the shelter. We learned they had Parvo, and I decided to take them and worked from home for six weeks. I created a Parvo ICU and set catheters, ran IV fluids and gave thousands of injections over the six weeks. Two didn’t survive, but I am still in contact with the families who adopted the puppies. Seeing my babies grow up is pretty awesome. 6 P.M. >> COMING HOME TO THE PACK I take care of mom and the babies I’m fostering when I get home. I have two human children, but they are 17 and 21, so they are self-sufficient. I joke that I raised my kids as part of the dog pack because they were always surrounded by animals, including seven dogs, four cats, two parakeets, two chickens and a snake. The thing that makes HALO unique is that we’re 30 years old, and the founders are still here. Our passion and drive have not changed, and we haven’t lost sight of the mission. We’re still the same people who started HALO because of our love and desire to help, and we’re still here doing it. To learn more, go to halorescue.org . If you’re an animal lover, consider choosing Gabriel’s Angels as a charity when filing your state taxes. We are one of the few animal-related charities that offers you a chance to make a donation and get it all back with the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit. With your gift, we can reach more vulnerable children who are hurting and in need of the unconditional love and support of a therapy dog. Visit us online at gabrielsangels.org or follow us on social media @gabrielsangels Change a child’s life through the power of pet therapy with your tax credit. Get up to $938 for 2024 ! Use QCO #20449 on form 321 when you file.* *Tax circumstances vary greatly. Please consult your tax advisor for specific questions related to your tax situation. Scan to give your tax credit. INTERACTING WITH A DOG CHANGES YOUR BRAIN CHEMISTRY

2024 ANIMAL CARE & RESCUE RESOURCE DIRECTORY A Frontdoors Media Publication Photo courtesy of Whispering Hope Ranch AFTER THE HOMESTRETCH ARIZONA HORSE RESCUE Our mission is to give ex-racehorses a second chance. We rescue retired racehorses. These athletic stars, bred for heart and intelligence, deserve a second chance. Help them find their new home “after the homestretch.” You can make a difference in the lives of rescued racehorses. We rely on volunteers, donors and grant partners to fulfill our mission. Consider volunteering your time, adopting a horse or sponsoring one of our amazing horses! 1328 E. Maddock Road, Phoenix, AZ 85086 call: (623) 205-8528 visit: afterthehomestretchaz.org ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY Established in 1957, the Arizona Humane Society is dedicated to saving the most vulnerable animals and enriching the lives of pets and people. With a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, we provide expert medical care, shelter and love to thousands of animals each year, working to give them a second chance at life. Our mission is to end animal suffering by keeping pets in homes, advocating for the voiceless through legislation, educating the next generation, and working with local partners. Our new Rob & Melani Walton Papago Park Campus anchors our multiple-campus System of Care, joined by our South Mountain Campus, Sunnyslope Campus’ veterinary clinic, as well as our mobile veterinary unit and PetSmart adoption center. Together, they enable us to transform animal welfare in the Valley and beyond. 5501 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85008 call: (602) 997-7585 visit: azhumane.org FURRY FRIENDS 2024 | 13 |