‘Critical Capacity’ Valley Animal Shelter Could Mean Bad News For Animals Lost Around July 4th

PHOENIX – After many were forced to cancel their plans for July 4, 2020, some Arizonans could hear fireworks and celebrations starting at the start of this year.

“Starting Thursday or Friday,” said Monica Gery, spokesperson for Maricopa County Animal Care and Control. “It’s going to go on all weekend, which means the pets are going to come out.”

Ian Griffin of San Tan Valley knows the emotional toll of losing a pet on a family.

“For her to go and go, there are only a few options,” Griffin said. “We try to stay on the positive side of options.”

Griffin says he and his family traveled to Mexico last week for a vacation and left their 9-year-old Maltese, Minnie, with a pet sitter. They were only gone one day when Griffin says his wife learned that their family dog ​​had escaped.

“We spent two hours looking for her with the kids,” Griffin said. “[We] went back Saturday and hung signs, went back Sunday and hung signs. We talked to golf courses, local businesses, all kinds of things. I think we hung around 100 flyers in two days.

While some animals react differently to the sound of fireworks in the sky, the MCACC says it typically sends hundreds of animals to its facility.

This year, they may not be able to accommodate all of these lost animals.

“We have around 500 pets right now,” Gery said. “We really need to get pets into homes or foster families now so that we can free up space. “

The MCACC says every kennel in its West Valley Animal Care Center is stocked with one or more pets, which places them at critical capacity.

After 72 hours, Gery says the lost animals are put up for adoption, but overcrowding may put some animals that have been at the shelter longer at risk of being euthanized.

Despite MCACC’s 95% release rate, the county says it used the method as a last resort.

MCACC now encourages residents who find lost animals to house them for three to five days, instead of immediately driving them to their facility.

PHOTOS: 20 pets for adoption now in the Valley

“The best thing to do is go to our site and file a lost dog report,“she said.” This will actually put the dog on our interactive map and we can try to match him with the owner. “

The site allows residents to upload information about the animal they have located, including its last known location, to help owners locate their animals before they visit the MCACC. Each post remains active for five days.

The county also encourages those who find lost animals to check for microchips at a veterinarian or nearby shelter.

“The best thing you can do is chip your pet, have ID on your pet,” Gery added. “Whether it’s the Maricopa County license or a piece of ID with your name and phone number on it. These really are the best resources for bringing your pet home.

To see all of the adoptable animals at the MCACC, Click here.

About Chuck Keeton

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