Paw Prints Summer 2026

ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY®

SUMMER 2026

SUMMER’S TOLL ON ARIZONA’S HOMELESS PETS

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A REIMAGINED FUTURE FOR OUR SUNNYSLOPE CAMPUS PAGES 4–5

MID-YEAR STATS POINT TO ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING YEAR PAGE 6

DRIVING CHANGE, ONE SWING AT A TIME PAGE 7

Our Mission

YOUR DONATION MATCHED

UP TO $50,000!

To save the most vulnerable animals and enrich the lives of pets and people.

Our Values Innovation, Compassion & Excellence

AZHUMANE.ORG/MATCH

Generously sponsored by:

Dr. Steven R. Hansen President & CEO

TURNING GOODBYES INTO HELLOS

Arizona Humane Society’s Continuing Care Program Your pets have a special place in your heart. They have a special place in ours, too. The Arizona Humane Society’s Continuing Care program will make sure your pets are compassionately cared for and placed in a loving home even after you’re gone.

Call our Planned Giving Team at 602.997.7585 ext. 1034, or email legacycircle@azhumane.org and learn how we can help.

2026 AHS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Executive Committee Suzanne Hensing Chair

Patrick Ray Treasurer

Julie Johnson Vice Chair

Suzy Juneau Governance Chair

Yvonne A Betts Secretary

Dr. Craig Thatcher Past Chair

Board Members Bryan Albue

Ricki Dee Jennings

Andrea Claus

Phyllis Kirk

Mark Cushing

Chad Makovsky

Ann Damiano

Andrea Marconi

Dr. Stephen Fisher

Alisha McBee

Julie Gable

Ann Siner

Dyan Getz

Kristin Slyker

Dr. Ingrid Haas

Patricia Tate

Susanne Ingold

AZHUMANE .ORG

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©2026 Arizona Humane Society

RISING TO THE MOMENT IN OUR SEASON OF NEED DEAR FRIENDS, Summer is here, and the Arizona Humane Society is navigating yet another challenging year.

We expect to care for more than 28,000 pets in 2026, with our overall intake already up 15 percent. As demand rises, so does the need for our community to help us save the Valley’s most vulnerable pets.

Marvin, a Parvo patient

Newborn kitten learning to latch

Here’s where we’re seeing notable increases in pet intake: •

Kitten season is booming, and our Bottle Baby ICU hit capacity—150 fragile lives—in just three weeks of opening. During the peak of the season, it’s common to have nearly 500 kittens being cared for around the clock in Foster Hero homes.

•

Parvovirus cases have surged to four times last year’s numbers, placing unprecedented demand on our Susan & Mark Mulzet Parvo ICU, where some of our most fragile and vulnerable patients receive round-the-clock care.

•

Large-scale intake cases—where more than 10 animals from a single residence can no longer be adequately cared for by their owner—have increased by 23%, resulting in more sick and injured animals entering our facility.

Summer can take a toll on homeless pets and the staff who care for them at the Arizona Humane Society. But this season is also when your kindness can shine the brightest. When the need grows, so does the difference you can make. Because of you, we can respond with urgency, compassion and care.

As we prepare to launch our Urgent Summer Fund gift match lasting from July 1 to August 15, we invite you to act now by visiting azhumane.org/match and your donation will be doubled during this critical time. Throughout the month, your support will help us care for Arizona’s most vulnerable animals, offering comfort, healing and a second chance when it’s needed most. Thank you for standing with us and making this lifesaving work possible.

Sincerely,

Steven R. Hansen, DVM President & CEO SUMMER 2026 | 3

WHERE HOPE BUILDS:

A TRIED-AND-TRUE CAMPUS, REIMAGINED Our Sunnyslope Veterinary Clinic officially reopened its doors this spring—rebuilt, expanded and ready to serve more pets and people than ever before. With the support of an incredibly generous $1.3 million Accelerator Grant from PetSmart Charities and endlessly compassionate donors including Nita and Jan Kieser, Pamela Cumings, Ann Damiano, Suzanne & Dr. John Hensing, McS Charitable Foundation, Pam Myerson & Bob Zunker, Nancy Novick, Patti Ritter, Angela Roach, David & Dr. Susie Sherman, Janet Weider, Dr. Melissa Thompson & Janet Duncan and Dr. Vicki Sein, this milestone comes to life.

With five times the space and double the care capacity, our remodeled clinic significantly increases affordable veterinary services—keeping pets healthy and with

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the families who love them. But this is just the beginning. Plans are already underway to modernize the Sunnyslope Campus’ former trauma hospital to once again care for homeless pets, expand its kennel capacity and grow foster and adoption programs to address rising needs.

This transformation also sets the stage for the next 10 years of animal welfare in Arizona—serving as a launchpad for a bold plan to reimagine, reinvent and ultimately rise to better serve a growing Valley. With a focus on expanding access to care, increasing capacity and strengthening the human-animal bond, this roadmap ensures every investment today builds a more compassionate tomorrow—for every pet and family.

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MID-YEAR MILESTONES Last year, a record-breaking 25,000 pets came through our doors.

Halfway through 2026, we’re already on pace to exceed that record by thousands more. Your kindness makes this life-saving work possible.

Total spay/neuter surgeries performed on shelter pets:

5,675 UP 14%

Total pets who received care across our mobile and veterinary clinics:

29,611 UP 29%

Total pets treated in our Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital:

11,171 UP 26%

Total pets cared for in our Bottle Baby ICU, Doris Norton Kitten Nursery and Susan & Mark Mulzet Parvo ICU:

2,036 UP 22%

Total animals placed in foster care:

3,036 UP 34%

Total calls to report animal cruelty:

6,098 UP 23%

Total pets who found forever homes through adoption and placement programs:

8,714 UP 12%

Data from November 1, 2025 – April 30, 2026

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

TERESA AND FRANK DOMINGUEZ Five years ago, Frank and Teresa Dominguez signed up for the Arizona Humane Society’s Home in One Golf Tournament simply to support a good cause. They didn’t expect to leave the tournament with an even deeper connection to our organization—and eventually a new four-legged family member.

Now long-time supporters of the event, the Dominguez family has become passionate advocates for our mission—blending philanthropy, community involvement and a lifelong love of animals. For Frank, that love started long before Arizona.

Growing up in Guam, he watched his mother care for stray dogs that wandered through their neighborhood.

“At one point we had five dogs, then three, then seven,” he laughed. “My mom always fed them and looked after them. It’s just part of who we are.”

Then came Lulu. At last year’s Home in One tournament, Teresa encouraged Frank to stop by the puppy area before heading home. Moments later, a volunteer placed a sleepy puppy into his arms.

“She fell asleep instantly,” Frank recalled. “Everyone around us said ‘you’d make the perfect dog dad.’ A few minutes later, we were asking where to sign.”

For the Dominguez family, supporting the Arizona Humane Society is about helping vulnerable pets find the love and safety they deserve. Whether sponsoring the tournament, encouraging local businesses to get involved or simply sharing the mission with friends, they believe even small acts of kindness can change a life.

And thanks to Lulu, they’ve experienced that joy firsthand.

HERE’S TO ANOTHER LIFESAVING HOME IN ONE A huge thank you to everyone who joined the Arizona Humane Society for our 6th annual Home in One Golf Tournament in support of homeless pets. Thanks to your generosity, it was another record-breaking day, raising more than $256,000 for the Valley’s most vulnerable animals.

On behalf of Chairwoman Jamie Middleton, the Home in One Golf Tournament Committee, and the Arizona Humane Society Board of Directors, thank you for making it a winning day for pets across Arizona. Save the Date for next year’s event on April 2, 2027!

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Phoenix, AZ Permit No. 456

5501 E. Van Buren Street Phoenix, AZ 85008 azhumane.org

Addressing pet overpopulation, abuse, neglect and preventable illness in our community requires more than rescue—it demands proactive education. This is not a problem any single organization can solve alone. It requires a coordinated, community-wide investment in prevention.

Through ongoing awareness, we equip pet owners and neighbors with the knowledge to make informed, compassionate choices that keep animals safe and healthy.

During the summer months, when extreme heat puts pets at greater risk across Arizona, we intensify our public awareness campaigns. These include Break the Chain, encouraging owners not to tether dogs outdoors; Look But Don’t Touch, reminding the public to leave newborn kittens undisturbed so their mothers can return; and outreach promoting vaccinations and spay/neuter. Together, these efforts help reduce suffering before it starts.

ILLUMINATING HOPE: COMPASSION WITH FASHION 2026

FROM HOT CAR TO BEST FRIEND: ZEUS IS HOME

Compassion with Fashion returns October 18, 2026, with this year’s theme, Illuminating Hope. Together, donors, volunteers and sponsors shine a light on second chances for the Valley’s most vulnerable animals. Every act of compassion transforms lives.

Tables and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Learn more at azhumane.org/cwf.

After being found in a hot car without water, Zeus’ story could have ended very differently. Cases like his rise during Arizona’s intense summers, stretching rescue teams when help is needed most. It takes just minutes for temperatures inside a car to rise to dangerous levels.

Illuminating Hope SAVE THE DATE 10.18.26

Because of your support, Zeus got the second chance he deserved, and it led him somewhere special. Today, he’s thriving with his new owner, exploring the Arizona State University campus, enjoying early morning runs at Tempe Town Lake and a life full of energy, companionship and love.