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COMMUNITY
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | AUGUST 29, 2018
Ahwatukee tattoo shop focusing on mental health all September AFN News Staff
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he way the folks at Wookie Style Tattoos in Ahwatukee see it, anything that can be done to help alleviate the pain of mental illness and suicide is time well spent. So, on Sept. 15, owner Terry “Wookie: Hoffman will attempt to break the world record for most tattoos completed by one tattoo artist in 12 hours – from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. – by giving free semi-colon tattoos. No appointment will be needed at the shop, located at 4142 E. Chandler Blvd, At the same time, the shop’s other two artists, James Patrick and Sway Alvarez will offer $40 suicide awareness tattoos. The semicolon tattoos are representative of a nonprofit worldwide suicide prevention effort called Project Semicolon. The group uses that punctuation mark to underscore its reminder to troubled people that “Your life isn’t over.” As the group explains on its website: “A semicolon is where the author could have
Semicolon, Crisis Response Network of Arizona and the Military Veteran Project – Mission 22, another suicide prevention organization. In addition to the fund drive, the shop is dedicating the entire month to raising awareness of AFN file photo Barbi and Terry "Wookie" Hoffman, flanked by their other tattoo artists, are mental health. hoping their Ahwatukee studio can raise public awareness of mental health “Our goals are and suicide throughout September. to raise suicide chosen to end the sentence but decided awareness, remove the stigma associated to keep going. The author is you and the with mental health issues and reinforce compassion and support for individuals and sentence is your life.” Wookie Style Tattoos’ artists and staff families that are suffering,” said co-owner are donating their time and materials to and Wookie’s wife, Barbi Hoffman. Wookie Style Tattoos will provide free ensure 100 percent of the money received on Sept. 15 can be donated to Project literature on mental health, signs of emo-
tional suffering, and identify local resources so those in need can access help. “We also created a Remembering Wall in the shop where people can post pictures of loved ones lost to suicide,” Hoffman added. Suicide has been a growing problem especially among young people in the East Valley and throughout the state. The Centers for Disease Control in January listed it as the second major cause of death among young people in Arizona. Since July 2017, more than two dozen teens in East Valley schools taken their lives. “Each one of us at Wookie Style Tattoos has been personally affected by the loss and devastation associated with mental illness and suicide,” Barbi Hoffman said “We are at a turning point in our culture where the attitude about mental health has to change; as business owners we have a platform and we are proud to contribute to the positivity of change,” she added. Information: wookiestyleaz.com/news
4 cats, 4 dogs eager to find homes in Ahwatukee AFN News Staff
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hwatukee residents looking for a pet might want to consider the four dogs and four cats looking for homes at two rescue shelters in the area. Three of the dogs and three cats are now at Friends for Life Animal Shelter. People can inquire about the cats by emailing FFLcats@azfriends.org and the dogs at FFLdogs@azfriends. org. The phone number is the same for either, 480-497-8296 and the website is azfriends.org. Spokeswoman Jannelle Cosgriff said Laney “might be tiny but she has tons of love to share.” The dog is currently being fostered with two other dogs, with whom she gets along, Cosgriff said. “She is an active dog that likes to play a lot with the other dogs and has a nice play style,” she added. “Laney walks well on a leash and is house trained and doggy door trained. She knows basic commands of sit, stay, and lay down. Laney is kennel trained and does well left alone in the house. Laney spends her week with her foster family but is brought to Friends for Life’s adoption center on Saturdays where you can find her patiently waiting to be adopted.”
Laney is spayed, up to date on all shots, micro chipped, licensed and heart worm negative. Her adoption fee is $195. Stash is a male, domestic shorthaired cat about 3 years old. “He is a gentle boy that likes his human’s attention,” said Cosgriff, adding, “He gets along fine with his kitty roommate at the adoption center but does expect to be the center of attention and if not, he’ll surely tell you about it with a few “meows.” He has, however, learned to be somewhat patient when sharing the affections of his humans. Stash loves to play with small, plush toys.” Like all cats at Friends for Life, Laney is altered, dewormed, tested for FELV/FIV, microchipped and vaccinated. His adoption fee is $95. Cosgriff also spoke of Jefferson, a 7-yearold border collie/cattle dog that “loves to hang out and enjoys a good play session. He seems to do best with dogs his own size. Volunteers at the adoption center believe he would not do well in a home with cats.” His fee is $95. Margo, a 5-year-old cat, is a big hit with volunteers, Cosgriff said, because “she is a fun-loving, all-around great cat that also has extra toes. Margo likes to play, likes to talk and likes
affection from her people. Her favorite place is by your side. She may be good with other cats but might prefer to be alone. She has lived with small dogs and children in the past.” Her adoption fee is $5. Sid the Kid is a year-old mixedbreed dog “will make a great hiking/ jogging/walking buddy once the heat subsides,” Cosgriff said. “Sid will need an active home as he still has got some puppy playfulness left in him. He learns new commands quickly and easily, and would love to show off for you.” His adoption fee is $195. Another cat at the shelter is Malibu, a mixed domestic short-haired Lilac Lynx Point about 5 years old. “If you’re looking for a handsome, laidback cat to hang out with then Malibu might be your guy,” Cosgriff said. “This handsome fellow is easy going and enjoys the company of people.” Although Malibu tested positive for FIV, Berry said “he is otherwise very healthy. He can go on to live a long, healthy and happy life with this diagnosis.” His adoption fee also is $95. Meanwhile, Jennifer Berry at Arizona Rescue said Missy “is a sweet, dainty girl with gorgeous yellow-green eyes that seem to stare right into the See
PETS on page 27
Malibu
Jefferson
Margo
Harry
Missy
Laney
Stash
Sid the Kid