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Storytime at the Shelter
Story by Bella Wexler, Photos by Gina Hansen & Allison Wexler The atmosphere at Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) is warm and welcoming as eager children and parents file into the volunteer room. Long-time volunteer Lynne Stott describes the animal shelter’s mission:...
A Kingdom of Kittens
Story & Photos by Emily Dieckman PACC foster mom takes on some of the animal shelter’s neediest feline cases. You wouldn’t guess it from the eight grown cats she calls her own and the 26 kittens she was fostering at one point this fall, but Christina Aronson...
“Winterizing” Your Horse – Myths and Realities of Desert Winters
Story by Christine Staten, DVM • Adobe Veterinary Center, Tucson, AZ The days of 100-plus degree temperatures appear to be behind us, and we all seem to be enjoying the fall and dreaming of winter. Here in southern Arizona, we don’t have to hassle with heavy snow and...
Horsin’ Around: Karuna Horse Rescue: A Fresh Approach to Equine Rehabilitation
Karuna Horse Rescue: A Fresh Approach to Equine Rehabilitation Story by Bonnie Craig, Photos by Bonnie Craig & Karuna Horse Rescue Originally from the largest city in India, Candace Kratzer could never have guessed that she would end up living on the rural...
Special Feature: At St. Mark’s, Blessed Are the Animals
At St. Mark’s, Blessed Are the Animals Story by Claire Sheridan Photos Courtesy St. Marks Animal Ministry Team “You called forth the fish in the sea, Birds in the air and animals on the land. …We ask that you bless this pet.” –Prayer for the Blessing of Animals St....
Cover Story: Profiling Pet Partners of Southern Arizona
Profiling Pet Partners of Southern Arizona Story by Claire Sheridan, Photos courtesy Pet Partners of Southern Arizona Pet Partners of Southern Arizona is the local chapter of the national organization, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Locally, members volunteer...
Kitty Korner: Senior Feline Travels to Forever Okla-home-a
Senior Feline Travels to Forever Okla-home-a Story By Emily Dieckman Some animals have names that fit them. The rational, sometimes cynical tiger from Calvin and Hobbes is named after the like-minded philosopher Thomas Hobbes. Simba, from the beloved Lion King movies,...
Special Feature: Valley Fever Vaccine is on its Way
Valley Fever Vaccine is on its Way Story by Emily Dieckman The Sonoran Desert is known for its Saguaro and Prickly Pear cacti, its blazing summers, and its outstanding Mexican food. But it’s also a hot spot for Valley Fever, a disease caused by the Coccidioides fungus...
Kids and Animals: Sparks ‘N Barks
Sparks ‘N Barks Story by Bella Wexler, Photos by Natalie Mast July 22nd the Tucson Jewish Community Center (JCC) had its first Sparks Pupsicle Party, where pups and people alike enjoyed some frozen sweets to beat the heat. This event brought therapy dogs, their...
Special Feature: A Haven for the Wild: Tucson Wildlife Center
A Haven for the Wild: Tucson Wildlife Center Story & Photograph by Bonnie Craig Summer in the Sonoran Desert sees soaring temperatures, along with an influx of wild baby animals, but as cities grow and stretch further into rural areas, humans and wild animals are...
Horsin’ Around: Miniature Ponies, Big Impact
Miniature Ponies, Big Impact Story and Photo by Emily Dieckman What could make the giggling, sillystringed, balloon-popping wonder of an eighth birthday party any better than it already is? How about a pony? When Nancie Roahrig, the president and founder of Step Up...
Cover Story: Stitching Together the Fabric of Dogpatch
Stitching Together the Fabric of Dogpatch Story by Claire Sheridan | Photo by Claire Sheridan and Judith Clark “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.” - Mahatma Gandhi It is an area fraught with difficulty, a...
Kitty Korner: Tucson Shelters Extend a Paw to FIV and FeLV-Positive Cats
Tucson Shelters Extend a Paw to FIV and FeLV-Positive Cats Story & Photo by Devon Confrey A little understanding goes a long way in the cat community. Of all the reasons not to adopt a cat, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and viral feline leukemia (FeLV) can...
Feature Story: A Look Inside the Canine Mind
A Look Inside the Canine Mind Story by Emily Dieckman | Photo by Canine Cognition Center and Emily Dieckman In the Haury building on the University of Arizona campus, Evan MacLean turns to his fellow researchers and asks them a question he must ask them often. It is a...
Kids and Animals: Learning to Read One Dog at a Time
Learning to Read One Dog at a Time Story by Bella Wexler | Photo by Natalie Mast We’ve all been told at some point in our lives that the best way to overcome anxiety towards public speaking is to envision our audience naked. But, what if your audience isn’t wearing...
Special Feature: The Many Tails Of Cochise Canine Rescue
The Many Tails Of Cochise Canine Rescue Story By Claire Sheridan | Photo Courtesy of Sybil Erden, Cochise Canine Rescue Cochise Canine Rescue (CCR) was formally founded in 2014. Sybil Erden and her husband, co-founder Jeff Robbins, began taking in rescue dogs in 2009....
Feature Story: Ahh, That’s the Sweet Spawt
Ahh, That's the Sweet Spawt Story & Photo by Emily Dieckman Tashi, a 5-year-old German shepherd, was limping, or as his owner, Jodi Gabriel, put it, he was “bunny hopping.” His back legs were out of shape, and she could hear Tashi sigh when there was any amount...
Horsin’ Around: Wildhorse Ranch Rescue – A Place Of Love At A Rough Road’s End
Story by Bonnie Craig Photograph Courtesy of Wildhorse Ranch Rescue Owning a horse is a massive responsibility. Any horse person will tell you that buying one is the cheapest part; proper care, maintenance, and nutrition costs thousands of dollars each year. This is,...
Kitty Korner: The Hermitage Cat Shelter Re-Opens in its Renovated Home
Story & Photos By Claire Sheridan The renovations are mostly complete, and the doors are open! At 50 years old, the Hermitage is the oldest cat shelter and sanctuary in the area, if not in all of the southwestern US. Beginning last February, the old building,...
Kids and Animals: Roman Saves the Day
Story by Bella Wexler Photo by Jennifer McConn Who is your favorite superhero? If you ask six year-old Roman, it’s Batman. If you ask hundreds of dogs (and even cats) around the country, it’s Roman. This is because Roman and his family have dedicated themselves to...
Beagles & Hounds & Rescues, Oh My!
Story by Claire Sheridan Photo Courtesy of Southern Arizona Beagle Rescue Lest the name Southern Arizona Beagle Rescue (SOAZBR) has you conjuring images of a desert Snoopy on top of his adobe doghouse, rest assured that, while this amazing group of folks takes...
Kitty Korner: ABC’s of TNR: Tucson Guide to Community Cats
ABC’s of TNR: Tucson Guide to Community Cats Story & Photo by Devon Confrey There are a lot of cats in Tucson. Kind souls and shelters take in as many as they can, still more remain outdoors. Advocates here, particularly those at Tucson Feral TNR Advocates, agree...
Horsin’ Around: Angels in Autism: Healing the Hearts of Humans and Horses
Angels in Autism: Healing the Hearts of Humans and Horses Story by Bonnie Craig | Picture by Michelle Mastrangelo The partnership between humans and horses is something we often take for granted today, although this ideally symbiotic relationship has existed for over...
Special Feature: Friends Indeed: Friends of PACC
Friends Indeed: Friends of PACC By Claire Sheridan | Photo Courtesy of Michael Kloth for FOP Friends of PACC (FOP), or just “the Friends” for those in the know, is an independent nonprofit organization formed to support the operations of the county’s animal shelter,...
Feature Story: Getting Another Chance: Pima Paws For Life
Getting Another Chance: Pima Paws For Life Story & Photo By Claire Sheridan In January, the nonprofit Pima Paws For Life celebrated its fourth anniversary. The organization’s mission is “to partner with our community in creating a No Kill Pima County; to...
Cover Story: Every Greyhound Gets A Silver Lining
Every Greyhound Gets A Silver Lining Story by Claire Sheridan | Photo Courtesy of Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption Since 2012, nonprofit Southern Arizona Greyhound Adoption (SA GREYS) has found permanent homes for over 500 dogs. Based in Tucson, the all-volunteer...
Special Feature: Tucson Cold Wet Noses: Bringing Hope to the Hopeless
Tucson Cold Wet Noses: Bringing Hope to the Hopeless Story by Bonnie Craig | Photograph by Bonnie Craig, Heather Binnie Tucson is a city of animal lovers. We have amazing rescues ranging across so many species and breeds. We are home to dozens of dog rescues alone....
Feature Story: Barbara Bridges: A Champion for Dogs and Founder of K9 Heroes
Barbara Bridges: A Champion for Dogs and Founder of K9 Heroes By Claire Sheridan | Photo Courtesy of K9 Heroes Starting a nonprofit agency is not for the faint of heart. At 80 years old, Barbara Bridges is a lady never lacking drive, motivation or heart. A widow of 8...
Horsin’ Around: Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids (TRAK)
Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids (TRAK) Story and Photo by Zach Fitzner When I met Scott Tilley, executive director of TRAK, his passion for his work was as obvious as his work-hardened hands. TRAK has around 75 animals used to help kids; from wiener dogs and...
Cover Story: A New Day Dawns At Hope
A New Day Dawns At Hope Story by Claire Sheridan | Photos by Julius Schlosberg “Hope is the thing with feathers - That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all” – Emily Dickinson Although you won’t find any feathered...
Special Feature: The Goldens Rule: Rescue A Golden of Arizona
The Goldens Rule: Rescue A Golden of Arizona Story by Claire Sheridan | Photo courtesy Scottie McGowan & RAG-AZ “Goldens have such a spiritual essence that it makes me think they are angels sent down to teach us unconditional love and how not to take life so...
Feature Story: Tucsonans Rescue Hurricane Harvey Dogs In A Pickle
Tucsonans Rescue Hurricane Harvey Dogs In A Pickle Story by Claire Sheridan As Texas struggles to recover from Hurricane Harvey, 14 Houston-area dogs are finding their forever homes in the Sonoran Desert. Like many folks, Tucson-area resident Megan Rombalski watched...
Horsin Around: Voices Whisper in the Desert: Equine Voices Horse Rescue
Voices Whisper in the Desert: Equine Voices Horse Rescue Story by Claire Sheridan Usually at the top of the list of places that have spiritual significance in Arizona are Sedona, the Grand Canyon, or Havasupai. Although a beautiful place, the census-designated area...
Kids and Animals: Harper Culliney: A Born Animal Lover
Harper Culliney: A Born Animal Lover Story by Claire Sheridan No one seems to know exactly when her love of animals began, but it seems that it might have been from birth. Harper Culliney is a 9-year-old with a big love of animals, pretty much all animals but...
Kitty Korner: A Special Place For Cats: Hearts That Purr Feline Guardians
A Special Place For Cats: Hearts That Purr Feline Guardians Story and Photo by Devon Confrey Fear not the rocking chair, for it will become a scratching post in a nursing home for cats. Hearts That Purr Feline Guardians has recently become such a place, where a few...
Cover Story: How Green Is Your Valley? For The Animals at The Animal League of Green Valley the Grass is Greener
How Green Is Your Valley? For The Animals at The Animal League of Green Valley the Grass is Greener Story by Claire Sheridan | Photo courtesy of Julius Schlosburg “A Home For Every Pet,” the mission statement of The Animal League of Green Valley (TALGV), is the goal...
