Story & Photos provided by Kim Eisele
It all started with a dream. Margaret Roesch, a hospice worker in the early 1980’S, discovered that what worried folks the most at the end of their lives was not what was going to happen to them, but what would happen to their beloved pets. Where would their furry friends go if they died? Margaret’s dream was to build a no-kill pet retirement facility which would be a safe haven for those companion animals who no longer had a home.
On April 20, 1984, The Animal League of Green Valley (TALGV) was incorporated in Arizona as a no-kill animal shelter. In October of 1985, it gained its 501(c)(3) non-profit status.
Margaret was described as a visionary who was persistent and stubborn, and she was determined to build a brick-and-mortar facility for companion animals.
While Margaret and her Board of Directors worked on finding a piece of land on which to build, new volunteers started donating their time by fostering homeless pets. Additionally, they helped residents who were dealing with a health crisis by walking their dogs and feeding their pets. They also helped find new homes for the fostered pets, facilitated public awareness events and solicited donations.
Over the next 13 years, after many starts and stops and two failed locations, TALGV finally broke ground at 1600 W. Duval Mine Road, where TALGV currently resides today.
In 2001, Margaret and her volunteers were finally able to move into the newly constructed building. There was an office area, a caretaker’s apartment, and kennel rooms. There was also an area in which to run The Attic, a thrift store that was run by volunteers. All proceeds from The Attic would go to help support the animals.
The only thing missing was the animals! TALGV had run out of money and was unable to finish some necessary animal areas, such as a food preparation room, medical room, and outdoor runs. TALGV still needed to raise over $150,000!
Luckily, there was an ongoing community-wide effort to raise donations, and dollar by dollar the money came in. Finally in 2002, TALGV received Pima County’s approval to start bringing in cats and dogs and subsequently adopting them out to their new forever homes.
Over the next several years, TALGV continued to build, including some outdoor runs for the dogs so they could get proper exercise. In 2005, as space permitted, TALGV began accepting strays and unwanted pets.
The following year TALGV initiated its Outreach Program. This program offers assistance with spaying and neutering and veterinary costs to low-income families.
By 2007, TALGV had already outgrown the size of its facility. An addition of another wing was built to provide 8 new kennels, an isolation room, and laundry facilities.
In 2011 TALGV started its Youth Intern Program (YIP). The YIPs worked alongside TALGV adult volunteers for eight weeks during their summer break from school. The YIPs walk dogs, feed and groom cats and dogs, and clean up poop, among many other things. This program continued until 2020 when the pandemic hit but then started back up again in 2022. This year 46 students participated in the program.
By 2013 TALGV once again needed additional space and thus TALGV broke ground for a new building. This building consisted of a cat wing, administrative offices, adoption rooms, an IT suite and a multipurpose room. Once finished, over 100 cats were moved from the original building to their new digs in the new building.
For the first time in 2016, TALGV exceeded 1,000 adoptions for the year. Everything continued smoothly until 2020 when the global pandemic impacted all businesses. TALGV had to close The Attic and its shelter and started doing adoptions and relinquishments by appointment only.
By 2022, life became “normal” again.
TALGV has over 500 volunteers who work tirelessly to help the homeless cats and dogs. Their dedication and commitment to TALGV’s mission, “A Home for Every Pet,” is exhibited on a daily basis as they do everything they can to help our cats and dogs be adopted into forever homes. Thanks to the volunteers, TALGV is 40 years old and still going strong.
For more information go to www.talgv.org/
