3 Million Missed Spay/Neuter Surgeries During Pandemic Still Impacting Animal Welfare Organizations

PHOENIX (February 6, 2024) – The Arizona Humane Society (AHS) has a big adoption goal this week and needs the community’s help to make room for more injured, sick and abused animals.

One month into the new year, there has been no relief from the pet overcapacity crisis that persisted throughout 2023. Last month, AHS cared for more than 1,500 pets which is a 4 percent increase over January 2023. Overall, the shelter continues to see an increase in injured strays and abandoned animals as well as an increase in intakes from hoarding conditions and full Mutternity Suites of pregnant and nursing moms. To continue to care for the Valley’s most vulnerable animals, AHS is hoping to place 400 animals in new homes this week by waiving adoption fees for all pets, including puppies, at both locations Wednesday, February 7 – Sunday, February 11 as part of the BISSELL Pet Foundation’s Empty the Shelters adoption event.

“A perfect storm of compounding factors has led to the constant overcapacity challenges felt here at the Arizona Humane Society and at animal welfare organizations across the Valley and across the nation” said Dr. Steven Hansen, AHS President and CEO. “Pet friendly housing and affordable veterinary care are certainly factors, as well as an increase in suspected animal abuse cases and the intake of dozens of animals at one time by our Animal Cruelty Investigators from hoarding conditions. There was also an estimated 3 million missed spay and neuter surgeries across the country during the pandemic and we’re still feeling the effects in our Mutternity Suites which have been full for more than a month.”

Last fiscal year, AHS cared for more than 600 moms and puppies, a 24 percent increase from the previous year, and the most in the Mutternity Suites six-year history. Puppies like Satin (pictured above), an 8-week-old American Staffordshire Terrier Mix who was one of six puppies found in a box (pictured right) in front of the AHS’ South Mountain Campus in December with a note saying their owner could no longer care for them. After several weeks of intensive care from our medical staff and a stay in a Foster Hero’s home where she was bottle fed, Satin is ready to find her forever home.

February 7-11 Adoption Special Details:

To open much-needed kennel space and help even more pets with nowhere else to go, AHS is launching an adoption special to help 400 animals find new homes.

• ALL fees waived for ALL pets of ALL ages
• Both AHS South Mountain & PetSmart Scottsdale (Miller/Camelback) adoption locations (Open 11 am – 6 pm)
• All pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped, and adopters will take home a starter kit of Hill’s Science Diet food.
• For more information and to see AHS pets currently looking for adoption, visit azhumane.org/adopt.