Thank You from PACC's Director

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Dear Friends of PACC Supporters,

With the holidays approaching, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for helping us save a record number of lives in 2019. Because of your donations to Friends of PACC and service to our community’s homeless pets, we have saved a record 92% of the 17,500 pets who have entered PACC so far this year. As the only open-admission shelter serving Pima County, the City of Tucson, Oro Valley, the City of South Tucson, and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, PACC helps every pet in need, including those who have been abused, neglected, abandoned or given up by their owners.

You probably support Friends of PACC because you believe every homeless pet’s life should be valued and you know that at PACC, our philosophy is to treat every pet as if its life were just as important as our own pets at home. Or maybe you donate because you want your money to help local pets who are truly in need and you know our doors are open to the most vulnerable. Or maybe you give because you believe in the bond between pets and the people who love them and you know we do too. Whatever the reason you support PACC, I wanted to share a few things you might not know about our work:

  • On an average day, we have about 700 pets in the shelter and another 700 living in tempo foster homes.

  • More than 1,200 volunteers and foster caregivers contribute 90,000 hours of service to PACC each year.

  • PACC has the nation’s largest shelter pet foster program, with more than 5,200 pets going to foster homes this year alone.

  • PACC sends about 2,500 pets to approved rescue partners each year.

  • This year, our animal protection officers have investigated more than 1,500 cases of cruelty and neglect, removed 325 dogs from tethers or tie-outs, and rescued animals from 35 hoarding cases.

  • Our team of veterinarians has spayed or neutered 9,000 shelter pets and performed 1,150 lifesaving surgeries.

About a month ago, Tucson Local Media awarded PACC “The 2019 Best Place to Donate Time and/or Money” among all the organizations in Tucson. This honor was especially meaningful because it came directly from people just like you, who voted in this ‘people’s choice’ type award.  This vote was just another reflection of our community’s commitment to caring for its pets.

Because you choose to give to Friends of PACC, you profoundly change the lives of pets who would otherwise not have a second chance. You make all the difference in the world. When we talk to our adopters and foster caregivers, this is a story we often hear:

“It’s like she knows we saved her life. She just looks up at us with so much love and gratitude and it’s almost as if she understands she’s safe and loved and has a forever home.”

Though you’ll probably never get to see the faces of the thousands of dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, bunnies, chickens, turtles, and other small creatures you’ve helped to save, we want to say a great big ‘Thank You’ on behalf of all the pets whose lives you’ve impacted. We simply could not do it without your support.

As we come close to the end of the year (and kitten season!), we are taking time to make plans for next year. While we’ve had some great successes and we’re achieving record lifesaving and service to pets in the community, we’ve still got so much work ahead. With your help, we will continue to strive to make Pima County the safest, most humane community in the nation. Thank you for believing in us and our mission.

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Holiday Season,

Kristen Hassen-Auerbach

Director, Pima Animal Care Center and Ex-Officio Board Member, Friends of PACC

Friends of PACC