Maricopa County Animal Care and Control is launching a new program thanks to a private donation.
The Board of Supervisors have accepted a $45,000 donation from Cathy Rinaldi, a longtime Animal Care and Control volunteer. This donation will help launch Maricopa Pet Help, a new program to reach people who don't have easy access to pet services.
“At Maricopa County, one of our goals is to decrease pet homelessness and shelter overcrowding,” said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Gates, District 3. “We are grateful for donations from community members like Cathy who share a passion for helping our pet population and helping our community care for their pets.”
The new program will bring services to those people who need it the most, said Mary Martin, Director of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.
“This is truly boots-on-the-ground outreach that will help those people with pets in need,” Martin said. “We are so thankful for Cathy’s generosity and commitment to all animals in Maricopa County. We will be headed into neighborhoods where animals live in poverty to provide basic support and anything else they might need.”
The community outreach program will provide pet owners with spay/neuter services, vaccinations, basic veterinary care, collars and leashes, flea/tick preventative, pet food and additional resources. The goal is to help residents care for and keep their pets.
“I really do understand that some people have nothing, but they have their pet and they need to feed them, said Rinaldi. "It’s so good that we can help people without forcing them to pay anything."
Rinaldi has pledged to fund an additional $45,000 for the first year of the Maricopa Pet Help program for a total of $90,000.
For information about the program or if you would like to donate to support the Pet Help Program, please contact Ben Swan, 602-506-3471 or email benswan@mail.maricopa.gov.