Arizona Humane Society offering free adult pet adoptions to make space

The Arizona Humane Society (AHS) is offering $0 adoption fees for adult pets a year and older to try and make space as it struggles with a worsening pet overpopulation crisis.

The promotion runs from Saturday through Tuesday at all three of its adoption locations, which are open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In 2025, AHS took in more than 25,000 dogs and cats, its highest intake in more than a decade. This year, leaders say the nonprofit is on track to take care of more than 28,000 sick, injured and abused pets.

AHS offers free adult pet adoptions as surrendered, abandoned pets increase

Despite having support services available for pet owners, the animal welfare organization explained that it has seen a rise in the number of surrendered and abandoned pets due to rising housing costs, evictions and a lack of affordable veterinary care.

So far in 2026, the shelter’s Animal Rescue and Cruelty Team has received almost 1,200 calls for abandoned pets. That’s in addition to the ones that are left at its different campuses.

In May, AHS had multiple puppies abandoned at its Rob & Melani Walton Papago Park Campus, which is located near Priest Drive and Van Buren Street.

On May 19, a nine-week-old American Pit Bull puppy was found in a donation bin, which was in direct sunlight, covered in ticks after being abandoned at the back of the facility. The puppy, who was later named Layne, was taken to AHS’ Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital to be treated for the ticks, which caused him to be anemic and underweight. He is now being cared for in a foster home.

A week later, there were four puppies abandoned in a box on a road alongside the building. Unfortunately, only one of them — a 10-week-old boxer — was still alive.

The puppy, who was named Dumpling, was treated for parvovirus and is now available for adoption at the Sunnyslope Campus in Phoenix.

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