Penzone: Tentative plan for Tent City space is new facility for animal unit

PHOENIX — With the closure of Tent City, there’s some space available for Maricopa County to use.

Joining KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos, Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone explained what the tentative plan is in place for the space.

“One of the things we are working on that is not yet finalized, but I have spoken to several private funders who (will) basically sponsor, through all of the processes where the county would have to approve this, a new facility for our MASH unit,” Penzone said.

The MASH unit, or the Maricopa Animal Safe Haven, is a no-kill animal unit that houses evidence animals from abuse and neglect cases. Those animals visit with veteran inmates and provide them compassion and an animal education. The program was implemented by former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

The plan would be for a facility with top of the line kennels for the roughly 100 dogs and an unknown number of cats in the MASH unit, providing them with a new space and a dog park as well.

Penzone described the current space the unit is in as “unhealthy” and one the animals don’t get enough activity in.

The kennels would be climate controlled and the space would allow them to have more use for the detainees who would provide the care and cleanup for the area.

Penzone announced the shutdown of the Tent City facility in early April. It had been open since 1993.

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