Maricopa County shelters waive adoption fees after 130 pets arrive since Fourth of July

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control is running out of space for lost and stray pets after taking in more than 130 animals since the Fourth of July.

The county shelter and the Arizona Animal Welfare League are taking part in the Bissell Pet Foundation’s latest Empty the Shelters adoption event through July 19.

Events like this are essential for making more room at overcrowded shelters, according to Kim Powell, communications supervisor for Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.

“It creates a challenge for staff, and of course, it’s frustrating too because a lot of the lost pets that come in don’t have any form of ID on them, so we can’t get them into their owner as easily,” Powell told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday.

Where to find the dogs with waived fees

Find adoptable dogs with the county here. You can also head to one of these locations:

• East Shelter: 1920 S. Lewis in Mesa
• West Shelter: 2500 S. 27th Avenue in Phoenix
• Everyday Adoption Center: 4380 N. Miller Rd in Scottsdale (inside PetSmart)

Adoption fees are waived for dogs 6 months and older that weigh at least 25 pounds during the Empty the Shelters event. Puppies 5 months and younger will have reduced fees of $150, and small dogs 25lbs and under are $70.

Adoptable dogs with the Arizona Animal Welfare League can be found online.

Why are Maricopa County shelters overcrowded?

Arizona shelters are facing an ongoing overcrowding crisis tied to rising living costs and an increase in owner surrenders. Not only that, but animal cruelty is on the rise, according to the Arizona Humane Society.

Summer is an especially difficult time for Valley shelters because more pets come in around the Fourth of July while fewer families are adopting, Powell said.

“It happens every summer. People have vacations, they have plans going on, and it’s just not the right time to adopt,” Powell said. “We’re seeing more pets come in, but less go out.”

How does Empty the Shelters event help Arizona residents?

Large dogs, especially those 50 pounds or heavier, are among the most affected and make up a significant portion of the shelter population. In May, 1,746 pets entered Maricopa County’s care.

That’s why adoption fees are being waived for dogs 6 months and older that weigh at least 25 pounds during the Empty the Shelters event, Powell said. Fees are also reduced for small dogs and puppies.

“Every single adoption helps us and it helps all those dogs that need a temporary home to stay. And then, of course, we also have short-term foster events as well. Even if you can only foster for a week, maybe two weeks, that helps us so much as well.”

That makes now an ideal time to take home a dog. Future adoption events with waived fees can be found online.

“We have the events listed on our our homepage there. You can also scroll through all of our adoptable dogs,” Powell said. “Sign up for our monthly newsletter because we have events coming up all the time whether it’s waived fee events or maybe it’s an offsite event that’s near your home.”

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