As the City of Tucson and Pima County feud over who is going to pay – and how much they will pay – to keep unwanted strays, spring signals the start of the busy season at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC) and the agency has found creative ways to save more lives…. and money.
On May 21st, MCACC will send 75 dogs from their West Valley Animal Care Center to the Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO). This will be the second time that MCACC has sent animals to the St. Louis shelter.
Since January 2014, MCACC has worked to transport more than 200 Chihuahua-type dogs to states where the canines are in high demand. This trip to Missouri marks the largest transport in MCACC’s history. The dozens of Chihuahuas and other small breed dogs have been specially chosen to make the trip to St. Louis.
While Pima County politicians point fingers and wring hands, Maricopa County volunteers have been putting in extra shifts to care for the dogs, which are being housed at the agency’s Phoenix shelter. Many of the dogs, which have been at MCACC for weeks (and in some cases, months), will be adopted quickly once in Missouri. The dogs will travel comfortably in HSMO’s 26’ long, climate controlled rescue trailer to the shelter’s St. Louis location.
South Tucson Mayor Paul Diaz said that on Monday, May 11, the South Tucson City Council, in a study session considered the Status Quo Budget FY 2015-2016. The City Council received preliminary numbers that would show that the City is getting its financial house in order and it is possible that the Council might not have to make cuts of any kind. However, the City’s animal control rose to $84,000 for 2016, up from $72,000 for 2015. “Some could say, ‘So what? It’s funded and you only need $21K more,’ but that money could fix streets, or hire much needed staff,” said Diaz, who is looking for creative solutions like they are doing in Maricopa County to meet the City’s animal care needs.