Nearly 40 small dogs have been surrendered to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona after a Marana woman said she was overwhelmed trying to care for them.
The rescued dogs, believed to be Chihuahua mixes, range in age from 4 days to 4 years and are in good condition, the Humane Society said in a news release.
The dogs are being spayed, neutered and being vaccinated before they are available to adopt.
“We’re grateful to be in a position to help these dogs,” said Kristin Barney, the Humane Society's CEO. “Thanks to the compassion of our community, we were able to act quickly and provide them with medical care they need before being adopted into new homes.”
The youngest puppies are still nursing. They have been placed with foster families and are expected to be available for adoption later.
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Several local rescue groups have stepped forward to help with the influx, the Humane Society said.
“These caregivers weren’t breeders, they just hadn’t had their animals altered, and as a result, they found themselves in this situation where breeding naturally spiraled out of control,” said Jonathan Neuser, a Humane Society spokesman. “This distinction is important because it highlights the unintended consequences of not spaying or neutering pets, a key message we strive to educate the public about.”
Neuser said the overbreeding was not intentional.
He said the Humane Society wants anyone in a similar situation to feel comfortable coming to the organization for help. Surrendering their pets, Neuser said, is handled without judgment or shame.
This rescue was made possible by the Humane Society's Giving Tuesday campaign, which raised over $60,000.
“Your generosity is the reason we can respond so quickly when animals need us most,” Barney said in an email.
Go to http://tucne.ws/1rcd to donate to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.
