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Contact:

Kim Noetzel
Communications Manager
623-587-2872
KNoetzel@PetSmartCharities.org

PetSmart Charities® Awards Largest-Ever Local Grant

Friends of Animal Care & Control receives record amount to fund spay/neuter program for dogs and cats in underserved Valley neighborhoods

(PHOENIX) – PetSmart Charities today announced that big help is on the way for The Big Fix, a Maricopa County Animal Care and Control program that ensures free spay and neuter services for thousands of dogs and cats in underserved Valley neighborhoods. The help comes in the way of a $225,000 grant awarded to Friends of Animal Care & Control (FACCs) in support of The Big Fix. This is the largest-ever local grant awarded by Phoenix-based PetSmart Charities, a nonprofit which supports animal-welfare organizations throughout North America. FACCs is a nonprofit organization that strives to end euthanasia by raising funds to support Maricopa County Animal Care and Control’s special programs.

By offering programs such as The Big Fix – which seeks to reduce homeless-pet overpopulation by means other than euthanasia – Maricopa County Animal Care & Control has proven to be a leader in the animal-welfare community, according to PetSmart Charities Executive Director Susana Della Maddalena. The Big Fix is precisely the type of program that PetSmart Charities seeks to fund because it provides all-important spay and neuter services where they are needed the most to a large number of dogs and cats – thereby preventing the births of potentially millions of new puppies and kittens for whom there are no homes, she added.

With funding in place, the County will be able to provide pet parents with vouchers so that 12,600 dogs and cats can be spayed or neutered for free during fiscal year 2009. Specifically, the grant funding targets three ZIP codes deemed “high risk” by County animal-control officials. The ZIP codes – 85033, 85035 and 85037 – have the highest reported incidences of free-roaming dogs and cats and dog bites, and lowest compliance with county dog-licensing requirements. A portion of the grant also will be used to fund a free rabies vaccination clinic for dogs and cats in one of the designated ZIP codes.             “We are proud to support the efforts of FACCs and Maricopa County Animal Care and Control so we can help reduce homeless-pet overpopulation in our community and save lives,” Della Maddalena said. “Reducing the number of homeless and unwanted puppies and kittens born every day in our community is key to slowing the steady stream of animals into our shelters, and the number of strays who suffer and die on the streets.”             Last year alone, 11,300 dogs and cats were spayed or neutered at no charge through The Big Fix. Since the program began in April 2006, 21,794 dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered at no charge. The County contracts with private veterinarians to provide the spay and neuter services.             "We are very grateful for the continuous support of PetSmart Charities in our battle to end the euthanasia of pets in Maricopa County. It is a great day for the community when private and public entities come together to save lives,” said Dr. Rodrigo A. Silva, MVZ, MPH, assistant County manager. “The residents of Maricopa County and their pets are well served by PetSmart Charities' generosity. This wonderful grant is aimed to provide critical services to at-risk and underserved areas of the County. PetSmart Charities understands the importance of preventive services such as spay and neuter, and pet vaccination. We are very thankful for their support."             For more information about The Big Fix, visit http://www.maricopa.gov/Pets. To learn more about the many ways that PetSmart Charities works to save the lives of homeless pets, visit www.petsmartcharities.org.
WHY SPAY/NEUTER IS SO IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY          Dogs and cats can begin reproducing at about 9 months and 6 months of age, respectively.         On average, one female cat can have 15-20 kittens per year. One female dog can have 10-15 puppies per year.         Maricopa County Animal Care and Control is the second-largest, municipal animal care and control agency in the United States. During fiscal year 2008, it took in more than 55,000 homeless and unwanted animals.         Throughout Maricopa County, about 100,000 animals enter local shelters. Approximately half of them find homes
ABOUT PETSMART CHARITIES, INC.PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues, and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. Since 1994, PetSmart Charities has funded more than $70 million in grants and programs benefiting animal welfare organizations and, through its in-store pet adoption program, has helped save the lives of more than 3.6 million pets. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working to help find a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit www.petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS.  ABOUT FACCs (FRIENDS OF ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL)FACCs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to end euthanasia of healthy and adoptable dogs and cats in the community by raising funds to support the special programs of Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. For more information, visit www.azfaccs.org/about.htm.
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