The dog days of summer may be coming to a close, but fall is bringing great things to Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC).
Volunteer dog walkers hit the trail with shelter dogs from Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) as part of its Wag N’ Walk Adoption Hike program (submitted photo).
In order to promote the adoption of shelter dogs, MCACC will offer reduced canine adoption fees throughout the month of October. All dogs will be $20 to adopt. All pets are spayed and neutered, and dogs over 3 months of age are rabies vaccinated and go home with their county dog license.
For more information and to see adoptable animals, visit www.maricopa.gov/pets or go to the MCACC West Valley Care Center, 2500 S. 27th Ave., Phoenix.
In addition, MCACC’s award-winning Wag N’ Walk Adoption Hike program will begin Oct. 1 and run through April—taking advantage of cooler weather and allowing shelter dogs the chance to enjoy it, too.
Partnering with Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, volunteers bring dogs from MCACC’s East Valley Animal Care Center, 2630 E. Rio Salado Parkway in Mesa, to Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa. Hikers (canine and human) meet at the park’s Merkle Trail for an easy 1-mile, barrier free hike. The program features dogs that would make great active companions and provides hikers the chance to meet and see the dogs outside of the shelter environment.
All dogs come to the hikes with their adoption paperwork to allow for on-site adoptions should hikers fall in love with a new furry hiking companion. While MCACC always hopes for adoptions, if a dog is not adopted, the hikes still provide a great opportunity for animals to get out of their kennels for some exercise and socialization.
Hikers meet at the trail the first Saturday of every month at 8:45 a.m. to begin hiking at 9 a.m. There is a $6 per car park entry fee.
The Wag N’ Walk kick off is a great way to celebrate Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog month. In the past eight months, 19,260 dogs entered MCACC shelters and the agency is urging the public to consider adopting a homeless pet. Visit www.maricopa.gov/pets.
