July 24, 2013, at the Maricopa County Superior Court. Files has been charged with felony animal cruelty that was designated as a violent crime for allegedly baiting and trapping his neighbor’s dog Zoey, who was severely injured. Why the Animal Defense League of Arizona is Urging You to Spay Neuter Today!
Please spay and neuter cats and dogs now! For the past few weeks, the Spay Neuter Hotline has been focused on getting this message to Arizonans. We feel the urgency because we see what’s coming! In a few weeks the shelters are going to fill-up with animals, especially cats, Chihuahuas and pit bulls.
With the community’s help, we Trap Neuter Return over 10,000 cats each year in Maricopa County. We see trends that are fairly consistent year in and year out. We’d like to work with the community to do some things that will dramatically decrease the number of unwanted cats born on the streets and in neighborhoods all over the Valley of the Sun. We hope to reach that goal, by taking targeted action and by better communicating what we do and see.
We work with more than ten veterinary clinics around the Valley, and are sterilizing cats almost every day of the week, all year long! February is the month in which “we” see the number of cats in heat and pregnant start to climb, and one of the months when we trap more males than females. My hypothesis is that the tom cats are roaming looking for females in heat.
On Sunday (2/26/12), at least six caregivers lamented that they didn’t catch the cat(s) they were trying for. In most cases they caught a tom they had never seen before, instead of the female that they had targeted and suspected was in heat or pregnant. On a happy note one of those caregivers trapped two pregnant females for the Sunday clinic, along with five males. She kept trying Sunday night and trapped three more cats, including the two females she was trying for,and another wandering tom.
I wanted to share some statistics from Sunday’s clinic to give you a glimpse of what we see. 75 cats went into surgery. Three were already fixed, but had no ear tips; the veterinarian had to anesthetize them to confirm they were sterilized and to give them an ear-tip. One of the previous cats had a microchip. Unfortunately, the owner never registered his or her name with the manufacturer’s registry.
43 were males (including two previously fixed); 30 were females, including the one previously fixed. 17 of the females were pregnant. 71 feti were terminated.
To Recap: February 26, 2012 statistics
60% of cats were male
40% female
59% of females were pregnant.
Predictions and Call to Action: We will see a higher percentage of pregnant females in March. Please fix your cat! Please fix the feral and free roaming cats in your community. Now is the time!
Spay Neuter Hotline Participates in HSUS Spay Day Events
Spay Neuter Hotline participates In HSUS' February Spay Day Events
Spay Day is The Humane Society of the United States' and Humane Society International's annual event to inspire people to save animals' lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. read more
ADLA Urges People to Beat the Heat in 2012!
January 24, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: (602) 265.SPAY
Stephanie Nichols-Young and Sonia Hernandez
Animal Defense League of Arizona’s Spay Neuter Hotline Urges Maricopa County Residents to “Beat the Heat in 2012”
Every spring thousands of homeless kittens come into animal shelters in Maricopa County. Most do not get out alive. Before temperatures rise and cats go into heat, the Spay Neuter Hotline is asking people to stop procrastinating. Get companion cats fixed, and also take advantage of ADLA’s Trap Neuter Return program to sterilize stray and free-roaming cats in Valley neighborhoods. Few cats are in heat in January, but the number begins to increase in February. By April and May shelters are inundated with kittens!
Please Join the Animal Defense League of Arizona’s Spay Neuter Hotline in its campaign to “Beat the Heat in 2012.” ADLA is asking animal lovers to spread the word to family, neighbors and friends.
We can beat kitten season if everyone in the community pitches-in by sterilizing cats in their neighborhood.” Says ADLA President Stephanie Nichols-Young, “Whether you love cats or you hate them, Trap Neuter Return is the best way to reduce the number of cats in Maricopa County.” The Spay Neuter Hotline can help novices and coach them through the process. In many cases, we have neighborhoods work together to do TNR.”
The Hotline helped to sterilize more than 10,000 feral cats last year and over 28,000 since March 2009. Sterilize all outdoor cats now before it’s too late.
The Spay Neuter Hotline offers Trap Neuter Return to assist with reducing the free-roaming cat population. The Hotline also offers referrals & information to low-cost spay neuter veterinarians for companion animals. Periodically, there are free programs available for those in need of financial assistance. Simply call 602 265-SPAY (7729) or visit the website for more information.
AZ Game and Fish Commission Approves Extreme Hunting Proposals
At its December 2011 meeting, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission
continued its anti-predator policies, approving night hunting of coyotes and cougars; "English-Style" fox, rabbit and coyote hunting and putting up more road blocks to the reintroduction of Mexican gray wolves.
"It was a disappointing, but not surprising day", said Animal Defense League of Arizona president Stephane Nichols-Young.
Night Hunting Approved
It was late in the day when the Commission finally heard the night hunting proposal. Despite overwhelming public opposition, including some from the hunting community, the Commission approved by a 3-1 vote the use of artificial lights to hunt coyotes and cougars (also called mountain lions) in parts of Arizona. Commissioner Norman Freeman was the lone 'No' vote and Commissioner John Harris was absent.
Upon approval of the new rule, the Commission moved up a Saturday agenda item, and immediately implemented the rule in portions of the state. ADLA hopes to have a map up soon to depict those areas. It does have the game management unit ("gmu") numbers where night hunting is permitted, if you have specific questions.
The Commission approved night hunting despite concerns about public safety, and potentially detrimental impact on endangered species and law enforcement. In 2002, the Commission followed Department recommendations to reject a similar proposal. At that time, the Department wrote a thorough memo explaining its position, attaching memos and letters from a number of individual Department biologists who also opposed night hunting.
"English- style" Hunting with Dogs Approved
In voting to approve the rule package, the Commission also voted to allow people to use dogs to hunt and kill animals. There are two organizations in Arizona that use dogs - either packs of beagles or foxhounds - to chase, and in some cases kill, jackrabbits, coyotes and foxes. Although this type of hunting is prohibited in England; it is now legal in Arizona.
Creating Road Blocks to Mexican Gray Wolf Reintroduction
The Commission voted 4-1 to remain as part of the Mexican gray wolf program, but to oppose any new wolf releases until a new management plan, environmental impact statement and 10j Rule are approved. In a moment of confusion, the motion was also stated as 'no new wolf reintroductions until a definitive management plan is in place.' Either way the intent is to block any new wolf releases in the near future.
Dr. Benjamin Tuggle of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service attended the meeting, and was peppered with an alternating lecture and barage of questions by Commissioner Jack Husted. The Commission demonstrated its primary allegiance to protecting ranchers and cattle, rather than its statutory duty to manage willdife and its common law duty to do so minding its public trust for all citizens.
What you can do:
Please send a thank you letter or email to Commissioner Norman Freeman. He has a lonely job, and is the only Commissioner who listens to all Arizonans at this time.
Please continue to follow ADLA alerts!
Say NO to Night Hunting of Arizona Lions and Coyotes!
Spay Neuter Hotline's 20th Anniversary Party
The Spay Neuter Hotline's 20th Anniversary Party was a huge success! Thanks to all the attendees, volunteers, and especially Cattryn Somers for hosting the event!
Click on link for invitations
AZ Game and Fish Revisits Night Hunting Proposal
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is considering allowing the use of artificial lights to hunt coyotes and mountain lions. This rule change is being considered as a precurser to allowing night hunting of these species.
The Commission rejected a similar proposal in 2002 at the recommendation of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and many individual biologists who worked for the Department at that time.
We need to send a clear message that Arizonans think this is a bad idea that should be rejected.
What you can do:
1. Come to the public meeting at AZ Game and Fish Headquarters 6:30- 7:30 pm on Tuesday November 8th (5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix) or watch via webcast. Click here for more information.
2. Learn more about this issue at the Sierra Club's Willdife Committee Meeting at 6:30 pm on Thursday November 10th at Quality Inn and Suites, 202 E. McDowell, 2nd floor conference room.
3. Submit written comments opposing this proposal. Hand-written or personally drafted comments are best. Tell Game and Fish that this is a bad idea. It will make it more difficult to prosecute poachers, it's unsafe as it's difficult to identify target species at night.. This can put campers, hikers and their pets at risk. Remind Game and Fish that predators play an important role in the ecosystem. if you have any personal stories about areas where you enjoy camping, walking your dog at dusk or wildife watching, be sure to personalize your comments.The Department will accept comments through Nov. 16. To submit comments:
250 Cats fixed
ADLA's Spay Neuter Hotline and Arizona Humane Society Together TNR'd 250 cats in October Fall for Ferals program
The three clinic series helped low income care-givers throughout the valley. ADLA's Spay Neuter Hotline scheduled and, when necessary, trapped and transported the cats. ADLA volunteers handled check in at the clinics. Arizona Humane Society veterinary staff provided free surgeries.
ADLA looks forward to future collaborations with AHS so we can continue to reduce the number of unwanted cats in Maricopa County.
Spay Neuter Hotline on Channel 12 News!
Take a look at this great story on Phoenix's Channel 12 News, featuring Spay Neuter Hotline's Suzie Jones doing Trap Neuter Return!
The New Website is here!
I want to take a moment to thank the core group who has worked tirelessly to get ADLA's new website up!
First, I must thank our web designer Paul Beakley, owner of Z-Com Creative. He graciously and generously offered to donate 100 hours (and ended-up spending more I suspect), to help ADLA take its communications to a new level. we have literally spent a couple of years developing this site. Paul made sure we understood how we could best use the site, and took the time to hear-out and address our questions and concerns. Thank You Paul!
I hope you will take a quick look around the site. Start on the Spay Neuter Hotline page. It provides up to date information on companion animal spay neuter programs throughout Arizona. Go to the map, hover over programs near you and you will see basic program information. Click on one of the balloons and you will get detailed information, such as program descriptions, prices and website links. Sonia Hernandez has worked diligently to get up to date information entered into the website and will continue to keep that information up to date. Thanks Sonia!
Thanks also to Karen Michael! She has provided much of the content, and as ADLA's long-time volunteer webmaster has spent hours learning the new site to help us better transition.
Now it's up to you. Please join ADLA's new adventure! Notice the areas of interest on the black bar above. In most cases, you can join a group that will provide updates and discussions on that topic. This is an experiment. Tour around the site, share your comments, join a group and help us better serve Arizona's animals!
Sincerely,
Stephanie Nichols-Young
ADLA maintains an extensive database of low-cost spay/neuter clinics around Arizona. 
