MCACC awarded $75,000 grant from Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, large dogs to benefit

The program would be a comprehensive large dog transitional placement program.

PUBLISHED JUN 19, 2024

This program will create a large dog foster program that focuses on foster parents being the dogs’ advocates to find them forever homes.

Phoenix, Arizona (Release): The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is awarding Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC) a $75,000 grant. At a formal meeting -- held on Wednesday, June 12 -- the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted on approving the use of the grant to allow MCACC to expand its foster program.

“Our vision for animal welfare in the nation’s 4th largest county is more dogs in permanent, loving homes and fewer animals in our shelters,” said chairman Jack Sellers, District 1. “While our adoption rate is far above the national average for public shelters, we still face capacity issues. This grant will help by getting hundreds of dogs out of shelter kennels and into foster homes until a forever family is found.”

How will the money be used?

MCACC will be using the grant to create an Alternative Placement Supervisor position to create a robust foster program. The Alternative Placement Supervisor will work to assist the Community Engagement Manager in developing, launching, and maintaining our new foster program. This program will create a large dog foster program that focuses on foster parents being the dogs’ advocates to find them forever homes. The supervisor will also oversee strategies to offer tool kits, education, and resources to bridge the gap for both human and canine participants.

The increase of dogs in foster programs will help alleviate ACC capacity issues and ultimately reduce the likelihood of behavioral deterioration due to living in a shelter environment.

“This generous grant is going to not only help grow our foster program tremendously, but in turn will also benefit so many of the large dogs that come into our shelters,” said MCACC director Debbie McKnight. “We are truly grateful to the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust for awarding us this grant to help improve outcomes for large shelter pets.”

The program would be a comprehensive large dog transitional placement program that would address current barriers by focusing on large breed dogs over a year of age, which currently make up a large majority of the MCACC population. Studies show programs focused on short-term placement are favored and lead to long-term outcomes for dogs, which would greatly improve the length of stay and long-term outcomes of these large dog breeds.

What is the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust?

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust aims to assist those in need, particularly women, children, and families, protect animals and nature, and enhance community life in Indianapolis and Phoenix. Honoring Nina Mason Pulliam's wishes, the Trust only accepts applications from charitable organizations in Marion County, Indiana, and Maricopa County, Arizona, except for environmental initiatives. Environmental requests are accepted from organizations across Arizona and Indiana.

Those interested in fostering or adopting a pet can visit MCACC’s East and West shelters at 2500 S 27th Ave, Phoenix, Arizona and 1920 S Lewis, Mesa, Arizona. Both shelters are open Monday through Friday from 12pm to 6pm and on weekends from 12pm to 5pm. All adoptions include spay/neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccinations.