Friends of PACC, Beading Divas Fundraiser Recipient

Honey is calm

Because of FRIENDS OF PACC, a special fund through the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, some dogs at PACC are able to calm down from kennel stress by receiving an anti-anxiety aid that is not funded by PACC. Here is one dog’s story:

Helping PACC Dogs Cope with Shelter Stress
By Karen Hollish, director, Friends of PACC
photo credit: Michael Kloth photography

Soon after she started working for Pima Animal Care Center this summer, Dr. Karyn Carlson came to us with an urgent request. She’d noticed many dogs who were exceptionally stressed in PACC’s old and overcrowded shelter, and she suspected that Trazodone, a gentle anti-anxiety aid that she’d prescribed to dogs in other settings, could help many of them cope.

With support from friends like you, we were able to grant PACC a 3-month supply of the medication, which the county cannot currently buy. Dr. Carlson tells us the gift is helping the shelter save the lives of dozens of dogs who are showing signs of shelter stress like self-injury, attempted biting and storm anxiety.

high anxiety Honey

One such dog is Honey, a young greyhound / pit bull mix whose first family surrendered her to PACC due to their allergies. When we first met Honey, she was cowering in the back of her kennel. Her adoptability seemed low, but after Dr. Carlson put her on a Trazodone regimen, Honey began to come out of her shell.

Honey eventually caught the attention of Linda B., an Oro Valley resident who took Honey home. On her first night home, Linda gave Honey one calming Trazodone dose to help her settle in.

After that, Linda said, Honey didn’t need the medication, as she adjusted perfectly to life outside of the shelter — just as our doctors had predicted.

“Thank you so much,” Linda said. “I really love this animal.”

Today Dr. Carlson said the Medical Team is working with PACC volunteers to identify other dogs who might need a little help weathering shelter stress.

“The Trazodone pilot is going great,” Dr. Carlson tells us. “Our dogs seem to be responding very well to it, and we have several long-termers on it.”

Adopt me!

Consider helping FRIENDS OF PACC and buy a bracelet or two (tis the season to give gifts). Bracelets are made from donated beads, one size fits most, and every bracelet comes with a dangling paw charm. You can buy them online. You can also buy them at these local venues:

–-Silver Sea Jewelry & Gifts, 330 N. 4th Avenue, 624-9954
–-Clues Unlimited Mystery Book Store, 3146 E. Fort. Lowell Road (SE corner Country Club), 326-8533 (closed Mon/Tues)
–-A K Jensen Apparel, (St. Philips Plaza), 4340 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 72, 529-2775
–-Sissy’s Pet Salon, 7350 N La Cholla Blvd (by Albertsons), 229-9898 (limited selection)

Beading Divas bracelets will also be at the 4th Avenue Street Fair on December 11, 12, 13.