The dog days summer may be coming to a close, but fall is bringing great things to of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC). MCACC is celebrating Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month with the launch of its annual Wag N’ Walk Adoption Hike program.
The award-winning Wag N’ Walk Adoption Hike program began October 1 and will 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 to Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa. Hikers (canine and human) meet at the park’s Merkle Trail for an easy one 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.
In order to promote the adoption of shelter dogs, MCACC will offer reduced canine adoption fees throughout the month of October. From Oct.1 – Oct. 31, all dogs will be $20 to adopt. All pets are spayed and neutered and dogs over three 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 either of MCACC’s shelter locations:
- West Valley Care Center: 2500 S. 27th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85009
- East Valley Care Center: 2630 E. Rio Salado Parkway Mesa, AZ 85201
