Philosopher Immanuel Kant once said, “We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.” If that’s true, then we can easily judge the hearts of the people behind our local animal rescues as pure and beautiful indeed. While most people are familiar with rescues that help with dogs and cats, there are also great organizations keeping everything from Gila monsters to horses safe. Here are some Scottsdale-based rescues to keep in mind. To help, contact each directly.
Phoenix Herpetological Society
This organization was founded in 2001 by three longtime, passionate reptile enthusiasts with a vision to make a difference for reptiles in the state of Arizona. At that time, there was no facility or refuge for unwanted or rescued reptiles. Phoenix Herpetological Society also strongly believes that “conservation begins with education,” so the staff spends time educating the public about reptiles and the importance they have in our ecosystem. Each year, they visit with over 250,000 school-age children. PhoenixHerp.com
Arizona Equine Rescue Organization
Arizona Equine Rescue Organization (AERO) was founded in 2001 and specializes in critical care rescues that need medical care when removed from owners by law enforcement, livestock emergency response and technical rescue, livestock disaster evacuation, community education, and more. AERO is an all-volunteer organization that rehabilitates rescued horses and rehomes them. AZEquinerescue.org
Fur the Love of Paws
In 2016, a few girlfriends who had a shared love for dogs and a passion for helping to make a difference in the lives of all homeless animals founded this organization. They realized that by assisting in fulfilling the needs of animal shelters and rescues for items like food, toys, beds, blankets, towels, cleaning supplies, and money needed for medical issues, those who were volunteering and working directly with the animals could spend more time focusing on adoptions. Facebook.com/furtheloveofpawsaz
