We are reaching out with ads, articles, events, adoptathons and other social medias to get the message out of need. We need our local municipalities to contribute to help ensure the longevity of 4 Paws.”

Deb Heise, 4 Paws president

4 Paws Rescue

11129 W. Michigan Ave.
Youngtown, AZ

4 Paws Rescue

10807 N. 96th Ave.
Peoria, AZ

By Rusty Bradshaw
Twitter: @SunCitiesEditor

The 4 Paws Cat Rescue and shelter may be at a critical crossroads in its history.

Officials for the all-feline, no kill shelter is funded entirely by donations and operated by volunteers have seen a drop in both, making maintaining its two facilities difficult, according to Deborah Heise, 4 Paws board president. 4 Paws receives no funds from the state or county.

“We are reaching out with ads, articles, events, adoptathons and other social medias to get the message out of need,” Ms. Heise stated in an email. “We need our local municipalities to contribute to help ensure the longevity of 4 Paws.”

The agency has two locations, 11129 W. Michigan Ave., Youngtown and 10807 N. 96th Ave., Peoria. Ms. Heise said to address the issue of reduced revenue and volunteers, agency officials will close part of the Youngtown suites and add to the Peoria shelter.

“It will mean less cats and kittens can be taken in, until more people step up to foster kittens and/or cats,” Ms. Heise stated. “Most of your other cat shelters take in many cats as they have a larger foster base, but have a small shelter, as normally they don’t ‘house’ many cats.”  

The Peoria location expansion will include larger medical suites for the influx of ringworm and respiratory infections, Ms. Heise explained. Part of the cat rooms will be renovated and expanded to try and avoid turning away as many animals. 4 Paws officials hope the expansion will be operational by the end of July.

Ms. Heise emphasized 4 Paws is not closing. From a small shelter in the beginning, the agency grew to be the largest cat only shelter in Maricopa County, according to Ms. Heise.

“Sun Cities 4 Paws Rescue has had their ups and downs but has remained resilient and continues to provide good care, whether it is socialization or medical; the staff and volunteers work with them with diligence to ensure each is cared for,” she stated.

Sun Cities 4 Paws was established in 1996 and serves the Sun Cities, Peoria and Surprise areas. In that time, thousands of cats and kittens were surrendered to the shelter or simply left at the front door and garbage bins, or brought to the shelters by emergency service agencies, Ms. Heise explained. 4 Paws officials have also conducted their own rescues for cats and kittens trapped in a variety of areas.

“As with any shelter, it is hard work and passion that is the key,” she stated. “Our funding depends a lot on you, the community. Sun Cities 4 Paws is reaching out for you.”

With a stronger board of directors and increased funding the agency can continue, she added.

Ms. Heise believes a large part of the reason there are so many cats and kittens in shelters is Arizona passed a law-making cats a “free roaming” animal. She believes the law leaves cats unprotected unless grave cruelty or in the case of a cat biting someone. The latter is the only cases when Maricopa County will become involved.

“This law has contributed to the large number of feral cats in various communities and several Phoenix areas have resorted to starving and poisoning these cats in attempt to bring this ‘problem’ under control,” Ms. Heise stated. “It is not successful and inhumane.”

The feral problem is made worse by people dumping cats and kittens without spay/neutering and inadequate funded programs to continually work problem areas, Ms. Heise stated.

 Because of this law, concerned people are bringing more cats/kittens to ALL shelters, but due to funding and space, most  have a ‘list’ in which the felines are put on and accepted at various times. We are no different. As much as we want to take all the cats brought to us, we have to refer some to other shelters in hopes they are taken. We look like the bad guys, but due to reduced donations, we have to limit what we take in. We count on donations as well as our fundraisers, and do not receive State or County funds.

Visit 4pawsrescue.org/ or call 623-773-2246 to learn about programs, volunteering and fundraising events.