In animal welfare, the most urgent cases are often the ones no system was neatly built to hold. A dog whose owner has been arrested. A pair of cats abandoned in carriers outside a store. A litter of kittens suddenly left without a mother. These are the animals that can fall into the gaps between agencies, contracts and capacity.
Foothills Animal Rescue is now helping close that gap through a new partnership with Peoria Police and Animal Control, providing urgent placement, medical care and foster support for vulnerable animals who need more than a temporary hold and less bureaucracy than time allows.
The collaboration gives Peoria officers a more flexible option when time, space and circumstance leave animals at risk. Although Peoria Police and Animal Control has a contract with Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, some cases do not move neatly through the larger shelter system, especially animals connected to arrests, legal holds, abandonment calls or specialized neonatal care.
The need became clear through River, a dog who spent three weeks in limbo after her owner was arrested. After Tamie Murillo, director of shelter operations for Foothills Animal Rescue, assessed River, the rescue committed to taking her in as soon as a judge signed the release form. In navigating River’s case, the Foothills team saw a broader need: a dedicated partner for animals caught in the gray areas, especially motherless kittens and domesticated cats who are not feral, but still have nowhere safe to land.
“Peoria Police and Animal Control is often the first call when an animal is in crisis, but that does not always mean there is an obvious next step,” said Lana Shapiro, chief advancement officer for Foothills Animal Rescue. “River helped us see exactly where Foothills could be useful. Some animals need a little more time, a little more care or simply a safe place to land. This partnership allows us to step in for those cases, whether it is a legal situation, a motherless litter of kittens or an animal that might otherwise get lost in the shuffle. No one organization can solve every challenge, but when we work together, we can save more lives.”
The partnership is already making a measurable difference.
In addition to River, Peoria Animal Control officers recently responded to a call at a local Petco, where two cats had been abandoned in carriers. Because the cats were clearly domesticated and not feral, officers needed a safe placement option quickly. Foothills Animal Rescue took them in immediately. Soon after, Peoria Animal Control brought in three kittens whose mother had been killed. Foothills Animal Rescue agreed to serve as a designated safe haven for motherless kittens, and within the first week of the partnership, Peoria Police and Animal Control had brought 15 kittens to the rescue.
For animal control officers, the partnership adds a critical tool: a place to turn when a vulnerable animal needs more than a temporary hold.
“Animal control officers are often making decisions in urgent, unpredictable situations, and the goal is always to get animals to safety as quickly and responsibly as possible,” said Lieutenant Kevin Tarrant, a spokesperson for the Peoria Police Department. “Having Foothills Animal Rescue as a partner gives our team another pathway for animals who need specialized care, patience and placement. This partnership helps us respond with compassion while giving these animals a real chance at a safe future.”
Once animals arrive at Foothills Animal Rescue, they receive:
- Urgent Medical Care. Each animal receives an immediate assessment, vaccinations and treatment for any health concerns.
- Specialized Kitten Care. Orphaned kittens receive on-site stabilization and nutritional support before being placed with foster families.
- A Path to Adoption. Once animals are healthy and reach the appropriate weight, they receive spay or neuter surgery and are cleared for adoption.
- Foster Support. Foothills Animal Rescue provides resources and guidance to help foster families care for vulnerable animals during the most critical stages.
The partnership underscores a broader reality in animal welfare: even with city contracts and county systems in place, some animals still fall into legal and logistical holes. Small, dedicated teams like Peoria Police and Animal Control often face limits when it comes to long-term housing, neonatal kitten care or complex legal holds. By partnering with a nonprofit rescue, the community gains a nimble safety net for the cases that require a more specialized response. With kitten season in full effect, Foothills Animal Rescue is asking the community to help keep that safety net strong.
Ways to help include:
- Become a Foster. Foothills Animal Rescue needs foster volunteers who can help care for kittens and other vulnerable animals, allowing the rescue to continue saying yes when urgent cases arise.
- Donate Supplies. Wet and dry kitten food is especially needed. Supplies can be purchased through the rescue’s Amazon wishlist.
- Give Financially. Monetary donations help provide medical care, food, supplies and support for foster families. Donations can be made at foothillsanimal.org/donate.
- Spread the Word. Sharing the need for fosters, supplies and donations helps connect more people to animals who need immediate care.
For Foothills Animal Rescue, the partnership is a practical solution with a bigger purpose: helping agencies, nonprofits and the public work together so more animals have a safe place to go when they need it most. Learn more at foothillsanimal.org.
