An overwhelming number of calls to Mesa’s two-person Animal Control Unit has prompted police officials to consider turning over the responsibility to Maricopa County.

Mesa’s budget problems are forcing City Hall to confront another difficult choice — what to do about unruly animals that wander through neighborhood streets and backyards?

Roberto and Tina Jaimes say their dog, Boxy, pushed open a gate at their Chandler home a week ago Sunday and got out of the yard.

In the last decade and a half, animal shelters in numerous communities have implemented a bold series of programs and services to reduce birthrates, increase adoptions, and keep animals with their responsible caretakers. As a result, they are achieving unprecedented results, saving upwards of 95 percent of all impounded animals in their animal control facilities. These communities share very little demographically. What they do share is leadership at their shelters with a passion for lifesaving and who have comprehensively implemented a key series of programs and services, collectively referred to as the “No Kill Equation.”

Pinal County’s Animal Care and Control officers picked up 7,700 stray cats and dogs last year.

It is a Tuesday afternoon and Samantha Spinelle sits crossed-legged on the cool, concrete floor of her office. A small, tan dog named Finn is folded into her arms. She strokes her hand over an angular body that is comprised of little more than skin stretched taut over bones. The warm cocoon of her embrace and soft caress is pure torture. In his world humans are not good. If only he could crawl back under her desk and make himself one with the hot-pink dog bed where he was safe just moments ago. Eyes fixed at some point beyond the gray wall, he is frozen, save for the slight, involuntary shudder that comes with each touch.

Saving animals from euthanasia has been the goal of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, but for years lack of funding has left the department running on fumes.

NEW YORK - This past spring, 10-year-old Adam Young joined other tweens on Club Penguin, playing games, throwing virtual snowballs and chatting with fellow kids who appear onscreen as plump cartoon penguins.

Eighty matted, dirty and malnourished cats and dogs were rescued Thursday from a Gilbert home.

Beverly Legg believes a stray dog, or someone’s pet that should have been on a leash, killed her cat earlier this month.

A horse that hadn’t stood up in months. Baby goats soiled and crying. And more animals so sickly, they had to be killed.

The number of felony animal cruelty cases is on the increase as a result of a task force designed to bring uniformity among Maricopa County’s police agencies in fighting the crime.

The number of felony animal cruelty cases is on the increase as a result of a task force designed to bring uniformity among Maricopa County’s police agencies in fighting the crime.

Residents of the state’s 13 rural counties remain free to sell dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits and just about any other pet from the side of the road.

The Apache Junction couple whose nearly 200 animals were seized by authorities in February will not be allowed to regain custody of their family dog, a judge ruled this week.

The 1-year-old Labrador retriever mix didn’t even have a name when it arrived at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control on Nov. 27, but just five days later the dog would be dead. Why? Because it was scared.

The 1-year-old Labrador retriever mix didn’t even have a name when it arrived at Maricopa County Animal Care and Control on Nov. 27, but just five days later the dog would be dead. Why? Because it was scared.

LOS ANGELES - The world's most famous movie star, his personal life settling down with the happily overhyped birth of his daughter, and the long-awaited third flick in his action franchise - it all sounds like a fine kickoff for Hollywood's summer season, which gets under way Friday with the debut of Tom Cruise's "Mission: Impossible III."

Sun Citians might have difference of opinion about whether their community has a problem with rats, but they all agree residents should keep their yards free of fallen citrus fruit and other clutter that attracts the critters.

Sun Citians might have difference of opinion about whether their community has a problem with rats, but they all agree residents should keep their yards free of fallen citrus fruit and other clutter that attracts the critters.

Sun Citians might have difference of opinion about whether their community has a problem with rats, but they all agree residents should keep their yards free of fallen citrus fruit and other clutter that attracts the critters.

Bitsy is rehabing from knee surgery, B.B. is no longer behind bars and Flint is off the streets.

July 15, 2004