Arizona Dachshund Rescue and Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, all volunteer organization consisting of experienced and dedicated rescue people who were previously doing animal rescue work independently and realized the benefits of joining together to combine their experience, knowledge, and resources.

We believe there is a home for every dog we foster. Some just take a little longer to find. Most dogs spend at least a short time in foster care so we can evaluate their behaviors in a home setting. We can give potential adopters information on how the dog may interact with cats, children, men, women, other dogs, and so on. These are vital components to a good match. We also try to improve potty training skills if they are not already house trained. Our foster homes provide good nutrition and an understanding lap to prepare our dogs for life in a world where fear and starvation are non-existent.

It is our mission to eliminate euthanasia as a means of controlling the population of unwanted dogs.  Between February and July of 2006 over 20,000 animals were euthanized in Maricopa County alone!  As you can see, Arizona Dachsund Rescue and Sanctuary has a long way to go to realize their goal.  We can only succeed with your help and cooperation.

The purpose of Arizona Dachshund Rescue & Sanctuary is to rescue, rehabilitate (when necessary) and place domestic animals into stable homes, to educate the public about the responsibilities of pet ownership in an attempt to alleviate the problem of unwanted pets, and to build public awareness about the human-animal bond and its benefits to society.

It is the policy of Arizona Dachshund Rescue and Sanctuary (AZDRS) that all potential animal adopters complete the Dog Adoption Consultation Form and an interview with an Adoption Coordinator in order to be considered as a forever home for our dogs.  AZDRS will determine the best home for each dog based on the application process and interview.  After review of the adoption consultation form and the completion of the interview with the Adoption Coordinator, AZDRS may recommend a different dog that is more suitable to your household.  Completion of the application and interview process does not guarantee an approval or guarantee the adoption of a particular dog.  AZDRS is a privately run, non-profit organization and reserves the right to refuse any adoption that is not in the best interest of the dog based on our policies and standards.

With a few exceptions, the animals that AZDRS offers for adoption come from Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.  All of the animals that we receive are scheduled for euthanasia and AZDRS represents their last hope for a normal, happy life.  When you adopt a pet from AZDRS, you are literally “saving” a life!

Occasionally AZDRS receives animals with special needs that are difficult to adopt.  These animals will remain in our foster homes or at our Sanctuary while we continue to search for that special person who is willing to take on the additional responsibility of a pet with special needs.

At AZDRS, we believe there is a home for every dog we foster.  Our foster program provides us the opportunity to evaluate the behavior of our dogs in a family environment, allows us to address any unwanted behavioral issues, provides the adoptive parents all the information necessary to make an informed decision, and insures that their new dog will be a good match with their family.  Our foster homes provide good nutrition and an understanding lap to prepare our dogs for life in a world where fear and starvation are non-existent.  Adopting a pet that has been fostered results in a pet that is confident, well adjusted, and will readily adapt to their new home environment.

The first step in the adoption process is to complete and return the dog adoption consultation form.  It will be reviewed by an Adoption Coordinator who will then contact you to explain the adoption process and answer any additional questions you may have.

The AZDRS adoption consultation form will assist the both the potential adopter and the Adoption Coordinator in making this a successful adoption experience.  First, the adoption consultation form is specifically designed to help the potential adopters understand the responsibilities and realities of a pet adoption by answering questions that focus on daily realities of owning a pet.  Additionally, the Adoption Coordinator uses the information in the completed form to help in the selection process by directing the adopter towards animals that we know will be comfortable and happy in a particular home environment.

AZDRS is always looking for foster families to provide temporary homes for dogs and puppies that have been recently rescued and are waiting to be adopted.  AZDRS will take care of all veterinary expenses (at our participating vets) and provide food and supplies when available.  Along with providing these animals with the love and attention, the foster will provide transportation to veterinary appointments and our weekly adoption events.  Foster families are the lifeblood of our rescue organization.  Fostering provides many homeless dogs the opportunity for a second chance at life. Without foster families, our rescue organization simply couldn’t exist.  If you think you would like to take a foster dog into your home, please contact us for additional information.

AZDRS has volunteer jobs available at all skill and interest levels.  We have several positions available for people interested in managing a specific project or program area.  Please contact us if you are interested in fundraising, public relations, organizing offsite adoption days, or working on special projects.