TUCSON, Ariz. — This week, Delaware made history when it became the first and only no-kill animal shelter state in the country.
That left some people wondering -- could Arizona be next? A movement to do just that already exists in Pima County.
The group "No Kill Pima County" is an ongoing effort to prevent the killing of shelter animals. Pima Animal Care Center says the large majority of animals who leave their shelter do so alive.
"In Delaware, 90 percent of pets that enter shelters are leaving alive," Kristen Hassen, the director of animal services at PACC, said. "That is also true in the municipal shelters in both Pima County and Maricopa County. So, it's an exciting time in Arizona overall -- there's lots of momentum. Communities are very engaged, and here in Pima County we are achieving record life saving. This year we are slated to save about 91 percent of pets that enter the shelter."
PACC says the reason they're so successful in keeping so many animals alive is the tens of thousands of people in Pima County who adopt and foster pets.
