The Arizona Pet Project (formerly Friends of Animal Care & Control) recently held their 2016 HERO Awards at the Montelucia Resort & Spa in Scottsdale Arizona. The Arizona Pet Project believes that every dog and cat deserves a loving home forever. This is their primary mission to support pets and the people who love them. The HERO Awards are held annually to recognize animal “Heroes” that have exhibited strength, loyalty and courage as well as members of the community dedicated to animal welfare.

This year, the awards honored five Maricopa County “Animal Heroes” and one human being.

Cory Remsburg, an Army Ranger who suffered a traumatic brain injury while serving in Afghanistan, received a crucial piece of recovery in his service dog, Leo. Leo was scheduled for euthanasia in a North Carolina shelter when Cory’s sister found him and knew that the dog could help save her brother’s life. Working together, the pair saved each other and Leo is a recipient of this year’s HERO award.

The Arizona Pet Project, a non-profit organization, introduced the Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) program in 2006 and has raised more than $5 million for over 91,000 free sterilization surgeries since that time. The ASPCA calculates that every two spay/neuter surgeries performed in Maricopa County directly reduces shelter-based euthanasia by one cat or dog. Vouchers to participate in the SNAP program are available at the Maricopa County Animal Care & Control’s East and West shelter at the beginning of each month.

Leanna Taylor, Executive Director of The Arizona Pet Project since 2013, had this to say. “These pets that are coming into shelters are truly like any other animals that are in homes today, they all deserve a second chance, and many of them have the opportunity to go on and do wonderful things.”

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