[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL SPEAK WITH THE STATE SENATE PRESIDENT AND SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW THE GOVERNOR PLANS TO SPEED UP VACCINE DISTRIBUTION IN ARIZONA, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN THE NEW NORMAL FOR ATHLETES DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THAT'S ALL NEXT ON ARIZONA PBS.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE FOR COVID DEATHS REMAINS THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY IN ARIZONA.

THE NEW NUMBER OF COVID CASES IS NOW SECOND HIGHEST IN THE NATION.

ARIZONA WITH CLOSE TO 6,000 NEW CASES ON RECORD TODAY.

HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE SHOWING A SLIGHT DECREASE, BUT 92% ICU BEDS ARE NOW IN YEAR, AND OVERHAUL OF THOSE ARE OCCUPIED MY COVID PATIENTS.

THE STATE'S HEALTH DIRECTOR SAYS THAT SOME PROVIDERS MAY NOT BE USING ALL OF THE VACCINE DOSES THEY HAVE.

AS FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THOSE VACCINES, THE HEAD OF ASU'S BIODESIGN WAS ASKED IF CURRENT DOSES WILL WORK WITH NEW STRAINS OF COVID?

>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A THEME WE'RE GOING TO SEE, I THINK, IN THE COMING WEEKS.

THERE IS GOING TO BE A BATTLE BETWEEN THE VACCINES AND THE VARIANTS.

SO THERE IS ALWAYS A RISK THAT SOME WILL BECOME RESISTANT TO THE VACCINE.

>>> A NEW STUDY SHOWS NOT ALL AMERICANS ARE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THE VACCINE.

41% OF AMERICAN ADULTS ARE READY TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES.

6% OF THOSE QUESTIONED HAD ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR FIRST SHOT.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUED OF A HEIGHTENED THREAT IN THE U.S. DUE TO, QUOTE, IDEOLOGICALLY EXTREMISTS.

THE WARNING ADDS THAT EXTREMISTS MAY FEEL EMBOLDENED ON THE U.S. CAPITOL BY A PRO-TRUMP MOB THREE WEEKS AGO.

MARICOPA COUNTY HAS AGREED TO ON AUDIT OF THE VOTING EQUIPMENT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

PRESIDENT PHAM, THE MARICOPA COUNTY OF SUPERVISORS HAVE VOTED TO APPROVE THEIR AUDIT OF VOTE-COUNTING MACHINES.

IS THIS GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR SENATE CONCERNS, AND AGAIN, WHAT ARE THOSE CONCERNS?

>> THANK YOU.

WE -- OBVIOUSLY WE JUST HEARD THAT THEY JUST DID PASS IT IN, SO I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT WHAT THEY PASSED.

OUR GOAL IS NOT TO OVERTURN AN ELECTION.

WE ARE THE SENATE.

WE ARE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OVER HERE, AND WE ARE THE ONES THAT SET ELECTION LAWS AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALL CARRIED OUT PROPERLY.

WITH THE AMOUNT OF QUESTIONS THAT CAME OUT, WHETHER LEGIT OR NOT, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM, SO WE WANT TO ANSWER ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS TO PUT THEM TO BED.

WHEN I SEE WHAT THE SCOPE IS, AND WHO THEY HAVE SELECTED TO DO THE AUDIT, THEN I'LL HAVE A BETTER HANDLE ON WILL THAT ANSWER ALL OF THE CONSTITUENTS QUESTIONS, OR DO WE NEED TO ASK FOR SOMETHING MORE.

>> YOU MENTIONED CONSTITUENTS QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE HAD EIGHT FAILED LAWSUITS SO FAR.

THE ELECTION IS ALREADY CERTIFIED.

THERE IS A THOUGHT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE FINDING FRAUD AND CONSPIRACY AND ALL OF THIS -- THEY WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED NO MATTER THE AUDIT.

DO THEY HAVE -- POINT?

>> I BELIEVE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME THAT WILL NEVER BEEN SATISFIED.

I KNOW WE CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY, BUT IF I CAN GET TO 90 OR 95% TO PUT INTEGRITY BACK IN, THEN THAT'S MY GOAL.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE ELECTIONS, WE -- WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE THAT HAVE QUESTIONS, AND THOSE QUESTIONS DESERVE AN ANSWER.

>> SPEAKER, HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO FOLKS WHO SAY THAT THIS WHOLE EXERCISE IS POINTLESS?

>> WELL, I REALLY CAN'T RESPOND TO PEOPLE.

ALL I CAN KNOW IS WHAT I DO.

AND I JUST DECIDED TO START CALLING PEOPLE.

CALLING RECORDERS AND SUPERVISORS AROUND THE STATE, TALKING TO OUR SUPERVISORS.

IN MARICOPA COUNTY THEY LET US COME DOWN.

WE REVIEWED ALL OF THEIR PROCESSES.

WE WENT THROUGH THE WAREHOUSES.

WE COULDN'T TOUCH THE MACHINES, WHICH IS AN TAKT PART OF WHAT KAREN IS TRYING TO DO, BUT THERE ARE ONLY TWO CANDIDATE FIRMS THAT ARE EVEN ALLOWED TO BID ON THIS.

THEY HAVE TO BE LICENSED AND CERTIFIED BY THE ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION, A FEDERAL COMMISSION, SO I DON'T KNOW WHO ELSE THEY WILL GET.

SO I WOULD JUST SAY, HEY, EVERYBODY HAS THEIR WAY.

THEY CHOSE THIS WAY.

I HAVE ANOTHER WAY, AND I HOPE WE GET TO THE END OF IT AND MOVE ON.

>> PRESIDENT PHAM LET'S MOVE ON TO ANOTHER TOPIC, THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF EMERGENCY.

FIVE MEASURES ADVANCING THROUGH SENATE GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE HERE.

IS THERE CONCERN THAT BY GOING AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF EMERGENCY, YOU ARE GOING TO WIND UP, IF SUCCESSFUL AND LESSENING THAT POWER WITH A PATCH WORK OF EMERGENCIES IN COUNTIES AND CITIES AROUND THE STATE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING AFTER THE GOVERNOR, AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE BILLS IN THE HOUSE AS WELL REGARDING THIS.

23 OTHER STATES HAVE ALREADY PASSED LEGISLATION TO ADJUST THEIR GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY ORDERS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS A TOUGH JOB FOR ANY GOVERNOR.

I WOULD NOT WANT TO BE IN THEIR SEATS.

IT'S A NO WIN.

BUT THE EMERGENCIES WERE DESIGNED FOR SOMETHING LIKE A TORNADO, OR FIRE, OR SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY FOR MAYBE TWO OR THREE WEEKS TO PROTECT PROPERTIES AND LIVES.

I DON'T THINK THE VOTERS EVER EXPECTED SOMETHING TO GO ON FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS WITHOUT THE LEGISLATIVE BODY BEING PART OF THAT PROCESS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT POKING THE GOVERNOR IN THE EYE, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, WHO REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE IN THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE TOWNS AND CITIES.

THAT'S ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU THE GOVERNOR GOT RIGHT, IS PUTTING THAT IN HIS EMERGENCY ORDER TO MAKE SURE VARIOUS CITIES AND TOWNS DIDN'T GO ROGUE, AND THEN WE HAD A HORRIBLE PATCH WORK OF RULES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?

>> WE HAVE CHATTED WITH THE GOVERNOR, AND OUR THOUGHT WAS TO WORK WITH THEM TO FIND A GOVERNANCE PLAN THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT GOING FORWARD.

IT HAS BEEN -- ACCORDING TO MY MEMORY H1N1 AND SARS AND OTHERS WERE SCARCE.

BUT THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF THAT WAS OF THIS SIZE WAS 100 YEARS AGO.

SO TO KNOW WHAT LEGISLATURES DO IN THIS TYPE OF THING IS ALL NEW TURF.

BUT WE DO NEED TO BE AT THE TABLE, AND THAT'S WHERE OUR BIG RUB AMONG OUR MEMBERS IS, IS THAT WE GET TO WATCH, BUT WE DON'T GET TO BE IN.

SO WE HAVE SOME PROPOSALS AS WELL, LIKE KAREN SAID.

AND OUR CHAIRMAN HAS INITIATED DISCUSSIONS WITH MEMBERS, AND WE'LL PUT OUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER AND SEND THEM TO THEM AND THEY TO US.

>> COUPLE OF QUICK QUESTIONS, SPEAKER, STICKING WITH YOU, A HOUSE MEMBER AND FORMER HOUSE MEMBER IN WASHINGTON FOR WHAT ENDED UP BEING THE UPRISING, THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT THEIR PARTICIPATION THEREIN.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THIS?

>> WELL, I GO TO WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON HAS A RIOT.

I CAUSED THE RIOT.

I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT MENTALITY, OR THAT LINE OF -- OF INTELLECT.

I HAVE TALKED TO THESE MEMBERS.

THEY HAVE TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED IN THEIR -- TO THEM PERSONALLY.

I'M SATISFIED FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM THEM; THAT THEY WEREN'T INVOLVED.

THAT SOME PEOPLE DID SOME HORRENDOUS THINGS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN MY MEMBERS CAUSED IT, SO I -- IT'S A STRETCH FOR ME, BUT WE'LL HEAR THEM OUT, AND IF EVIDENCE CAME UP THAT WAS CONTRARY TO THAT, THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND PRESIDENT OVER IN THE SENATE WE HAVE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST WENDY ROGERS.

WITHOUT GOING TOO DEEP DOWN THAT ONE, IS THAT OF CONCERN TO YOU?

>> WELL, OBVIOUSLY ANY TIME THERE IS AN ETHICS COMPLAINT FILED IT IS ALWAYS A CONCERN TO MAKE SURE WE ARE NOT STEPPING ON ANYBODY'S PERSONAL RIGHTS OR NOT BEING CONSIDERATE.

WE HAVE HEARD THE COMPLAINT.

WE'RE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE.

THE CHAIR IS AWAITING THE COMPLY FROM SENATOR ROGERS, AND AT THAT POINT, WE'LL DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS ANY THERE THERE OR NOT AND MOVE FORWARD ACCORDINGLY.

>>> THE BUDGET, ARE YOU AND THE GOVERNOR SEEING THINGS SIMILARLY?

WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> CONSIDERING WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS IN HIS BUDGET, HE IS A LITTLE VAGUE ABOUT SOME THINGS.

SO I CAN'T ANSWER THAT, AND WE'LL BE HAVING OUR FIRST MEETING WITH THE HOUSE THIS WEEK ABOUT BUDGET.

WE'LL FIND OUT.

>> DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE?

>> OH, I LOVE PAGES, BUT IT'S HARD TO STANDING ON ONE.

SO WE HAVE THOUGHTS ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND BROAD BAND, AND WE WOULD LIKE SOME OF THIS BLESSING THAT HAS COME TO OUR STATE TO GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO PAID IT IN, SO THAT WILL BE A WONDERFUL TUSSLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SPEAKER AND PRESIDENT, THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH TO YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WILL SPRING TRAINING BASEBALL START ON TIME THIS YEAR?

>>> THE CACTUS LEAGUE ALONG WITH THE MAYORS OF LOCAL CITIES THAT HOST CACTUS LEAGUE TEAMS SENT A LETTER TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ASKING FOR SPRING TRAINING TO BE DELAYED UNTIL THE COVID-19 SURGE EASES.

WE SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MORE ON THIS.

BRIDGET THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THIS LETTER TO MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, WHAT WENT INTO THIS THOUGHT PROCESS, AND JUST TALK TO US ABOUT THE LETTER.

>> WELL, SURE.

SO WE HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN MEETING -- WE STARTED WITH A TASK FORCE MEETING WITH OUR MEMBERS, WITH STAKEHOLDERS.

THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE SEPTEMBER, AND SO WE -- WE REALIZED EARLY ON THAT ANY EXCEPTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR EVENTS OVER 50 REQUIRED APPROVAL FROM THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES THAT OVERSEE CACTUS LEAGUE FACILITIES.

SO WE HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS AND PLANNING AND PREPARING TO SAFELY WELCOME -- HOPEFULLY WELCOME FANS BACK TO SPRING TRAINING, AND OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE A SAFE AND -- YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF OUR FANS.

SO IN LIGHT OF THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH THE PANDEMIC, WHAT WE WERE FACING DURING THE HOLIDAYS, WE KNEW THAT THE NUMBERS WERE PROBABLY GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE THEY GOT BETTER, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED, AND SO WITH ALL OF THE SPIKE IN CASES AND THE PROCESS OF ADMINISTERING THAT THEME, WHICH IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT TO ALL OF THIS, WE FELT IT WOULD BE EFFECTIVE FOR US TO COME TOGETHER AS A UNIFIED VOICE, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, AND EXPRESS OUR SUPPORT FOR ANY POTENTIAL TO DELAY SPRING TRAINING.

SO WE'LL BE READY FOR IT IF IT'S ON TIME, BUT IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY, OPPORTUNITY TO DELAY IT, WE SUPPORT THAT AS WELL.

>> IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH MAYBE MID-MARCH IS THE TARGET DATE IF THINGS ARE DELAYED?

>> I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN DIFFERENT OPTIONS THROWN OUT THERE.

WE DID NOT SPECIFY THAT IN OUR LETTER.

YOU KNOW -- AND AGAIN, WE'RE NOT REALLY PART OF THE -- THE CONVERSATION THAT MLB HAS TO HAVE WITH THE PLAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE CACTUS LEAGUE DOES NOT MAKE THIS DECISION, AND WE KNOW THAT MLB CANNOT UNILATERALLY MAKE THIS DECISION, SO IT IS UP TO THEM TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND DETERMINE WHAT THEY CAN WORK WITH.

>> BUT IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS AS THOUGH THE CACTUS LEAGUE AND HOME CITIES WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS DELAYED.

ARE THERE METRICS CONCERNED HERE THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT, IF THEY HIT A CERTAIN SPOT, LET'S START THINGS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE?

>> WE HAVEN'T LANDED ON SPECIFIC METRICS, BUT WE'RE WATCHING THE NUMBERS EVERY DAY, AND THE TRENDS ARE SHOWING THAT WE'RE MOVING THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SO EVERY DAY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

CERTAINLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE, SO WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BUY SOME ADDITIONAL TIME IN THIS ENVIRONMENT?

AND THAT JUST MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE TO PUT THE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TO SAFELY HOST A GREAT SPRING TRAINING EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.

>> AND OF COURSE WE REMEMBER LAST YEAR THIS WHOLE THING HIT DURING SPRING TRAINING.

>> WELL, IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT HIT, AND TO BE CLEAR, THE NUMBERS -- THE ECONOMIC IMPACT HASN'T REALLY BEEN PART OF THESE DISCUSSIONS.

AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERYTHING WE DO HAS BEEN PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, AND HOW TO DO THIS RESPONSIBLY AND BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

THE NUMBERS ARE REAL, AND WE KNOW WHEN SPRING TRAINING CAME TO AN ABRUPT HALT LAST YEAR, WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY, AND WE HAVE ENOUGH SURVEYS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE REPORT.

THE LAST FULL SEASON THAT WE DID THAT REPORT WAS IN 2018.

WE SHOWED A TOTAL IMPACT IN A REGULAR SEASON UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES -- WHAT WE KNEW TO BY NORMAL -- WAS THE IMPACT OF $644 MILLION DIRECT TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

AND 2020, BASED ON A PARTIAL SEASON, WE CAME UP WITH $363 MILLION.

SO THAT'S A $300 MILLION -- YOU KNOW, COST, BASICALLY TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.

THAT'S LOCAL, STATE TAXES, THE LOCAL RESTAURANTS, TOURISM, ALL OF THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT COUNT ON THIS INFLUX OF TOURISM AS A RESULT OF THIS SPRING TRAINING EXPERIENCE.

SO IT'S SIGNIFICANT.

>> HAVE YOU HEARD BACK FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL?

>> WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK, NOTHING OFFICIAL IN RESPONSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

BRIDGET, CACTUS LEAGUE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> 6.5 MILLION ANIMALS ARE BROUGHT TO SHELTERS EVERY YEAR IN THE U.S.

ACCORDING TO THE ACSPA.

A LOOK AT NEW RESEARCH THAT MIGHT IMPROVE ODDS PARTICULARLY FOR DOGS, AND IF BETTER SHELTER SPACES COULD HELP GET DOGS ADOPTED.

>> THE IDEA OF A STANDING-ALONE DOG PARK LIKE THIS ONE, ONLY BECAME POPULAR ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.

BUT FURTHER BACK, THE IDEA OF A DOG POUND, THE PLACE WHERE UNWANTED DOGS HAD TO GO, THAT WAS ALREADY GETTING FRESH NEW THINKING.

DOG POUNDS, OF COURSE, ARE NOW DOG SHELTERS, AND SCIENCE IS GETTING BEHIND THE IDEA OF LOOKING FOR WAYS TO MAKE DOG SHELTERS BETTER, BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS, AND BETTER EXPERIENCES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE SHELTER TO ADOPT A NEW FRIEND.

THIS IS A DAILY REALITY FOR SOME 6.5 MILLION ANIMALS UP FOR ADOPTION IN THE U.S.

RIGHT NOW.

COULD WE DISCOVER NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE THEIR ENVIRONMENTS?

MINIMIZE STRESS, AND SPEED UP THEIR ADOPTION?

RESEARCHERS FROM ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY ARE WORKING AT THE ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS IN GOLDEN VALLEY, MINNESOTA TO TRY TO FIND AN ANSWER.

>> WE DON'T KNOW A LOT ABOUT HOW TO HOUSE DOGS.

HOW DO WE CARE FOR DOGS TEMPORARILY WHEN THEY DON'T HAVE AN OWNER?

WE'RE TRYING TO BETTER THE LIVES OF DOGS IN SHELTERS.

>> THE SHELTERS ENVIRONMENT CAN BE SORT OF UNIQUELY STRESSFUL.

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR DOGS THAT ARE MAYBE COMING IN FROM HOME ENVIRONMENTS OR DOGS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY IN ANOTHER SHELTER THAT WERE IN FOSTER THAT ARE COMING BACK.

IF THEY ARE GOING TO BE AT THE SHELTER EVEN FOR JUST A FEW DAYS, WHATEVER THE TIME FRAME, I THINK WE WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT ARE YOU EXPERIENCING HERE, AND HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER?

>> WE DEVELOPED A LARGE COMMUNITY SPACE THAT IS SOCIAL FOR THE DOGS.

THE DOGS GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND HEAR AND SMELL AND PLAY WITH THE OTHER DOGS THAT ARE LIVING WITH THEM AS WELL AS HAVE REGULAR AND ONGOING INTERACTION WITH THE PEOPLE.

>> THESE PICTURES SHOW WHAT THE NEW AND IMPROVED CONCEPT WILL LOOK LIKE.

THIS IS THE SPACE THEY ARE TESTING THE DOGS IN.

>> THE HABITAT IS UP ON OUR ADOPTION FLOOR.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL OPEN SPACE.

THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

IT'S A PRETTY BUSY PLACE.

>> DOGS THAT ARE NORMALLY HAPPY CAN BECOME TIMID OR SHY OR EVEN AGGRESSIVE.

AND THAT'S WHY RESEARCHERS ARE LOOKING TO SEE IF IN THE SHELTER SPACE DOGS CAN GET MORE DOG ON DOING, ONE ON ONE TIME, AND IMPROVE THEIR PERSONALITIES AND OVERALL DISPOSITION.

>> WE ARE CURRENTLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE BENEFITS ARE OF DOG TO DOG INTERACTION FOR ANIMALS.

>> THEY COMPARED THE EXPERIENCES OF THE SAME DOGS WHEN THEY STAY IN A SPACE THAT IS MORE LIKE THE OLD TRADITIONAL STALLS IN A TYPICAL SHELTER TO THE EXPERIENCES THEY HAVE IN THE NEW SPACE.

>> SEVERAL TIMES A DAY, DOGS ARE COMING OUT AND HAVING INTERACTIVE PLAYTIMES WITH OTHER DOGS, SO WITH ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE'RE GATHERING, WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO GET AN ANSWER TO WHAT THAT BENEFIT MIGHT BE.

>> WE MIGHT SEE THINGS THAT MAKE US THINK THE DOG'S LEVEL OF STRESS IS REDUCED AND THAT THEY ARE HAVING A BETTER EXPERIENCE, AND HOW DO WE CONFIRM THAT?

AND SO ASKING LISA AND HER TEAM TO COME FROM ASU TO PARTNER WITH US WAS REALLY IMPORTANT TO PUT THE SCIENCE BEHIND THAT.

>> IT TAKES HARD WORK TO GET TO HARD SCIENCE.

IT MEANS TAKING SAMPLES OF, YES, WHAT COMES OUT OF THE DOGS WHEN THEY COME OUTSIDE TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES.

>> FROM THE URINE, WE'RE GETTING THE STRESS HORMONE.

WE ALSO HAVE THE DOGS WEARING DOGGY FITBITS AND THAT HELPS US LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE DOGS ARE MOVING AROUND AND RESTING, AND THEN WE HAVE AUTIOMETERS THAT HANG FROM THE CEILING.

BECAUSE WE KNOW NOISE IMPACTS THE WELFARE OF THE DOGS.

>> THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF RESEARCH LIKE THIS IS TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF A DOG'S STRESSORS, AND HOW SHELTERS CAN TAKE THOSE FINDINGS, AND MAKE THE STAY THERE ONE OF ENRICHMENT.

JUST LIKE HUMANS, PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD MAY NOT BE THE EASIEST THING TO DO IN A HIGH-STRESS ENVIRONMENT, SO THE CREATION OF A SPACE WHERE DOGS CAN REPRESENT THEIR TRUE PERSONALITIES, MAKES THE CHANCES OF FINDING THEIR FOREVER HOME THAT MUCH BETTER.

>> WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO INFLUENCE ON A BROADER REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL HOW WE START TO THINK ABOUT HOUSING FOR DOGS AND CATS, AND HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MODIFY AND CHANGE THAT, AND WITH THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT, WE CAN BRING THAT FORWARD IN A MORE IMPACTFUL WAY.

>> WE CANNOT ONLY SUPPORT WHAT WE -- WE HAVE LEARNED AND ARE LEARNING THROUGH THIS PROCESS -- NOT ONLY SUPPORT WHAT HELPS DOGS IN SHELTER, BUT ALSO TO FACILITATE THOSE INTERACTIONS, BE IT HUMAN TO DOG OR DOG TO DOG.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE'RE ASKING THESE BIG PICTURE QUESTIONS OF IS THERE A BENEFIT, AND WHAT BENEFIT IS IT?

>> I THINK WE'RE JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE ABOUT HOW WE CAN CHANGE SHELTERING, AND CHANGE THE LIVES OF THE DOG IN THE SHELTER FOR THE BETTER.

>> IN THE FUTURE SHELTERS COULD BE TAKING A MORE LONG-TERM ROLE INTO THE LIVES OF DOGS AND THEIR FAMILIES WELL PAST THEIR ADOPTION, OFFERING SERVICES LIKE TRAINING AND MEDICAL CARE.

>> SO MOVING BEYOND THE FOUR WALLS OF SHELTER, HOW CAN WE HELP YOU HOUSING AND TRAINING, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS DOG, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP?

>> THE MAIN REASON PET OWNERS GIVE UP OR REHOME A PET COME DOWN TO BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS ALONG WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT THE PET OWNER JUST COULDN'T HANDLE.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

♪ >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS REALLOCATED VACCINE DOSES, MORE ON THE GOVERNOR'S PLANS TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN STRATEGIES ATHLETES USED TO COPE WITH MENTAL HEALTH.

♪