TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" CONGRESSMAN PAUL GOSAR'S VIDEO DEPICTING VIOLENCE AGAINST A FELLOW LAWMAKER AND THE PRESIDENT GOES WITH DISCOURSE IN AMERICA.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE LATEST SURGE IN ARIZONA COVID CASES CONTINUES.

OVER 2400 COVID PATIENTS ARE HOSPITALIZED AROUND THE STATE WITH CLOSE TO 600 OF THOSE PATIENTS IN ICUs.

THOSE NUMBERS HAVEN'T BEEN THAT HIGH SINCE THE WINTER SURGE IN EARLY FEBRUARY AND CONTRIBUTE TO OVERALL INPATIENT AND ICU BEDS NOW AT 94% CAPACITY.

THE NUMBER OF NEW CASES REPORTED TODAY WAS AT NEARLY 4200, THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO CLIMB WITH PIMA COUNTY SEEING A NOTABLE SPIKE AND 56 COVID FATALITIES WHICH PUTS IT AT 11th HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>>> THE OVERALL RATE OF CHILD DEATHS IN ARIZONA INCREASED LAST YEAR WITH COVID-19 KILLING 12 ARIZONA CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18, AND THE PANDEMIC INDIRECTLY CAUSING AT LEAST 29 OTHER CHILD DEATHS.

OVERALL THERE WERE 838 CHILD FATALITIES IN THE 2020 CALENDAR YEAR.

THE ARIZONA CHILD FATALITY REVIEW NOTES CHILD DEATHS HAD BEEN DROPPING STEADILY UNTIL THE PANDEMIC HIT.

>>> THERE IS ENCOURAGING COVID NEWS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ORDERED 10 MILLION DOSES OF PFIZER'S EXPERIMENTAL ANTI-COVID PILL.

MEDICATION IS YET TO BE APPROVED BY THE FDA BUT CLINICAL TRIALS SHOW 89% REDUCTION IN COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS IF TAKEN WITHIN THREE DAYS OF SHOWING SYMPTOMS.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT DELIVERY OF THE MEDICATION COULD START BY THE END OF THE YEAR AND IT WILL BE EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND FREE TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS IT.

>>> AND FALLOUT OVER YESTERDAY'S CENSURE OF ARIZONA CONGRESSMAN PAUL GOSAR REMOVED FROM TWO COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

KEVIN McCARTHY SAID GOSAR ALONG WITH MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE WILL GET THE SEATS BACK AND THEN SOME IF, AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION, REPUBLICANS TAKE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE.

>> THEY ALL HAVE COMMITTEES.

THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT THEY HAVE NOW, THEY MAY HAVE OTHER COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, BETTER COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS WITH.

GOSAR, THOSE ARE THE ONES SHE WANTS.

TAYLOR GREENE IS A FRESHMAN, SHE HAS A RIGHT TO SERVE ON COMMITTEES.

TED: GOSAR AND GREENE ARE THE ONLY TWO HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO LOSE COMMITTEE SEATS IN THE 117th CONGRESS.

>>> CONGRESSMAN GOSAR'S CENSURE AND LOSS OF COMMITTEE SEATS WAS THE RESULT OF HIS TWEET OF AN ANIME-STYLE VIDEO DEPICTING GOSAR KILLING ANOTHER LAWMAKER AND ATTACKING PRESIDENT BIDEN.

GOSAR RETWEETED THE VIDEO AFTER HE WAS CENSURED BY THE HOUSE.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE CURRENT POLITICAL DEBATE AND DIALOGUE IN AMERICA.

WE ASKED KEITH ALLRED DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CIVIL DISCOURSE.

KEITH ALLRED, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.

A LOT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY REGARDING CIVIL DISCOURSE AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

FIRST OF ALL, YOUR REACTION TO THE WHOLE PAUL GOSAR INCIDENT?

>> IT'S A REGRETTABLE MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

WE'VE HAD OTHER MOMENTS WHERE THINGS HAVE BEEN PRETTY NASTY IN THE CONGRESS, BUT IT'S A REGRETTABLE INCIDENCE FOR SURE, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THESE, TODAY IN THE WAKE OF JANUARY 6, CERTAINLY SINCE JANUARY 6, WE UNDERSTAND THAT SPEECH OR TWEETS THAT MAYBE THEY WEREN'T EXPLICITLY MEANT TO STIR UP ACTUAL VIOLENCE CAN NEVERTHELESS BE INTERPRETED THAT WAY.

WE'VE SEEN THAT CAN HAPPEN.

I THINK IT'S SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS.

TED: YEAH, REPUBLICANS SAY IT'S AN OVERREACTION TO JUST WHAT SOME ARE DESCRIBING AS A -- I SAW A REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN CALL IT A STUPID VIDEO, BUT THAT WAS FAR.

MOST REPUBLICANS JUST, PATTING HIM ON THE BACK.

EXPLAIN, PLEASE.

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT HAS HAPPENED, TED, IS WE'VE HAD BIG SHIFTS IN OUR POLITICAL STRUCTURE, AND IT STARTED BACK FOUR YEARS AGO, THE PARTY STARTED TO SORT IDEOLOGICALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

NOW WE DON'T HAVE LIBERALS ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

USED TO HAVE NORTHERN LIBERALS AND USED TO HAVE CONSERVATIVES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND HAD SOUTHERN CONSERVATIVES AND IN THE 90s, WE SORTED SOCIALLY, WHETHER WE ARE RELIGIOUS AND GO TO CHURCH IS HIGHLY CORRELATED WITH OUR PARTY, AND THAT DIDN'T USED TO BE THE CASE.

SO IT'S BECOME MUCH MORE TRIBAL.

AND ALL THOSE CHANGES MEAN THAT IT JUST WORKS STRATEGIC FOR POLITICIANS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT TO PLAY TO THEIR BASE AND STIR UP DIVISIONS AND HATRED TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE A LOT BETTER THAN IT USED TO.

SO YOU CAN, YOU KNOW, GENERATE LOTS OF MONEY, CAN YOU PROBABLY WIN ELECTIONS THIS WAY.

YOU JUST CAN'T GOVERN THAT WAY.

TED: KEITH, THE WAY YOU DESCRIBE IT, IT SOUNDS LIKE AN INDICTMENT ON DEMOCRACY.

WE TALKED ABOUT NATION BUILDING AND IS IRAQ READY FOR DEMOCRACY?

ARE WE READY FOR DEMOCRACY ANYMORE?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING TO SAY IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE HOW HARD GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE IS.

BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, THE WORLD HAD GONE -- WE HAD 3,000 YEARS OF HISTORY OF DOZENS OF ATTEMPTS OF SELF-GOVERNMENT THAT ALL FAILED.

SO IT IS SOME WAY SWIMMING UPSTREAM OF HUMAN NATURE.

WE HAVE A PRETTY STRONG TRIBAL INSTINCT IN US, AND IT'S HARD TO MAKE THAT WORK WITH SELF-GOVERNMENT.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HARD.

AGAIN, I THINK WHAT'S NEW TODAY, OVER 200 YEARS INTO THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT WHERE WE'RE STRUGGLING TODAY IS WE'VE NEVER HAD A PERIOD WHERE OUR DIFFERENCES HAVE ALIGNED ALONG PARTY IDENTIFICATION SO MUCH AS NOW.

WE HAVE A CIVIL WAR.

WE WERE CERTAINLY MORE DEEPLY DIVIDED DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

I'D SAY DURING THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND VIETNAM ERA, ARGUABLY WE WERE MORE DEEPLY DIVIDED.

WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT OUR PERIOD IS THAT THOSE CONFLICTS, OUR CONFLICTS LINE UP ALONG PARTY LINES SO MUCH.

THAT WASN'T TRUE IN THE PAST, AND THAT CREATES UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR OUR PARTICULAR STRUCTURE FOR DEMOCRACY.

THE CONSTITUTION, THE FOUNDERS REALLY CRAFTED THE CONSTITUTION PRIMARILY AS A DEFENSE AGAINST ANY ONE PARTY IMPOSING THEIR WILL ON EVERYBODY ELSE, AND SO AGAIN, THAT'S MY POINT THAT IN TODAY'S IDEOLOGICALLY AND SOCIALLY SORTED PARTIES WHICH ARE NEW IN AMERICAN HISTORY, YOU CAN WIN ELECTIONS THAT WAY, BUT AS SOON AS YOU WIN ELECTIONS YOU TAKE AN OATH TO SUPPORT A CONSTITUTION DESIGNED TO FORCE GOVERNING THAT WAY.

AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, ONLY A THIRD OF THE COUNTRY CAN BE CONSIDERED THE BASE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, ONLY A THIRD OF THE COUNTRY CAN BE CONSIDERED THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT SIMPLY IS NEVER GOING TO WORK FOR ONE THIRD OF THE COUNTRY TO IMPOSE ITS WILL ON EVERYBODY ELSE.

TED: THAT BEING SAID, AND BACK TO THE GOSAR INCIDENT, HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI SAID THE VIDEO, QUOTE, NORMALIZES VIOLENCE.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> WELL, IT DOES LOWER THE NORMS, I THINK.

I THINK NOT TOO LONG AGO, THAT WOULD HAVE INCURRED BIPARTISAN OUTRAGE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT IS -- THE BAR SEEMS TO BE GETTING LOWERED A BIT, SO I THINK THERE'S A POINT THERE.

I THINK MAYBE EVEN A MORE CRITICAL POINT IS THAT IT'S JUST NOT PRACTICAL.

IT DOESN'T WORK FOR EVEN REPRESENTATIVE GOSAR'S OWN PURPOSES.

ESSENTIALLY, THE TWEET, THE VIDEO WAS ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.

THERE'S A REAL IMMIGRATION PROBLEM IN THE COUNTRY, AND IT'S ARGUABLY GETTING WORSE.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN RECENT MONTHS AND YEARS.

THAT'S A PERFECTLY FAIR THING FOR A REPRESENTATIVE, A UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING ARIZONA, A BORDER STATE, TO CALL ATTENTION AND SAY HEY, WE'VE GOT A REAL PROBLEM HERE, BUT IF REPRESENTATIVE GOSAR'S GOAL WAS TO ACTUALLY GET A SOLUTION TO THAT PROBLEM, HE HURT HIS CAUSE.

HE DIDN'T HELP IT.

HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE WERE LISTENING TO HIS IDEAS FOR A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, THERE ARE FEWER LISTENING TO HIM NOW THAN THERE WERE BEFORE.

EVEN WHEN REPUBLICANS HAD THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE WHITE HOUSE NOT TOO LONG AGO, THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO GET THEIR SOLUTIONS TO IMMIGRATION THROUGH BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE BROAD ENOUGH SUPPORT.

IF REPRESENTATIVE GOSAR WANTS TO ADVANCE THE SOLUTION THAT HE THINKS WILL WORK, HE'S GOT TO ADD MORE PEOPLE.

HE'S GOT TO PERSUADE MORE PEOPLE ON THE MERITS AND HE'S GOT FEWER PEOPLE LISTENING TO HIM NOW, NOT MORE.

HE WILL LIKELY RAISE CONSIDERABLY MORE MONEY FROM IT.

THERE WILL BE POLITICAL ADVANTAGES.

HE MAY CONTINUE TO WIN OFFICE, BUT HE WON'T BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AN IMMIGRATION SOLUTION WITH RHETORIC OR TWEETS LIKE THAT.

TED: AND KEITH, LAST QUESTION HERE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME ON THIS.

HAVE WE CROSSED THE RUBICON IN TERMS OF POLITICAL SPEECH, POLITICAL RHETORIC?

AND THE POSITION AND THE PLACE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN ALL THIS?

HAS THAT BEEN A DRIVING FORCE IN SOME OF THE STUFF WE'RE SEEING AND HEARING?

>> SOCIAL MEDIA CERTAINLY MAKES IT WORSE, AND AMPLIFIES IT.

THERE IS THAT ANONYMITY THAT YOU'RE NOT FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE PERSON WHEN HE DID IT AND LIKE EVERYBODY GETS A LITTLE MORE WILLING TO SAY MORE OUTRAGEOUS THINGS OR POST MORE OUTRAGEOUS THINGS IF THEY'RE NOT FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE PERSON THEY'RE TARGETED AT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARILY AT A POINT OF NO RETURN.

WE'VE HAD ACTUAL VIOLENCE IN THE CONGRESS, RIGHT?

WE'VE HAD CENSURES BEFORE THAT COME FROM CANING SOMEBODY ELSE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT HAS BEEN BAD IN THE PAST, AND I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN A GOOD BET TO BET AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNMENT.

IT IS A SOBER MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY.

TED: LEAVE IT ON THAT NOTE.

KEITH ALLRED, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CIVIL DISCOURSE.

GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

TED: UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WE'LL LOOK AT AN EFFORT TO HELP ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

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TED: HOMELESSNESS IS A CONCERN IN ARIZONA FOR RESIDENTS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

ONE COLLEGE STUDENT IS ATTEMPTING TO HELP THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

PRODUCER JOHN BROWN AND VIDEOGRAPHER RUDY ROMO HAVE THE STORY.

>> Reporter: CHILLED LEMONADE AND A WARM HEART, ASU SENIOR AUSTIN DAVIS MAKES HIS WAY TO THE ZONE, A TENT CITY IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX.

DAVIS STARTED THIS ENDEAVOR DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND CREATED ARIZONA HUGS FOR THE HOUSELESS IN MARCH OF 2020.

THE ACRONYM HUGS STANDS FOR HOUSELESS DIGNITY, GENEROSITY AND SOULS AND SMILES.

>> WE BRING FOOD AND WATER AND TENTS WHAT A PERSON NEEDS TO SURVIVE ON THE STREETS.

OUR BIGGEST GOAL IS TO RESTORE DIGNITY TO OUR FRIENDS ON THE STREETS, THEY'RE CARED FOR AND LOVED AND NOT ALONE.

>> Reporter: HE CALLS THE EXPERIENCE REWARDING AND SAYS NECESSITIES MASKS AND WATER FOR PEOPLE, OFTEN DAILY.

>> WE WERE BRINGING FACEMASKS AND WATER BECAUSE THOSE WERE THE DIRECT NEEDS AND THE PROJECT GREW, AND WE BROUGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON BOARD, LOT OF VOLUNTEERS, PARTNERS AND NOW IT'S BECOME PRETTY BIG.

>> Reporter: AND ALTHOUGH DAVIS' OUTREACH ONLY GOES SO FAR, ONE MAN EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS SAYS PHOENIX'S HOMELESS RESOURCES NEED TO IMPROVE DRASTICALLY.

>> ONE TIME OVER THERE AND THE RESOURCES ARE NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT THEY OFFER YOU HERE, AND IT'S NOT A GOOD THING.

>> Reporter: ORIGINALLY FROM PENNSYLVANIA, SANTIAGO KEEN YOENIS CAME TO ARIZONA, EIGHT MONTHS IN, HE HAS NO LUCK WITH HOUSING ASSISTANCE.

>>?

AND MY WIFE IS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT.

OVER THERE THE RESOURCES I GET WOULD HAVE HELPED ME TO GUIDE ME OUT OF SITUATION WAY MORE FAST.

IT'S BEEN TECHNICALLY EIGHT MONTHS SINCE I APPLIED FOR HUD HOUSING AND NOT EVEN A CALL.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF PHOENIX'S LATEST FEBRUARY UPDATE, THERE ARE NEARLY 7,500 MARICOPA COUNTY RESIDENTS DEALING WITH HOMELESSNESS, THE CITY ALLOCATED $80 MILLION FOR SHELTER EVENTS AND PANDEMIC RELATED ASSISTANCE.

DAVIS SAYS THE CITY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT RESIDENT ARE IN DIRE NEED OF HELP AND ASSISTANCE.

>> IF I WERE TO SAY ONE THING TO THE CITY, IT WOULD BE PEOPLE ARE DYING EVERY DAY HERE IN OUR CITY, AND THESE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS AND DESERVE TO BE TREATED AS SUCH.

>> Reporter: AND THE MAYOR'S STRATEGY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS SHE DEFINES GOALS TO GET RESEARCH FUNDING TO BETTER ENGAGE AND CONNECT INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES, THAT IS THE ABILITY TO COMPLETE SMI OR SERIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS EVALUATIONS IN THE FIELD AND EXPLORING DELIVERING SERVICE TO INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE EMERGENCY CRISIS RESPONSE CURRENTLY PROVIDED THROUGH TRADITIONAL 911 RESPONDERS.

>> LIVING OUT HERE DURING THE SUMMER IS UNBEARABLE, AND PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S GETTING COLD AGAIN AT NIGHT, THERE'S NEVER RELIEF FROM THE ELEMENTS OUT HERE, AND THERE'S NOTHING COMFORTABLE ABOUT EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

>> Reporter: DAVIS DOES ALL HE CAN TO PLUG THE GAP ON SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS AND HOPES TO INSPIRE AND MAKE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> ABOUT TO BRING OUT BLANKET, SHEETS AND SOME BEANIES, AND THEN AFTER THAT, I'M GOING TO TAKE A FRIEND TO A METHADONE CLINIC TO START HER ON A PATH OF REHAB, AND I MIGHT BE DRIVING A FEW FOLKS TO THEIR NEW APARTMENTS LATER THIS EVENING WHICH IS EXCITING.

IT'S A HUGE COMMUNITY EFFORT WITH EVERYONE PITCHING IN EVERY WAY THEY CAN.

WE BUILT THE COMMUNITY, AND EVERYONE IS TRYING TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER.

TED: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DAVIS' OUTREACH, VISIT THE ARIZONA HUGS FOR THE HOUSELESS INSTAGRAM PAGE AT AZHUGS.

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TED: THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY RECENTLY BROKE GROUND ON A STATE OF THE ART ANIMAL SHELTER THAT WILL FOCUS ON MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT.

THIS COMES AS SHELTERS AROUND THE VALLEY ARE NEARING CAPACITY AS MANY PETS ADOPTED DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE BEING RETURNED.

WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THIS WITH THE HUMANE SOCIETY'S KELSEY DICKERSON.

KELSEY, WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

LET'S TALK.

I LOVE THE HUMANE SOCIETY, I LOVE YOU GUYS, AND YOU JUST BROKE GROUND ON A NEW SHELTOR VAN BUREN.

TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> WE DEFINITELY LOVE PBS, TOO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.

IT IS SUPER EXCITING.

EARLIER THIS MONTH THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY BROKE GROUND ON A NEW CAMPUS OFF OF THE 202 AND 143 IN PHOENIX.

IT IS THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY'S ROB AND MELANIE WALTON PAPAGO PARK CAMPUS, A 72,000-SQUARE-FOOT, TWO STORY CAMPUS THAT IS GOING TO BE TRANSFORMATIONAL IN THE WAY WE'RE ABLE TO HELP THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY SICK, INJURED AND ABUSED PETS.

GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS LAST KEYSTONE PART OF HELPING VALLEY PETS THAT HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE THE FOCUS IS BEHAVIORAL OR MEDICAL INTERVENTION, SICK, INJURED PETS.

THAT'S THE FOCUS THERE?

>> YEAH, SO THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY CARES FOR MORE THAN 15,000 SICK, INJURED AND ABUSED PETS EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

IF ANYONE HAS BEEN AT OUR SUNNY SLOPE CAMPUS, YOU WOULD SEE WHAT AN AMAZING FEAT THAT IS BECAUSE IT IS DEFINITELY AN OUTDATED CAMPUS THAT WE HAVE OVERGROWN WITH OUR TRAUMA HOSPITAL AND SPECIALIZED ICUs.

THIS IS A HUGE WAY FOR THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY TO EXPAND ITS REACH.

NOT ONLY ARE WE GOING TO HELP ABOUT 25% MORE ANIMALS IN OUR TRAUMA HOSPITAL.

WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS THOUSANDS OF PETS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR ICUs, WE'RE TREATING PETS WHO ARE ROUTINELY EUTHANIZED IN SHELTERS, NOT JUST IN THE STATE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BOTTLE BABY ICU AND MATERNITY SUITE.

THESE ARE ANIMALS THAT AREN'T ABLE TO BE HELPED ANYWHERE ELSE.

WE'LL EXPAND THE REACH OF WHAT WE ARE ALREADY ABLE TO DO WITH THE INCREDIBLE CAMPUS AND COULDN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT THE HELP OF MILESTONE GUESTS LIKE ROB AND MELANIE WALTON FOUNDATION, THE ANIMAL FOUNDATION AND CHARITABLE TRUSTS.

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE PEOPLE THAT HELP SUPPORT US AND HELP PETS THAT HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO.

TED: THIS WILL BE A FULL TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR VETERINARIANS LIKE A TEACHING HOSPITAL.

>> YES, THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY PARTNERS WITH MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, BUT WE'LL HAVE A FULL TEACHING HOSPITAL ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE WE'RE DOING, IN ADDITION TO MEDICAL COMPLEX AND BEHAVIORAL PROGRAMS AND ADOPTION PROGRAMS THAT'S AT NEW COMPLEX.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TEACHING HOSPITAL AND THIS IS GOING TO BE SO VITAL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, NOT ONLY THE STATE OF ARIZONA BUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS EXPERIENCING A VETERINARY SHORTAGE.

AS ANYONE PROBABLY KNOWS WHO HAS PETS OUT THERE, IT'S HARD TO GET YOUR PETS IN.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS THAT ARE GOVERNOR INTO THE VETERINARY SHORTAGE, SUCH AS PEOPLE RETIRING AND NOT HAVING THE NEED MATCH UP WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH AS WELL.

SO WE'RE REALLY HOPING TO HELP TEACH THE FUTURE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE TO HELP MORE ANIMALS WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY OR HELP OTHERS THROUGH PRIVATE PRACTICE.

TED: AND THIS FACILITY WILL BE UP AND OPERATIONAL WHEN?

>> WE BROKE GROUND EARLY THIS MONTH AND HOPING IT'S OPERATIONAL IN EARLY 2023.

IT SEEMS FAR AWAY, BUT IN OUR MIND WE'RE AT THE FINISH LINE.

THIS HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A LONG ROAD.

MARICOPA COUNTY USED TO BE ONE OF THE WORST PLACES IN THE COUNTRY TO BE A HOMELESS PET.

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND WITH THE INCORPORATION OF DR. HANSON AND THE SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS, WE HELPED MARICOPA COUNTY BECOME ONE OF THE BEST PLACES TO BE A HOMELESS PET BY REDUCING INJURED RATES BY 84% AND REDUCING INTAKE SHELTERS.

WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO BE HELPING AS MANY PETS AS POSSIBLE.

SUPER EXCITED.

TED: SPEAKING OF HELPING AS MANY PETS AS POSSIBLE, SHELTERS ARE AT OR NEAR CAPACITY.

A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE PANDEMIC IN WAYS THAT ARE OBVIOUS AND NOT SO OBVIOUS.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WHY THE SHELTERS ARE SEEING THIS?

>> NOT JUST HERE IN ARIZONA BUT THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY ITSELF BUT THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WE'RE SEEING NUMBERS IN SHELTERS WE'RE NOT USED TO THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY AND OTHER SHELTERS IN THE HOTTER STATES ARE OVERRUN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE HAVE AN EXTENDED KITTEN AND CAT SEASON AS WELL AS HAVING A LOT MORE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH STRAYS THAT OTHER STATES AREN'T USED TO LIKE LACK OF WATER, LACK OF SHELTER, LEFT IN HOT CARS.

COOL TEAM INVESTIGATORS AND MEDICAL TECHNICIANS ARE BUSY AROUND THE SUMMER MONTHS.

USUALLY AROUND THIS TIME, IT LESSENS.

UNFORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE FALLOUT OF THE PANDEMIC, PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT, AND UNFORTUNATELY HAVING TO SURRENDER PETS DUE TO ECONOMIC INSECURITY, JOB INSECURITY, HOUSING INSTABILITY, MEDICAL PROBLEMS AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS SUCH AS EMERGENCIES THAT ARE POPPING UP.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM WE'RE SEEING AT THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY AND SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED TO GET AHEAD ON.

TED: AND WITH THAT IN MIND, LAST POINT HERE, TALK TO US ABOUT THE HET HOUSING ARIZONA HEALTH TASK FORCE.

SOUNDS LIKE A NEAT WAY TO KEEP ANIMALS, PETS FROM NOT GOING INTO SHELTERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY ALONG WITH SIX OTHER TOP ANIMAL WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE CREATED THIS TASK FORCE TO TRY TO HELP AS MANY PETS AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP THEM FROM BEING SURRENDERED TO SHELTERS AND HELP KEEP THE SHELTER POPULATION DOWN BY EITHER GIVING INTERVENTION RESOURCES SUCH AS THROUGH A PET RESOURCE CENTER, TO HELP KEEP PETS IN HOMES OR HAVE THE PEER-TO-PEER WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE CANNOT ONLY FOSTER PETS IF NEEDED BUT ADOPT DIRECTLY FROM THE PEOPLE SO WE'RE NOT HAVING TO OVERCROWD, ALREADY OVERCROWDED SHELTERS.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY AN AMAZING RESOURCE FOR ANYONE WHO SUPPORTING TO HELP OR MAYBE IN NEED OF HELP.

YOU CAN VISIT PET HOUSING HEALTH AZ.ORG AND SEE THE DIFFERENT WAYS AND DIFFERENT RESOURCES OUT THERE FOR YOU AND, OF COURSE, THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY IS AROUND 365 DAYS A YEAR AS WELL.

WE HAVE ANIMAL PROGRAMS WHERE YOU CAN GET TEMPORARY FOSTER, IF YOU'RE APPROVED.

WE ALSO HAVE PET RESOURCE CENTER AVAILABLE TO GIVE AS MANY RESOURCES AS YOU NEED OR BE ABLE TO POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, THE BEST PLACE FOR A PET IS IN THEIR LOVING HOME AND OUT OF A SHELTER.

DEFINITELY WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT DEAL, GREAT OPERATION, WEST OF LUCK ON THAT.

KELSEY DICKERSON, ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, WHY WOMEN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE HEADING TO ASU TO PLAY SOCCER?