T >> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, ASU AND THE U OF A LEAVE THE PAC-12 ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TO LEAVE THE BIG 12.

ARE WE SEEING ANOTHER COVID SURGERY AND A GROWING CRISIS AT ANIMAL SHELTERS.

THAT'S NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY ANNOUNCED A NEW NATIONAL MONUMENT FOR ROUGHLY A MILLION ACRES OF LAND AROUND THE GRAND CANYON.

THE PRESIDENT MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY AT THE CANYON AND THE DESIGNATION IN EFFECT BANS ANY FUTURE URANIUM MINING AT THOUSANDS OF SITES SACRED TO MORE THAN HALF A DOZEN AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES.

>> PRESERVING THESE LANDS IS GOOD NOT ONLY FOR ARIZONA BUT FOR THE PLANET AND IT'S GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.

IT'S GOOD FOR THE SOUL OF THE NATION.

AND THEAND I BELIEVE IT'S THE RIGHTTHING TO DO AND MORE WORK AHEAD TO COMBAT THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> Ted: PRIOR TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT, THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING IN KINGMAN TO OPPOSE THE MONUMENT DESIGNATION CALLING THIS AMONG OTHER THINGS, A FEDERAL LAND GRAB AND DANGER TO NATIONAL SECURITY.

>>> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT VOTED TO FREEZE A LOWER COURT RULING THAT KEEPS THE GOVERNMENT FROM REGULATING HOMEMADE AND UNTRACEABLE GHOST GUNS AND GRANTS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S REQUEST TO KEEP THE REGULATIONS IN EFFECT WHILE LEGAL CHALLENGES PLAY OUT.

TODAY'S VOTE WAS 5-4 WITH ROBERTS AND AMY CONEY BARRETT JOINING THE THREE LIBERAL JUSTICES TO KEEP GHOST GUNS IN EFFECT FOR NOW.

>>> A HEALTH NOTE, A NEW STUDY SHOWS PEOPLE WHO DRINK BEVERAGES WITH ADDED SUGARS ARE AT HIGHER RISK FOR LIVER PROBLEMS.

RESEARCHERS COMPARED THOSE WITH ONE OR MORE SWEETENED DRINKS A DAY TO THOSE WHO HAVE THREE DRINKS OR FEWER A MONTH.

THE RESULTS, THOSE WHO DRANK MORE HAD MORE THAN DOUBLE THE CHANCES OF CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE AND THEIR CHANCES OF GETTING LIVER CANCER WERE 80% HIGHER.

THAT SAID, THE TWO CONDITIONS ARE RARE AFFECTING UNDER 1% OF THE POPULATION.

POPULATION.

>>> ASU AND THE U OF A ARE NO LONGER MEMBERS OF THE PAC-12 ATHLETIC CONFERENCE AND THEY MOVE TO THE BIG 12.

WHY WERE THE MOVES MADE?

WE ASK THE ARIZONA'S REPUBLICAN, MICHELLE GARDINER, COVERING THE STORY AND DOING A GREAT JOB.

YOU MUST BE EXHAUSTED COVERING THIS THING?

IT'S EXHILARATING AND EXHAUSTING AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Ted: THE PAC-12 AS WE KNOW IT IS PRETTY MUCH ADIOS AND HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

>> YOU HAVE TO GO BACK BEFORE TO THE TENURE OF LARRY SCOTT AS COMMISSIONER AND SPENDING MONEY LIKE IT WAS GROWING ON TREES, EXORBITANT OFFICE IN DOWNTOWN SAN FRANCISCO AND TRIPS AND JUST HEMORRHAGING MONEY AND STARTED THERE AND THEN JUST THE WHOLE PAC-12 NETWORK THAT TURNED INTO A DEBACLE AND STARTED IN HIS TENURE AND IT'S CARRIED OVER INTO GEORGE CLEOPKOFF'S TENURE.

>> Ted: IN THIS SITUATION IN PARTICULAR, THE BE-OLEANDER BE-ALL END-ALL.

>> THEY WANT TO SAY IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY, BUT IT IS.

>> Ted: THE PAC-12, APPLE POPS UP AND THE THE DEAL IS NOT THAT GREAT, RIGHT?

>> NO.

FIRST, WE WERE HEARING 12 MILLION AND AT THE END IT GOT UP TO 12 AND YOU CAN'T NOT HAVE YOUR GAINS ON MAJOR TV NETWORKS.

YOU NEED TO BE ON TELEVISION AND BARS AND IN HOMES AND NOT JUST ON APPLE TV.

YOU KNOW, THEY KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD ON THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND WE HEARD IN MARCH, WE HOPE TO ANNOUNCE DURING THE PAC-12 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

MAYBE NEXT MONTH AND MAYBE NEXT MONTH AND WE KEPT HEARING A MONTH, A MONTH, A MONTH AND THEN WHEN THE BIG 12 GETS ITS RIGHTS AND THEIR DEAL IS 33 MILLION PER SCHOOL, NOW, ESPN AND FOX HAVE LESS MONEY LEFT FOR THE PAC-12.

SO THE LONGER THIS TOOK TO GET SETTLED, THE MORE IT WAS GOING TO BE A BAD SITUATION FOR THE PAC-12.

>> Ted: THE PAC-12 HESITATED AND LOST, RIGHT?

>> THEY WERE HOLDING OUT HOPE AND AND THEIR BLUFF GOT CALLED.

>> Ted: WHERE WAS ASU AS FAR ASU?

IS MICHAEL CROWE LITTLE TO A FAULT?

>> YES.

FRIDAY MORNING THERE WAS A MEETING OF THE PAC-12, 11th 11th HOUR TO TRY AND SAVE THE CONFERENCE AND MICHAEL CROWE AND RAY ANDERSON, YES, LOYAL TO A FAULT WANTED TO SAVE THE PAC-12 AND SAID THEY WERE LITERALLY IN THE TRENCHES TO THE 11th HOUR AND REALIZED IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN.

THE KICK-OFF WAS WHEN OREGON AND WASHINGTON DECIDED TO GO TO THE BIG TEN.

AT THAT POINT, YOUR CONFERENCE IS NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE.

THERE WAS SOME TALK THE NIGHT BEFORE THAT THE WASHINGTON/OREGON DEAL MIGHT STAY THROUGH AND THEY MIGHT STAY PRESIDENT CONFERENCE AND EARLY ON FRIDAY, WHEN THAT TURNED OUT NOT TO BE THE CASE, THAT'S WHEN ASU HAD TO SAY, WE HAVE TO GO.

>> Ted: THE IDEA, AGAIN, OF APPLE, I CAN SEE WHERE FORWARD-THINKING PEOPLE, INNOVATIVE PEOPLE WOULD SAY STREAMING IS THE WAY AND THE FUTURE AND EVERYTHING IS CUTTING THE CORD.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS AND COLLEGE SPORTS IN PARTICULAR, THAT LINEAR PACKAGE, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT?

>> YOUR PARENTS CAN'T COME TO EVERY GAME AND IF YOU CAN'T SEE THEM PLAY, IT'S A NO-GO.

THE APPLE TV COMPONENT WAS A GOOD COMPONENT BUT NEEDED TO BE A PART OF A BIGGER DEAL, NOT THE ONLY PART OF THE DEAL.

>> Ted: SO ASU, U OF A IN THE BIG 12 AND HOW LONG IS THAT DEAL?

>> THAT I'M NOT SURE.

I'M NOT SURE.

I THINK IT'S UNTIL WHENEVER.

I THINK THE GOOD THING ABOUT THE BIG 12 DEAL IS NEW RIVALRIES AND NEW VENUES, NEW FAN BASES AND THE FAN BASES OF THE BIG 12 SCHOOLS ARE MUCH MORE ENGAGED THAN THOSE IN THE PAC-12.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE AS FAR AS THE FAN INTEREST.

IN CERTAIN SPORTS, MEN'S BASKETBALL, IT'S OUTSTANDING.

>> Ted: IT'S OUTSTANDING, BUT IT'S GOING TO MAKE FOR SOME LONG PLANE RIDES.

IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA AND CENTRAL FLORIDA, THE IMPACT ON STUDENT ATHLETES, HOW MUCH OF A CONCERN WAS THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK, THE TRAVEL MAY NOT BE AS MUCH AS PEOPLE THINK, SO WHAT WILL HAPPEN, THEY'LL HAVE TWO-A-TEAM DIVISIONS IN FOOTBALL AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO PLAY YOUR SEVEN IN-DIVISION OPPONENTS AND ONE OTHER GAME.

NOT LIKE ASU AND ARIZONA WILL GO TO CENTRAL FLORIDA AND CINCINNATI AND WEST VIRGINIA.

YOU'RE ONLY GOING TO HAVE, PROBABLY, ONE GAME AGAINST THE OTHER DIVISION FOR THE SEASON.

SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE MAKING MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE OTHER COAST.

>> Ted: WHAT ABOUT BASKETBALL, THOUGH?

YOU HAVE TWO GAMES A WEEK.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

I DON'T THINK YOU'LL HAVE A OVERWHELMHOMEAND AWAY WITH EVERY TEAM.

THOSE LOGISTICS HAVE YET TO BE IRONED OUT AND I DON'T THINK -- THEY DON'T HAVE A HOME AND AWAY S WITH EVERY TEAMIN THE PAC-12.

>> Ted: THEY'LL HAVE TO DIVIDE THE CONFERENCE AND YOU MAY JUST NEVER PLAY CENTRAL FLORIDA OR WEST VIRGINIA?

>> RIGHT.

AND RAY ANDERSON DID TELL US AS FAR AS THE OLYMPIC SPORTS, THEY REALLY INTEND TO PLAY UCLA, USC AND GOOD COMPETITION AND THEIR CLOSE AND THE BIG 12 DOESN'T HAVE ALL OF THOSE SPORTS, FOR INSTANCE.

>> Ted: INTERESTING!

>> SO HE SAID THEY VERY MUCH INTEND ON KEEPING RIVALRIES AS MUCH AS THEY CAN WITH THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS.

>> Ted: AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT REPORTING BECAUSE IT'S A FASCINATING FASCINATING READING AND SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY AND HOUR.

IS THIS JUST A WEIGH STATION FOR WHAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE JUST A NATIONAL CONFERENCE WITH DIVISIONS MAYBE TWO OR THREE ACROSS THE COUNTRY?

>> YOU'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT THREE SUPERCONFERENCES EVENTUALLY.

A BIG 12, A BIG 10 AND THE SEC AND EVENTUALLY, THREE SUPER CONFERENCES WITH 20, 25 TEAMS.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED.

I 'DO THINK THEI IF YOU'RE NOT ONE OF 25 SCHOOLS IN ONE OF TEASE BIG THESE BIG CONFERENCES AND THAT'S WHY ASU HAD TO GO PUP DIDN'T WANT.

YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN POSITION LIKE CAL AND STANFORD AND THE LAST GUYS LEFT WITHOUT A DANCE PARTNER INDEPENDENT.

>> Ted: SOUNDS LIKE FOUR MILLION DOLLARS LEFT AS OPPOSED 30 SOME MONTH.

GREAT INFORMATION AND THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> ANY TIME.

>> Ted: ARE WE SEEING ANOTHER SUMMER SURGE OF COVID?

>> INCREASES IN CASES OF KILOBYTE ARE SUGGESTING ANOTHER SUMMER SURGE COULD BE UNDERWAY AS ANOTHER VACCINE LOOKS LIKE IT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

FOR MORE AND OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS, WE WELCOME THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

WILL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

ARE WE HAVING A SUMMER SURGE?

>> NOT IN ARIZONA.

NATIONALLY, AN INCREASE FROM COVID IN A LOT OF STATE, BUT NOT HERE.

I WAS TALKING TO SOME FOLKS IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.

HERE IT'S ABOUT HEAT AND IT'S HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS AND A DECLINE IN COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS.

AND THE NUMBER OF CASES HAS BEEN LOW.

>> Ted: WHY ELSEWHERE AND NOT HERE?

>> COULD BE TIMING AND COULD BE SO MANY INFECTIONS HAPPENED HERE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

SO IT COULD BE THAT THERE'S A DELAY AND WE'LL SEE A SUMMER BLIP.

I WON'T CALL IT SURGE, BUT A BLIP.

COULD BE WE DON'T AND SO FAR, SO GOOD.

>> Ted: THE VARIANTS IS XBB DEAL?

>> CORRECT, HERE, AND A NEW VARIENT WITH A COUPLE OF NEW MUTATIONS OVER IN EUROPE THAT IS, YOU KNOW, CAUSING SOME INCREASES IN CASES OVER THERE.

AS WE SAW ALL THROUGH THIS THING, IT WILL OUTCOMPETE THE XBB AND IT'S REALLY SIMILAR.

IT'S IN THE OMICRON FAMILY AND IT WON'T MESS UP THE VACCINE THAT'S COMING THIS FALL.

>> Ted: THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION, SIMILAR ENOUGH TO WHERE A VACCINE WOULD BE APPLICABLE TO BOTH.

>> TWO MUTATIONS MUTATIONS AND THEY'RE MINOR.

>> Ted: WHEN WILL THAT BE READY?

>> THE MANUFACTURERS ARE MAKING THIS NEW VACCINE AND DROPPING THE OLD ANCESTRAL STRAIN, THE ORIGINAL STRAIN FROM, YOU KNOW, THE WOHAN STRAIN AND THEY SAID MAKE THIS.

THE CDC HASN'T WRITTEN THEIR REPORT YET, BUT THAT'S NOT BIVALENT AND AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER, LATE OCTOBER.

>> Ted: A GOOD IDEA TO GET THAT ONE?

EVEN IF YOU'RE >> YES.

>> Ted: WE HAVE A FLU VACCINE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE AND HOW IS THAT DEVELOPING AND DO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH?

>> THEY MADE THE DECISION IN MARCH OF WHAT TO PUT IN THE VACCINES AND YOU HAVE TO DO IT THAT EARLY BUT THERE'S TWO VACCINES AND A LOT OF THEM ARE GROWING IN EGGS AND THE YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR DECISION IN MARCH AND THEY ADDED ONE STRAIN FROM AUSTRALIA.

IT WILL BE FOUR DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TO THAT VACCINE AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE SOON.

PROBABLY EVEN IN SEPTEMBER.

I THINK IT'S BETTER TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING DEEPER INTO THE SPRING, BUT IT'S AVAILABLE SOON.

>> Ted: ANY IDEAS REGARDING BOTH SHOTS AT THE SAME TIME?

>> SOME PEOPLE DO IT AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T.

IT'S FINE IN YOU WANT TO.

IT'S MORE CONVENIENT IN YOU'RE BUSY.

IF YOU HAVE TIME AND YOU DON'T WANT TO EXPERIENCE TWO SORE ARMS, SPREAD IT OUT.

IT'S ALL CONVENIENCE AND NOT LIKE THIS IS BETTER BIOLOGICALLY.

>> Ted: ADULT MEASLES ARE ON THE INCREASE AND WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

>> SO MEASLES WAS GONE IN THE U.S.

IN THE YEAR 2000.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS GONE, GONE.

THE VACCINATION RATES WERE SO GOOD THAT MEASLES LEFT THE U.S. OVER THE LAST 20 AREAS, AN ANTI-VAX MOVEMENT AND A SLOW EROSION IN THE NUMBER OF KIDS VACCINATED FOR LOTS OF DIFFERENT VACCINES INCLUDING THE MMR, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT HAS MEASLES AND THE U.S. IS AMONG THE COUNTRIES THAT HAS A LOT OF CASES, IN THE THOUSANDS EACH YEAR.

MOSTLY PEOPLE UNDER 25 BECAUSE PEOPLE OVER 25 THEY WERE BEFORE THE ANN ANTI-VAX MOVEMENT.

I HAD MEASLES AND PEOPLE UNDER 25 AND USUALLY IT STARTS WITH INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL.

SO A PERSON WHO'S A YOUNG PERSON WHO, SAY, IN -- THE YEAR 2000, THEY GO TO INDIA, TRAVEL AND THEY COME BACK AND THERE'S A LOT OF MEASLES IN INDIA AND CERTAIN PARTS OF EUROPE AND FRANCE AND A LITTLE BIT IN THE U.K.

IF YOU MOVE TO -- IF YOU GO BACK TO A PLACE LIKE YAVAPAI COUNTY IN ARIZONA WITH BAD VACCINATION RATES, THEY'RE IN THE 70% RANGE FOR KINDERGARTENERS FOR YAVAPAI COUNTY.

YOU COULD START A CASCADE OF CASES.

THAT'S HOW IT HAPPENS, INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IS THE TRIGGER.

>> Ted: FOR THOSE WHO HAD MESAL'S VACCINE WHEN THEY WERE YOUNGER, HOW LONG DOES THAT LAST?

>> FOREVER.

>> Ted: THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCING AN ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND SHE CAN'T GET ANYONE CONFIRMED HERE.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE NEW ACT -- I GUESS THE STILL ACTING CONTINUING DIRECTOR.

>> YEAH, I TALK A LOT TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS SAY THINGS ARE GETTING DONE AND THEY WERE FRUSTRATED WITH THE LEADERSHIP, THAT THEY WEREN'T PAID FOR A YEAR AND THEIR CONTRACTS WERE TAKING FOREVER.

THEY'RE HAPPIER IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN GETTING DONE.

I DO HAVE TO SAY, HOWEVER, THAT DIRECTOR NOMINATION COMMITTEE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S THE WAY THE BEHAVIOR OF SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN -- IT'S UNDENIABLE IT'S RUNNING OFF TALENT AND MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE GOVERNOR AND HER TEAM TO FIND THE AGENCY DIRECTORS.

I THINK THAT'S BEEN A FACTOR WITH IN.

BUT THE COUNTIES SAY THEY'RE HAPPY AND THERE'S THAT.

>> Ted: THERE'S THAT, BUT AS FAR AS THE HEALTH OF THE STATE AND CONCERNS OVER HEALTH ISSUES AROUND THE STATE, THE ACTING DIRECTOR HAS BEEN THE ACTOR DIRECTOR FOR A LITTLE WHILE HERE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

NO CONCERNS?

>> WELL, I MEAN WE'LL SEE.

I DON'T KNOW HER THAT WELL.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH WORLD, BUT I DON'T KNOW HER THAT WELL.

>> Ted: I WONDERED HOW YOU THOUGHT ABOUT THE WHOLE SITUATION.

>> I WAS A BIG FAN OF THE DOCTOR.

25 YEARS IN MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND RUNNING THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

>> Ted: IS SHE STILL DOWN AT PIMA COUNTY IN.

>> YEAH,s SHE'S HAPPY, AND SHE'S HAPPY THERE.

>> Ted: WILL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> TAKE CARE.

>> Ted: THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY IS SEEING THE HIGHEST CAPACITY OF SICK, INJURED AND ABUSED ANIMALS IN MORE THAN A DECADE REFLECTING CONCERNS AT SHELTERS AS MORE PETS ARE SURRENDERED AND FEWER ARE ADOPTED.

WE THE FOSTER MANAGER AND WITH US IS THE QUITE ACTIVE BIRDIE HERE WHO WAS JUST FINE UNTIL WE STARTED TALKING AND JIM WHO IS FINE OVER THERE WITH YOU GUYS.

THE HIGHEST VOLUME OF ANIMALS AND WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> SO LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY IS ON PACE TO INTAKE SICK, INJURED AND ABUSED ANIMALS.

THEY'LL NEED MEDICAL CARE AND BEHAVIORAL CARE AND IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS NOT ONLY JUST AFFECTING THE ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY, BUT IT'S AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY AND SHELTERS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT REASON FOR THAT.

>> Ted: GIVES US THE DIFFERENT REASONS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND THE FIELD TEAM IS WORKING 365 DAYS A YEAR TO BRING IN THE ANIMALS AND WHEN YOU HAVE AN ANIMAL WITH NO WATER OR SHELTER OR LOCKED IN THE CAR, IT'S AN EMERGENCY.

WE'VE ALREADY RESPONDED TO MORE THAN 1300 CALLS FOR PETS IN HEAT DISTRESS THIS YEAR ALONE.

SO WE'RE RESPONDED TO MORE CALLS AND MORE ANIMAL SURRENDERS, AS WELL.

>> Ted: NOW YOU'RE AWAKE.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: FOSTER PARENTING THESE ANIMALS AND TALK TO US ABOUT THAT AND HOW DOES THAT WORK AND HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO FOSTERING IS A KEY COMPONENT TO TAKE IN MORE PETS.

WHEN A COMMUNITY MEMBER TAKES FORWARD TO TAKE ONE OF THESE LITTLE KIDDOS, IT OPENS UP A PET IN NEED AND WE SERVE MORE ANIMALS THAT WAY.

THE NEED IN THE COMMUNITY IS SO GREAT, SO WE TRULY RELY ON THE COMMUNITY TO STEP FORWARD AND HELP US WITH THIS ISSUE.

SO OUR FOSTER HEROES, IT'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

WE PROVIDE ALL OF THE MEDICAL CARE, THE SUPPLIES NEEDED AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE GUIDANCE SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAS A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCE.

>> Ted: SO IF SOMEONE IS WATCHING NOW AND OK, I CAN FOSTER A CAT OR TWO OR A DOG OR THREE, HOW DO THEY GET INVOLVED?

>> AZHUMANE.ORG SLASH FOSTERHUMANE.ORG/FOSTER FOR ALL THE INFORMATION AND HEY, WE EVEN HAVE BUNNIES.

>> Ted: HEAR THAT, EVEN BUNNIES.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: PEOPLE ARE CALLING THIS A CRISIS AT ANIMAL SHELTERS AND A LOT OF BURNOUT WITH VETS AND STAFF SHORTAGES.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> SO YOU KNOW, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT COVID BEFORE THIS AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE THINK IT'S OVER, BUT WE'RE SEEING THE FALLOUT FROM THE PANDEMIC.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S A HUGE HOUSING CRISIS AND A LOT OF ECONOMIC INSTABILITY, AS WELL AS MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

SO WE'RE SEEING THE TOP TWO REASONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEEDING HELP IN SURRENDERING THEIR ANIMALS.

FIRST OF ALL, COST OF CARE AND NOT AFFORDING THAT AND WHEN YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY OR TAKE YOUR PET TO THE VET, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO GO.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS USUALLY PETS.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, HOUSING INSTABILITY, NOT BEING ABLE TO HAVE A PLACE TO HOUSE YOUR PITS PETS AND AFFORD THEM AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Ted: THIS CAN BE A TOUGH JOB AND IT CAN BE A TOUGH JOB FOR STAFF, I WOULD THINK AT SHELTERS BECAUSE THIS IS -- THESE ARE CUTE LITTLE GUYS AND THE YOU WANT THE BEST FOR THEM AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GET THE BEST.

COMPASSION FATIGUE IS A REAL THING AND WE SEE THAT IN EVERY ASPECT OF THE SHELTER AND THERE ARE SO MANY ANIMALS IN NEED.

WHAT ILLEGAL REALLY KEEPS US GOING, YOU SEE ANIMALS THAT ARE FIST PHYSICALLY BROKEN AND EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT, THEY EXPERIENCE THE LOVE FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT.

BUT WE DO RESCUE MORE THAN 18,000 SICK, INJURED AND OFF ABUSED PETS.

IN SERIES, WE ARIZONA, WE HAVE A VETERINARY SHORTAGE.

>> WE COULD ALWAYS USE MORE FOSTERS AND WE HAVE ABOUT 650 PETS IN FOSTER RIGHT NOW AND THAT NUMBER IS GREATER THAN THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS AT ALL THREE OF OUR DIFFERENT CAMPUSES.

FOSTERING IS CRITICAL TO BEING ABLE TO SERVE INJURED AND ABUSED PERFECTS.

WEPETS.

OUR CASES RANGE FROM A WEEK TO AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

>> Ted: IF YOU'RE INTERESTED BUT CAN ONLY DO IT FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME, THAT'S OK?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE A STAFF THAT WILL LEARN ABOUT YOUR HOME AND NEEDS AND HELP MATCH YOU WITH A PERFECT PET FOR YOUR FAMILY.

>> Ted: OBVIOUSLY, YOU'VE.

A FOSTER?

>> I SURE HAVE, 142.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU SAY GOODBYE TO THEM?

THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN.

LOOK AT THAT LITTLE FACE AND SAY GOODBYE TO THAT LITTLE FACE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AND I KNOW THAT THESE PETS ARE GOING TO AMAZING HOMES AND MANY FACES IN THOSE KENNELS THAT NEED MORE HELP.

>> Ted: WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND OUT MORE HOW TO HELP IN MY ANYWAY.

>> DONATING, VOLUNTEERING, AT AZHUMANE.ORG.

>> Ted: BIRDIE, ARE YOU ALL SET TO GO?

>> SHE'S READY TO COHOST NOW.

>> Ted: SHE'S CALMED DOWN NOW.

THE JIM HAS BEEN A GOOD LITTLE BOY.

>> INDEED, HE HAS.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

Many Arizona hikers know that we have amazing landscapes.

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