Online Extra: New Pima Paws club helps animals

Story, photo and videos by Narciso Villarreal

The newly formed Pima Paws Club at Pima Community College wants you to take the first step in making a difference in the welfare of all animals by joining its club.

“This group is not limited to just dogs and cats,” club organizer Heather Bradley said. “It is a place where like-minded people can meet to exchange ideas, resources and contacts. All you need is a respect for life and belief in animal welfare.”

The club will begin by serving as an educational resource and by holding informational presentations for each student group at West Campus, Bradley said. The club hopes to expand to the other five PCC campuses.

Bradley rescues animals and does as much as she can, depending on her living situation. She currently cares for three rescued cats named Bentley, Champa and Simba.

One of the club’s goals is to create a means of communication for students attending PCC and the University of Arizona, and for the Tucson community in general.

When people can no longer care for their pets, the club will inform people about options available. Residents who leave for the summer or other extended lengths of time need to know there are resources to help them with the care of their pets while they are gone.

“Abandoning your animals is neglect and cruelty,” Bradley said. “They would experience severe pain and hunger. We would rather have you seek help from the resources that we have so that they don’t have to suffer unnecessarily.”

People can contribute to the well-being of all animals by clipping coupons for pet-related products and providing them to the club, Bradley said. She also encourages people to purchase “cruelty-free” products in general.

For more information, contact Bradley at 979-6142 or e-mail hbradley1@mail.pima.edu.

Other ways to help include setting your Internet home page to theanimalrescuesite.com and clicking on the “Click Here to Give – It’s FREE!” link. With each click, sponsors will donate food for rescued animals.

The Animal Rescue site has several links for purchasing animal food and other items. The site also lets visitors earn money for animal charities by playing games.

Duke, a rescued basset hound, competes at the Canine Classic.

Other Web sites dedicated to helping animals include:
•    aspca.org
•    hopeanimalshelter.net
•    casadelosgatos.org
•    thenokillnation.com
•    alleycat.org
•    thenaturalcat.net
•    naturaldogblog.com

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