Dear Friends:
A couple of years ago during a bike ride with a fellow volunteer an idea to raise money to help save PACC's homeless animals was born. Having ridden in the El Tour de Tucson many times, I felt that creating a team to raise money for PACC's homeless animals was something that could work. And it did. Ride with the PACC's first Tour two years ago was a solid success: 35 riders that resulted in raising $12,000. Our second effort in the 2019 ride made a quantum leap: 75 riders and $25,000 raised.
Before I became a PACC volunteer 8 years ago, I had never been involved in any community service. I had been working as a hiking guide for Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort. A great retirement gig. But life can change. It did for me. What started as a one day a week effort to just walk dogs evolved into something much greater. The game-changer for me was the day ground was broken to build the new PACC. Along with a state of the art facility came a new rescue and rehabilitation philosophy. The Pima Animal Control Center became the Pima Animal Care Center. To be part of something so positive is amazing, empowering and life-affirming.
Shortly before the Pandemic hit The U.S. I adopted a cattle dog mix from PACC. My 2 labs had passed unexpectedly and I needed to find the perfect companion for Sophie,my sweet hound. Enter Blu-a full of life pup and as it turned out a perfect companion for sweet Sophie. They quickly became kindred spirits. Spending quality time with them during my work furlough inspired me to begin what has turned out to be a passion project: Produce a short documentary that follows the co-evolution of man and dog. I hope to complete "Never Far From Home" by mid 2022. Life can be grand.
In light of our current worldwide health crisis, I believe it is critical not to take our eye off the ball when it comes to our commitment to animal rescue. Certainly our priority now is to find ways to heal ourselves. However, an important parallel goal is to maintain our ongoing life-saving efforts for homeless animals - precious souls that without our help would undoubtedly face a bleak future.
I am very fortunate to be part of the current generation that pursues a healthy and positive outcome for homeless animals.
Thank you in advance for supporting Ride With The PACC in the upcoming El Tour de Tucson.
Ride on. Jerry Rosen
click on the link below to view a short video
https://vimeo.com/421326054
Friends of Pima Animal Care Center
Friends of Pima Animal Care Center (PACC's Official 501(c)(3)) invites you to ride with the PACC in the 39th El Tour de Tucson, Saturday, November 19th, 2022!
The Ride with the PACC team is passionate about cycling, pets, and our community. This year, Friends of PACC is the only non-profit serving cats and dogs in our community. Your ride can make a dramatic and focused impact on the lives of truly vulnerable pets.
Pima Animal Care Center is the only open-admission shelter in the 9,000+ square miles of Pima County and never turns away a pet in crisis. In FY 20/21, PACC took in 14,676 pets, including 7,860 lost animals and 4,861 pets surrendered by their owners. PACC takes in and provides individualized care as needed to every stray dog, pets with medical or behavioral needs, and pets whose owners are in crisis. Ninety-two percent of the animals left the shelter through adoption, reunification with their owner, or rescue placement. During the COVID pandemic, staff worked tirelessly with the community to keep animals in their homes and neighborhoods. Our community responded overwhelmingly by holding on to healthy and friendly stray animals to help get more pets reunited with their families.
Those are some big numbers—we know—but every pet at PACC is treated as an individual. We hope you will consider joining us for this incredible local event and be a part of a team that has fun all year long! In addition to fundraising and riding in the El Tour de Tucson itself, riders can volunteer to help organize and promote the team, join and/or lead group training rides for all abilities.
Friends of PACC is the official nonprofit partner to Pima Animal Care Center. Our mission is to support the shelter and enhance its efforts to save lives. Donations ensure that every abandoned, neglected, and abused pet in need gets the chance to find a loving home. In 2019 PACC took in over 18,400 pets and had a save rate of 91%.