activities · 19
what they do
direct service · 19
- Adoption placement for sighthounds Greyhound and Sighthound Adoption ServicesRehomes sighthounds into responsible and loving forever homes as pets, service dogs, or residential therapy dogs, coordinating adoptions across Tucson/Green Valley, Pinal County, and Maricopa County. The organization has facilitated thousands of adoptions, including individual cases such as Gem, Gary, Stuie, Polly, Megan, Millie, Mandy (Remi), Molly, and Tonic.
- Adoption support package provision Animal Behavior Training and SupportProvides adopters with transition food, a martingale collar, a leash, and a muzzle to support successful integration of adopted hounds into their new homes.
- Community Engagement and Events Public Environmental Events & OutreachHosts monthly events in the community to engage with the public and promote their mission.
- Community Engagement and Food DistributionHosts monthly events in the community and distributes over 3000 pounds of food to families in need through the Marana Food Bank.
- Community outreach and engagement eventsHosts monthly community events to promote engagement, adoption awareness, and support for sighthound rescue efforts.
- Courtesy posting for sighthound mixes Offsite Animal Listing ServicesProvides courtesy postings to help sighthound mixes find homes, even when the organization cannot directly take them into care.
- Crisis Respite Services for AdoptersProvides short-term respite services for dogs of adopters during crises, which may involve temporary care at Sol Dog Lodge or re-adoption if necessary.
- Crisis Respite Services for AdoptersProvides short-term respite services for dogs of adopters during crises, which may involve temporary care at Sol Dog Lodge or re-adoption.
- Emergency respite care for adopted dogsProvides short-term respite services for dogs of adopters during personal crises, sometimes leading to temporary care at Sol Dog Lodge or re-adoption.
- Food distribution for families in needDistributed over 3,000 pounds of food to families in need through the Marana Food Bank.
- Foster care and end-of-life support Dog Adoption FacilitationProvides foster care for sighthounds, including long-term care and difficult end-of-life decisions, such as the year-long foster and euthanasia of Zoomie due to unhealable injuries.
- International greyhound rescue and relocation Dog Adoption FacilitationArranged for the relocation and adoption of retired Greyhound racers from Australia, including the arrival of four dogs in January 2023.
- Pet Food Distribution Pet Food Bank and Pantry ServicesDistributes over 3000 pounds of pet food to families in need through the Marana Food Bank.
- Service Dog Program Veteran Service Dog Training and PlacementIdentifies, finds, trains, and helps foster potential service dogs for veterans and disabled individuals through the Hearts At Ease Service Dog Program, including specific greyhounds like Jody (Brody).
- Service dog identification and training program Veteran Service Dog Training and PlacementIdentifies, trains, and fosters potential service dogs for veterans and disabled individuals through the Hearts At Ease Service Dog Program, including ongoing training of greyhounds like Jody (Brody).
- Sighthound Rehoming and Adoption Greyhound and Sighthound Adoption ServicesRehomes sighthounds, including retired Greyhound racers, into responsible and loving forever homes as pets, service dogs, or residential therapy dogs. This includes coordinating adoptions in Tucson/Green Valley, Pinal County, and Maricopa County, and providing courtesy postings for sighthound mixes.
- Veterinary Care and Supplies for Adopted Hounds Pre-Adoption Veterinary CareProvides comprehensive veterinary care for all adopted hounds, including spaying/neutering, dental cleaning, microchipping, deworming, wellness checkups, blood work, tick fever and heartworm tests, ear cleaning, and nail trimming. Adopters also receive transition food, a martingale, a leash, and a muzzle.
- Veterinary and pre-adoption care for adopted hounds Pre-Adoption Veterinary CareProvides comprehensive medical care for all adopted hounds, including spaying/neutering, dental cleaning, microchipping, deworming, wellness checkups, blood work, tick fever and heartworm tests, ear cleaning, and nail trimming.
- Volunteer engagement and support Volunteer Coordination for Animal RescueRelies on and receives hundreds of volunteer hours annually to support its rescue, foster, and adoption operations.
strategies · 12
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Adopter and Breed-Specific Education adopter_educationThe organization provides detailed education to potential adopters about the specific characteristics and care requirements of sighthounds, encouraging research to ensure preparedness for life with the breed. This approach aims to set both the dog and the adopter up for success.
- All-Volunteer Foster and Rehoming Model all-volunteer_rehomingWe operate entirely through volunteers who serve as fosters, screeners, and support staff, using foster homes to provide interim care and behavioral assessment, which prepares dogs for adoption while reducing overhead and increasing capacity.
- Breed-Specific Education and Adopter Preparation breed_educationWe equip potential adopters with detailed information about sighthound temperament, care needs, and lifestyle compatibility to ensure informed decisions and long-term success, reducing returns and promoting responsible ownership.
- Community Engagement for Resource and Animal Support social_media_engagementWe leverage social media and community donation networks to support both sighthound rehoming and broader animal welfare efforts, increasing visibility for adoptable dogs and extending impact beyond our direct programs.
- Comprehensive Adopter Education and Support adopter_educationThe organization provides extensive education to potential adopters on the specific characteristics and care requirements of sighthounds, ensuring they are well-prepared for life with the breed. This includes detailed temperament and care guidance, encouraging research, and offering ongoing support post-adoption.
- Comprehensive Adopter Screening and Matching screening_and_matchingThe organization employs a multi-step adoption process, including applications, home visits, and contracts, to ensure a successful and lasting match between sighthounds and adopting families. This process prioritizes finding the best fit for each dog and adopter over a first-come, first-served approach, and includes a trial period to confirm compatibility.
- Individualized Adoption Matching screening_and_matchingWe prioritize the long-term well-being of each sighthound by carefully matching them with adopters based on lifestyle, home environment, and temperament, rather than using a first-come, first-served approach. This increases the likelihood of successful, permanent placements.
- Individualized Placement for Dog Happiness individualized_placementThe organization focuses on the individual happiness of each dog, striving to find the right "forever loving family" and home that best suits the dog's needs and potential roles, which can include placement as pets, service dogs, or emotional support dogs.
- Rigorous Screening and Individualized Matching for Permanent Placement screening_and_matchingThe organization employs a multi-step adoption process, including applications, home visits, and contracts, to carefully screen potential adopters. This process prioritizes finding the best match for each individual sighthound, considering their specific needs and the adopter's lifestyle, rather than a first-come, first-served approach, to ensure a "forever loving family" and successful, long-term placement in various roles.
- Structured Trial Period for Adoption Finalization trial_period_adoptionWe use a "Foster to Adopt" model with a five-day trial period to evaluate compatibility between the dog and adopter before finalizing the adoption, reducing mismatches and increasing placement stability.
- Volunteer and Foster-Based Rehoming Model all_volunteer_foster_modelThe organization operates entirely on an all-volunteer model, leveraging foster homes to provide temporary care, supplies, and medical attention for sighthounds. This approach prepares dogs for adoption and facilitates their transition into permanent homes, with a "Foster to Adopt" trial period to ensure successful placements.
- Volunteer and Foster-Based Rehoming Model all-volunteer_rehomingThe organization operates entirely on an all-volunteer model, utilizing foster homes to provide temporary care, prepare sighthounds for adoption, and facilitate their rehoming into permanent homes, including roles as pets, service dogs, or therapy dogs. This model leverages community support to achieve its mission.
named programs · 4
what they call their work
Adoption Program
Facilitates the adoption of retired racing greyhounds and other sighthounds into permanent homes, including dogs sourced from Ireland
Community Food Distribution
Partners with Marana Food Bank to distribute pet food to families in need
Foster Program
Provides temporary homes for rescued dogs while they await adoption; includes medical care, food, and supplies provided by the organization
Service Dog Training
Identifies and trains suitable greyhounds for service dog roles
relationships · 17
who they work with
- AGR Foundation, Inc Network — Arizona Heartfelt Hounds is part of the AGR Foundation, Inc.
- American Greyhound Council Partner — Recommended resource for information on greyhound adoption.
- American Lurcher Project Partner — Anticipates receiving Lurchers from the American Lurcher Project in Ohio.
- Asavet Charities Partner — Partners with Asavet Charities, a veterinary partner that provides low-cost spay/neuter services via a mobile unit to address animal overpopulation.
- Chipotle Partner — Participated in a fundraising event where Chipotle donated 25% of sales to the organization.
- Hearts at Ease Partner — Joined forces with Arizona Heartfelt Hounds and Sol Dog Lodge and Training Center in 2023 to strengthen programs.
- Irish Retired Greyhound Trust Partner — Receives greyhounds from the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust for adoption.
- Kindred Spirits Partner — Received compassionate care for a dog named Zoomie from Dr. Kelly Barrett to assist with euthanasia.
- Marana Food Bank Partner — Collects pet food donations to support the food bank.
- Marana Food Bank Partner — Distributed over 3000 pounds of food to families in need through the Marana Food Bank.
- Pawsitive Vibes Partner — Hosted a "Donuts Donations and Dogs" event at their location to collect pet food for the Marana Food Bank.
- Santa Cruz Veterinary Clinic Partner — Received veterinary care for a dog named Zoomie from Dr. Karter Neal and her staff.
- Sol Dog Lodge Partner — Collaborates with Sol Dog Lodge for volunteer opportunities and fostering.
- Sol Dog Lodge and Training Center Partner — Joined forces with Arizona Heartfelt Hounds and Hearts at Ease in 2023 to strengthen programs.
- Sol Dog Lodge and Training Center Partner — Partners with Sol Dog Lodge and Training Center, which offers boarding, training, day camp, doggy day care, and adoption services for all dogs.
- The Greyhound Project Partner — Encourages those outside their adoption area to use The Greyhound Project to find local greyhound adoption organizations.
- The Greyhound Project, Inc. Partner — Recommended resource for information on greyhound adoption.