Calling all animal lovers, three local agencies are teaming up to host a “mega adoption event” this week.

Pima Animal Care Center, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and Hermitage No-Kill Cat Shelter and Sanctuary, have come together to form "Tucson Shelters United.”

Individual locations of all three shelters, PACC at 4000 N. Silverbell Road, HSSA at 635 W. Roger Road and Hermitage at 5278 E. 21st St., will offer 50 percent off adoption fees for all pets for months and older. Prices will vary at each location.

The goal is to find homes for 600 pets. The event takes place Friday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20.

For more information, click here.

“Hi there, My name is Wampa and I’m a shy 1-year-old boy. If you are patient with me and give me plenty of time to adjust, I promise you won’t be disappointed! Once I get comfortable I am a sweet, wiggly, goofy boy.” Wampa (876823)

Bring your family to meet me at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. Have questions? Give an adoptions counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173.

Minx (852293) is just adorable. You might be thinking that we're talking about her cute-as-a-button good looks - which she has in abundance, or her big, wide eyes, or even her bobtail. Yes, she's definitely a cutie. But it's her personality that we're really talking about. Talk to her for a few seconds and you'll be greeted with warmth and affection, and probably an outstretched paw signaling her request for more pets and snuggles.

She's also a celebrity around these parts. She was featured in our Super Bowl commercial earlier this year! Watch Minx get her snuggle on in our Super Bowl ad by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKDYTAywjH8

For a cat as cute as Minx, it's a shame that she has not been adopted yet. Come by HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Road to meet Minx and see for yourself why she's such a terrific kitty, or give an adoptions counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173 for more information.

“I am a friendly, mellow girl who will seek you out to see what you’re doing. I LOVE getting attention and will purr loudly to say thank you. I came to HSSA with my friend, Cheeks (876140) who is 6-year-old. I would love to bring her with me when I find my forever home. ” Orca (876142) Come fall in love with Orca at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. For more information give an adoptions counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173.

After receiving the results of a necropsy, the Reid Park Zoo announced that Elinor, the 20-year-old reticulated giraffe that passed away earlier this month, developed lymphoma before she died.

The necropsy (an animal autopsy) was performed at the University of Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

“Elinor died of an aggressive, malignant cancer known as lymphoma,” said chief veterinarian Dr. Alexis Roth, in a statement. “Her symptoms and progression of disease were rapid. Although a common form of cancer in people and many animals, lymphoma is extremely rare in giraffe and not much is known about successful treatment.”

The median life expectancy for reticulated giraffes is 19 years. Elinor lived at Reid Park Zoo with two other giraffes: Jasiri, an 8-year-old male, and Denver, a 30-year-old female who is the second oldest giraffe in an AZA-accredited Zoo.

“Elinor was loved so much by staff and guests,” said Sue Tygielski, director of zoo operations, in a release. “Little kids that visit the zoo knew her from the other giraffe and would wait to visit with and feed Elinor. She had her own special fan club. While some guests marveled at Jasiri’s tall height, and others at Denver’s bold nature, Elinor was often the sweet favorite.”

The Pima Animal Care Center will host Dr. Kelly’s Mobile Vet clinic from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30, offering spay and neuter surgeries, mass removals, dental care, microchipping and other procedures.

The van, which is equipped with hospital-grade equipment, will offer their services for between $10 and $800, depending on the services rendered.

Anyone interested in utilizing the van’s services is asked to fill out forms, which can be found on PACC’s website, before attending the event, which will be held at PACC.

“These are exactly the types of events our community wants,” said Kristen Hassen-Auerbach, PACC Director of Animal Services, in a release. “All of our vaccine and microchip clinics have had huge turnouts and pet owners always ask us about low cost surgery options. We are so happy to be a parking spot for Dr. Kelly’s so that these pet owners can get their pets the care they need without having to worry about the cost.”

The van has been providing veterinary services in and around Southern Arizona since 2016, parking at various locations around the region to offer help to pet owners.

The pets are treated and monitored by the van’s staff and can be picked up once they get an ‘all-clear’ from the vets, the release said.

Surgeries often take several hours to complete, allowing owners to pick up their four-legged love ones within 30 minutes of their discharge time, according to the release.

For questions or more information on Dr. Kelly’s services, visit their website, at drkellysmobilevet.com.

"I'm a 2-year-old boy named Oscar! I am very friendly and love for people to give me attention. I have some allergies so I prefer to spend most of my time indoors." Oscar (876050)

Bring your family to meet Oscar at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. Have questions? Give an adoptions counselor a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173.

Wilson (875085) is an affectionate, four year-old kitty who has won the heart of every HSSA staff member who has met him! He's very sweet and loves to chat with you when you pet him. Wilson needs your help. He has tested positive for FIV, the feline immunodeficiency virus, and though it sounds scary; it isn't. Knowing a cat has FIV simply means he needs a loving family and will need to be an indoor only cat. To learn more about FIV visit http://bit.ly/FelineImmunodeficiencyVirus. Wilson really is going to make somebody very happy. Will it be you? How long will he have to wait until his forever family finds him? Visit us, and Wilson, at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. or give us a call at 520-327-6088, ext. 173.

Plugsy is a big, energetic, goofy guy who has spent WAY too long at HSSA waiting for his forever family. HSSA staff know Plugsy quite well and we're proud to say that he is a New Beginnings Canine program graduate. Plugsy is high energy, loves toys, and will play fetch with you from sunrise to sunset. We know he would make the right family very happy. Interested in meeting this boy? Visit him at HSSA Main Campus at 635 W. Roger Rd. or call 520-327-6088, ext 173 to learn more.

WASHINGTON – Hunting groups are applauding new federal rules creating longer seasons, extended hours and expanded methods for hunting and taking different types of game on national wildlife refuges.

The changes, announced last week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, affect 1.4 million acres of federal land, more than 800,000 of which are in Arizona where seven of nine national wildlife refuges would be included in the changes.

Zack May, president of Southern Arizona Quail Forever, said the changes reduce contradictions between state and federal hunting rules while making national public land more accessible to sports enthusiasts.

“Anything that improves public access to public land is a good thing,” he said.

While hunters cheered the changes, environmentalists groups greeted them with a shrug. Brett Hartl, government affairs director for the Center for Biological Diversity, called the expansions “relatively minor and somewhat silly,” pointing to Kofa as an example.

“The reality is that there’s not that many hunters that go there,” Hartl said. “It’s hotter than hell 98 percent of the year.”

Kofa, at more than 660,000 acres, is the largest of the wildlife refuges affected by the changes.

The Interior Department said the new rules open hunting and fishing on 77 national wildlife refuges and 15 hatcheries. The rules also remove or revise more than 5,000 hunting regulations “to more closely match state laws,” Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said in a new release announcing the change.

The department says the rules open or expand twice as much land as had been opened in the previous five years, and brings the number of refuges allowing hunting to 381. Affected refuges now have expanded season dates, longer hours or more hunting take methods for several bird and big game species, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.

The hunting and fishing changes unveiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service affect 77 national wildlife refuges and 15 fish hatcheries. (Photo by Bureau of Land Management/Creative Commons)

May, who hunts primarily in Buenos Aires and Cibola national wildlife refuges, said he has experienced “minor issues” with conflicting state and federal regulations and credited the new rules to a good working relationship between the two governments.

The final rule specifies that Fish and Wildlife officials will work with the Arizona Game and Fish Department on opening more opportunities in the next three years, including the two refuges not included in this year’s changes.

Hartl questioned the need for further expansion, characterizing the fanfare in the Interior Department’s announcement as a move to appease President Donald Trump’s political base.

“It’s such a modest thing,” Hartl said. “There’s no pent-up demand. It’s not as if this has been a contentious issue.”

A May Fish and Wildlife Service report estimates that only about 3% of Kofa’s 95,404 visitors visited the refuge for hunting during the 2017 fiscal year.

But others see the rules as a sign the federal government is listening to the real owners of the land: the public.

Hunting groups such as Safari Club International contend that people should be able to utilize public space, regardless of its popularity. Benjamin Cassidy, director of government affairs, said giving hunters the opportunity to hunt in places like Kofa “should be commended.”

“I think it continues in the tradition of listening to the American people and seeing how we can improve the experience on public lands,” he said. “Americans own these public lands.”

National wildlife refuges in the Southwest U.S. saw over 7 million visitors in 2017, according to recent Fish and Wildlife Service reports.

Nick Wiley, chief conservation officer for Ducks Unlimited, called the changes a “fresh look” at access to public lands – Arizona included.

“There’s a strong hunting interest from the people in Arizona and the hunting community,” Wiley said.