Pet Services in Phoenix

The Arizona Humane Society has provided shelter and rehabilitation to homeless and abandoned animals since 1957, watching over more than 46,000 dogs, cats, and smaller critters every year as they await new homes. After proving their eligibility for adoption and consulting with the shelter staff, new owners can choose a companion from any of the pets prowling the menagerie, from puppies and kittens up to 9 months old to adult dogs and cats. Rabbits and ferrets also scurry about, searching for farmers' carrots carelessly planted in an animal shelter. For current owners, the society provides low-cost spaying and neutering services as a public service, as well as education and outreach programs to promote compassion and ensure a safe home for all creatures.

Pooches of all breeds and sizes scamper into Kosmo's Doghouse and, after spending a short time with the facility's professionals, head home cleaner, neater, and better trained. Inside, dog owners utilize a multitude of services, including grooming sessions conducted by a team that has more than 50 years of experience with more than 160 breeds of dogs and cats. At self-serve washing stations, faucets blast away dirt and give pups the swagger they need to stand tall during street fights with the household vacuum. The shop also stocks a variety of treats and toys, and works closely with no-kill shelters, frequently hosting adoption and fundraising events.

In 1989, Roger and Cheryl Naumann became the proud parents of a lemon beagle they dubbed Pogo. The pup's playful demeanor was clouded by a host of congenital health conditions, each handled with unrelenting love by her owners. Pogo brought joy to Roger and Cheryl for 16 years and left her stamp on the world in the form of Pogo's Place, a pet-adoption facility in the lobby of Second Home Pet Resort.

Inspired by their beloved pooch, hotel executive Roger and his wife Cheryl, president and CEO of the Arizona Humane Society for almost six years, combined their talents to open the pet lodge. Nestled into a mountainside like a billy goat's summer cottage, the 16,500-square-foot haven boards cats and dogs in luxury suites, with staff onsite 24 hours a day.

Air-conditioning and heating systems maintain comfortable temperatures in cats' and dogs' separate quadrants and play areas. Pooches being boarded or babysat at doggie daycare frolic around an area that spans 1,000 square feet, with more than an acre of grassy knolls and playground equipment surrounded by 7-foot walls. Under supervision, they explore the Splash & Play water park's decks and waterfalls to cool off or practice their synchronized-swimming routine. Kitties scale trees and paw at scratching posts in the cat atrium. Pet cams accessible via the internet at any hour and extra care for special-needs pets give owners peace of mind, and grooming offered onsite pares down their to-do lists.

Sonoran Desert Pet Resort's 1,500-square-foot, air-conditioned indoor dog park simulates the outdoors with the same artificial turf used for professional football fields so pooches can wrestle, dive for balls, or perform elaborate touchdown dances safely during daycare hours.

Overnight guests bed in private rooms, some equipped with televisions playing soothing music, movies, or the NYSE ticker. They enjoy two meals a day, playtime with dogs of similar size and temperament, and air-conditioned quarters. Feline patrons lounge in two-room suites; their litter boxes are in a separate area from sleeping quarters, which are both well ventilated.

Pet parents can also opt for extras for their pooches, such as more one-on-one time with the human staff or a nice bone to gnaw on. Certified groomers primp four-legged friends with FURminator treatments to reduce shedding and ramped bathtubs for less stressful baths. Pets and owners can even attend the pet resort's training sessions to teach basic obedience or correct behavioral problems such as anxiety or refusing to salivate when a bell rings.

Arizona Pet Vet is a network of 17 animal hospitals peppered throughout the Valley area. The veterinarians use modern treatments and therapies to care for animal companions, treating each pet like an important member of its owner's family. The company doles out tips for bringing home a new pet on its website and exhibits evidence of the animal kingdom's capacity for cuteness on its Facebook page.

With a knowledgeable staff trained in pet CPR and first aid by her side, Malinda draws on 13 years of experience as she entertains and grooms pets at her upscale and secure facility. Each day, tail waggers enrolled in daycare and boarding programs roam freely amid fanciful murals of dogs and cats playing in fountains, relaxing under giant sunflowers, flying in balloons, and selling stocks. Experienced handlers supervise their play, keep their networking areas clean, and take them outside for periodic walks. Overnight guests spend the evening hours in private suites, which come equipped with fleece beds, exhaust fans, air vents, and dimmed lighting.

When they aren't looking after their houseguests, staffers groom dogs and cats with warm-water massage baths, custom shampoos and conditioners, hot-oil treatments, and facials. They also teach CPR and first aid to help pet owners to act well and wisely in the event of an emergency. As a certified pet trainer through Animal Behavior College, Malinda helps humans and their canine friends to reach their full potential and boost their GPAs by offering obedience classes. Guests are welcome to peruse Malinda's shelves, where she stocks Solid Gold pet foods as well as nutritional supplements, toys, treats, and grooming supplies.