Arizona’s most vulnerable pets have a new refuge as the Arizona Humane Society‘s (AHS) Rob & Melani Walton Papago Park Campus is now open.

“As the doors of the Rob and Melani Walton Papago Park Campus open to the public, so do the possibilities for the future of animal welfare in Arizona and across the country,” said Dr. Steven Hansen, President & CEO of AHS. “This transformative campus will have an undeniable positive impact on the Valley’s most vulnerable pets and the state’s future veterinarians for decades to come. Our new campus enables us with the physical resources to best serve the pets in our care and delivers a key list of improvements that will benefit pets and people alike.”

The $51 million, state-of-the-art facility was designed with the health and welfare of both pets and people in mind, including:

• A heavy-duty HVAC system to greatly reduce the movement of airborne pathogens between separate kennel rooms, leading to healthier pets and shorter lengths of stay.
• Improved sanitation from drainage systems installed in 90 percent of rooms throughout the campus with hand-poured sloped kennel floors to increase pets’ comfort and reduce disease.
• Hundreds of windows bring natural light into most rooms and kennels to support circadian rhythms for both pets and staff.
• Five “catios” and 13 designated play yards allow pets who are healing access to natural light and fresh air.
• Petique™, AHS’ in-house pet supply shop, and Echo Coffee, a locally-owned and operated business contributing 1 percent of every purchase to AHS, invite visitors into our Jamie L. Middleton Welcome Lobby and encourage a casual environment perfect for repeat visits, whether to adopt, volunteer or foster.

The 5-acre campus is home to one of the largest shelter-based trauma hospitals in the country which also serves as a teaching hospital for emerging veterinary students at a time when the profession is experiencing an extreme shortage.

Four out of five pets entering AHS’ doors will require care in the Lazin Animal Foundation Trauma Hospital, which was designed with transparency in mind, providing the community a glimpse of the life-saving work of AHS.

In November 2021, Ryan Companies US, Inc.  and AHS broke ground on the 72,000 square foot campus. Building the “animal welfare campus of the future” required highly specialized processes and innovations, ensuring that the facility would be a resource for generations to come.

“At Ryan, one of our core values is stewardship, meaning we are dedicated to spending our time and financial resources on behalf of causes and organizations that directly help our community,” said Chuck Carefoot, Southwest Region President of Ryan Companies. “Pets are near and dear to our hearts, positively impact our individual well-being, and our overall public health. We are thrilled to have completed the Arizona Humane Society’s Rob and Melani Walton Papago Park Campus at a substantial savings to the organization and for the benefit of our entire community.”

Ula Nero was the commissioned artist whose bright and uplifting portraits can be found throughout the campus and Animal Arts was the designated architectural partner.