In 2013, Pima County knew it could do better. Like most municipal animal shelters, it collaborated with rescue organizations, relied heavily on compassionate volunteers, and supported spay and neuter programs. And like most municipal animal shelters, it was euthanizing more than a third of the dogs and cats it housed.

Pima County serves a large urban population with significant service demands. The recession had further eroded available resources and strained budgets, making additional investment unlikely. County leadership knew the public had a higher standard – and decided to hire a development professional to ask for the community’s help in meeting it.