Our mission is to stop pet over-population through non-lethal means.   What does that mean? Pet Allies wants to make our community a better place by saving the lives of animals that enter local shelters.  Pet Allies does this by operating a no kill shelter in the City of Show Low and by offering deeply discounted and free spay and neuter services at its clinic in Show Low.

Pet Allies began under the name Arizona Animal Wildlife League of the White Mountains, Inc. in the summer of 1996.  The group was originally formed to help the local Humane Society located in Lakeside.  The group met monthly at Pat’s Place Pizza, in central Show Low, had a dinner meeting with a speaker about animal related topics.  It was early days in animal rescue, and pets accepted were very limited due to limited funds, most of which came from yard and bake sales, and adoption fees.  Veterinary fees were a large expense, and the organization saved around 50-75 animals a year. 

In 2003 a dynamic and dedicated group of volunteers ran for office and were elected as a unified board.  The same year the organization changed its name to Pet Allies, Inc. and began an aggressive spay and neuter program.  Grants were obtained, and a thrift store, the Barkin’ Basement Thrift Store, opened and began bringing in regular year-round income.  The organization saved around 150 animals a year, but spayed and neutered close to 1,000 each year.

The passion for spay/neuter as the way to prevent needless deaths of animals at local shelters that were over-whelmed with incoming pets, was a driving force, and in 2007 Pet Allies moved its thrift store to 4050 S. White Mountain Road.  After another year, the tenant in the clinic building relocated and the clinic building was remodeled, with the help of a generous grant, and the clinic began operating.  Costs to spay/neuter pets were greatly reduced by managing services at its own clinic rather than payment for outside services for spay/neuter and medical needs for foster pets.

In October of 2012 Pet Allies began working with the City of Show Low to operate its Animal Control Shelter, located at 1181 E Thornton Road, Show Low.  At that time the shelter struggled with issues typical of an animal control shelter and the euthanasia rate at the shelter was 90%.  Pet Allies was challenged to begin operating the shelter and save lives.  The shelter now operates at a 96% save rate, effectively a no kill shelter. 

The clinic began offering wellness services, vaccines, minor surgery, & dental cleaning as a way to provide services to help low-income families get medical care for their pets, and to provide a modest income to offset the subsidized fees charged for spay and neuter.  Eventually the clinic began to help people with services for their pets when those families had little funds to cover fees of any kind.  These services are very limited. 

Pet Allies’ shelter takes in all the strays from the City of Show Low, attempts to help all owners who live within the City of Show Low wishing to surrender a pet, and reaches out to other communities as space allows.  A waiting list is maintained for the shelter, which takes in an average of 1,000 pets each year. 

Volunteers are key to Pet Allies’ ability to offer the many services and programs to the community.  Although the thrift store closed in 2020 & there was no longer a need for volunteers to staff the store, the shelter and clinic are always in need of volunteers.  Many times volunteers are also needed at community events. 

In February of 2021 the new shelter was constructed, and the animals, clinic & administrative offices are now all located at 1321 N 16th Street, Show Low, which is owned by Pet Allies.