Animal homelessness is a community issue that requires collaborative community support. This Priority Placement Portal identifies shelter animals most in need of an immediate outlet.

This portal is designed to assist our most critical shelter animals in need with designated deadlines. The designations are Priority: Medical, Priority: Behavior, as well as NHO Priority: Behavior, and NHO Priority: Medical. NHO means "New Hope Only" and animals with this designation may only be transferred to a New Hope Partner. As we learn more about each animal, their designation may change.

Euthanasia is an unfortunate reality of animal welfare. There are many factors that go into making the difficult decision to place an animal on the Priority Placement Portal, whether it be for behavioral reasons or a medical condition. Every case involving behavioral concerns is thoroughly reviewed by a committee and all other options are explored before a euthanasia decision is made. The committee uses Bite Matrix, as well as a Medical/Behavior Matrix to assist them in these challenging decisions.

• If the adoptable animal is listed with a deadline, you must visit the MCACC shelter where the animal is located and complete the adoption on-site during normal business hours prior to the dog's deadline date.
• If an animal is listed as “New Hope Only” (NHO), that animal is only available to be transferred to one of our designated New Hope Partners.
• If you are not a New Hope Partner but still want to be part of the positive solution, please consider either volunteering, fostering, donating, or adopting any of the other hundreds of shelter animals in Maricopa County shelters