Giving stays local.
One tail at a time.
Based in Tucson but built for a global mission, the Scarritt Foundation is dedicated to supporting 501(c)(3) organizations that rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals, while also funding critical veterinary care for pets in families facing financial hardship.
What makes us different? Every dollar raised stays within the community where it was donated.
For example, donations from Pima County directly support Pima County rescues, while funds from other regions benefit their local communities.
Our foundation provides both financial assistance and advocacy to reduce animal homelessness and promote responsible pet ownership.
Each year, we carefully review grant applications and select projects to fund through our annual campaign. Our flagship event, the Fur Ball, takes place every October on the Saturday before Halloween.
As an all-volunteer organization with minimal overhead, 100% of proceeds go directly to funding that year’s chosen projects.
Together, we can make a lasting difference—one tail at a time.
How We Help
At Scarritt Foundation, we believe every animal deserves love, every person deserves dignity, and every act of care strengthens our community. We focus on three core pillars:
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Animal Companions of the Unhoused
Every day, the animals of the unhoused offer love, loyalty, and a sense of purpose to many people living on the streets. But when these animals fall ill or are injured, access to veterinary care is nearly impossible. Through our partnership with the Tucson Independent Veterinary Alliance (TIVA), we provide the essential medical supplies and equipment needed for volunteer veterinarians—retired, independent, and corporate—to offer free, life-saving veterinary care to these beloved companions.
This isn’t just a checkup—it’s a lifeline. These acts of compassion restore health, dignity, and a sense of worth to both pet and pet parent. For those experiencing homelessness, knowing their companion is healthy makes them feel a little more human, less alone, and a lot more hopeful. It’s about animals and people.
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Families Facing Financial Hardship
When a beloved pet becomes seriously ill or injured, the emotional toll can be unbearable—especially for families already struggling to make ends meet. In these moments, we offer grants through our partnership with the Tucson Independent Veterinary Alliance (TIVA) to fund critical, life-saving veterinary care, ensuring that every pet receives the treatment they deserve.
Each request is carefully evaluated by a panel of veterinary professionals for reimbursement to these clinics, ensuring that every procedure has an excellent prognosis and strong potential to heal.
For the families we support, this help isn’t just about covering costs—it’s about preserving the bond with a beloved companion. It’s the difference between heartbreak and hope for those families to stay together. One more wag of the tail, one more gentle purr, one more moment together.
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Local 501(c)(3) Rescue Organizations
Behind every wagging tail and hopeful pair of eyes is a rescue team fighting to save lives—quietly, tirelessly, and often without the resources they need. These unsung heroes step in when no one else will: pulling animals from cruelty, nursing them back from the brink, and placing them into the arms of families who will finally love them.
The Scarritt Foundation provides grants to local 501(c)(3) rescues so they can keep doing the work that matters most—paying vet bills, buying food, covering transport, and simply keeping their doors open. When we support them, we do more than save animals. We restore hope. We build community. And we honor the people who believe that every life—no matter how broken—is inherently valuable and worth saving.
What are the facts about animal homelessness (in Pima County, AZ and beyond)?
Overcrowded shelters
In April 2024, Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) was operating at 142% capacity, with 555 dogs in a space meant for far fewer. Without adopters and fosters, healthy, adoptable dogs face euthanasia.
Prevention over crisis
Groups like No Kill Pima County push for solutions that reduce shelter intake rather than just manage overcrowding.
Progress - but not enough
In 2008, PACC took in over 25,000 animals, and fewer than half survived. By 2018, intake dropped to 18,000, and the live release rate rose to 86.4%, but shelters are still overwhelmed.
Increased adoption rates
In 2022, Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) achieved a 64% adoption rate, significantly higher than the 39% average for comparable shelters nationwide.
The no-kill efforts
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) maintains a 90%+ live release rate, focusing on adoption, foster programs, and keeping pets with their families.
The work isn’t over
Despite improvements, thousands of animals still enter shelters every year, and more support is needed to keep pets safe, healthy, and in loving homes.
Don’t live in Pima County? Here’s a few stats from around the USA…
An estimated 6.3 million pets enter U.S. shelters every year—that’s 17,260 animals per day. (ASPCA)
About 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized annually in the U.S., with space being a major factor. (ASPCA)
Only 1 in 10 dogs born will find a permanent home. (HSUS)
25% of dogs in shelters are purebred, debunking the myth that only mixed breeds end up homeless. (HSUS)
Stray animals outnumber homeless people in the U.S. 5:1. (National Coalition for the Homeless)
80% of shelter animals enter due to human issues like moving, financial struggles, or lack of pet-friendly housing—not because of behavioral problems. (Best Friends Animal Society)
Fixing the problem starts with spay/neuter – A single unspayed dog and her puppies can produce 67,000 puppies in just six years.
Who do we support?
The Scarritt Foundation is always looking for organizations to support—ones with unique needs, fresh ideas, and deep expertise. We believe in building a community that’s as diverse as the causes we serve, welcoming members and uplifting leaders who bring a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
