With our annual Dog Days of Summer contest well underway, azf is proud to partner with the #LovePup Foundation, a local nonprofit that believes all dogs deserve the best possible home.
Founded by 104.7 KISS-FM radio host Johnjay Van Es and his wife, Blake Van Es, #LovePup first began in 2014 when the Van Es family had the life-changing experience of fostering a homeless chihuahua along the journey of finding the pup a forever family. It wasn’t long before the Van Es home was transformed into a full-on dog rescue center.
Since then, #LovePup has rescued, placed, rehabilitated and reunited over 1,000 dogs. The foundation’s programs focus on placement, shelter prevention and community partnerships with donations coming through generous individuals, corporations, merchandise sales and event fundraising.
The Van Es family, who have seven rescue dogs of their own, ensures that every pup is vaccinated, microchipped and spay/neutered before being matched with their forever family. #LovePup also microchips every dog that is adopted at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. In 2021, over 6,000 dogs received microchips before leaving the shelter.
Last year, #LovePup reached a major milestone by opening a brand new, purpose-built working shelter that was constructed almost entirely from in-kind donations.
The shelter has the capacity to accommodate about 20 dogs at a time, and features both outdoor and indoor play areas. It also serves as the home base for Johnjay’s “Hanging with his Dogs” segment and offers a comprehensive volunteer/junior volunteer program, training and enrichment for adoptive families and incoming dogs, as well as a spay/neuter clinic for all rescues to participate in each month.
Learn more at www.lovepupfoundation.org and click here to donate to #LovePup.
Don’t forget to vote for your favorite Dog Days of Summer pooch! Voting begins August 1, 2022 and runs until August 31, 2022.
