Hawk Tuah Girl, known for her viral fame, made a heartfelt visit to a Maricopa County animal shelter in Phoenix, Arizona, to advocate for pet adoption and volunteer support. Her nonprofit, Hailey Welch’s Paws Across America, aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for homes for dogs in the area.
Key Takeaways
- Hawk Tuah Girl, also known as Hailey Welch, visited the Maricopa County Animal Care and Control shelter.
- The shelter is currently over capacity, with around 800 dogs needing homes.
- Welch’s visit aims to promote adoption and volunteer opportunities in the community.
Hawk Tuah Girl’s Rise to Fame
Hawk Tuah Girl, originally from Belfast, Tennessee, gained internet fame in June through a viral video on the Tim & Dee TV YouTube channel. During a street interview in Nashville, she humorously shared her thoughts on relationships, which quickly caught the attention of viewers.
Since then, Welch has transitioned from her job at a spring factory to a full-time influencer, creating merchandise and making public appearances, including a notable event at a Zach Bryan concert and throwing the first pitch for the New York Mets.
Must read- Hailey Welch: Hawk Tuah Girl’s Age, Net Worth, and TikTok Fame Explained
A Visit to the Shelter
During her visit to the Maricopa County shelter in Mesa, Welch donned a Wild West-themed shirt and engaged with the animals while discussing the shelter’s pressing needs with representatives from the Desert Dog Project. The shelter is currently facing a crisis, with a significant number of dogs requiring care and attention.
The representative from Desert Dog Project expressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “We have a serious crisis here in Arizona.”
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The Need for Adoption and Volunteer Support
According to Kim Powell, spokesperson for Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, the shelter finds homes for approximately 900 animals each month. However, as of the latest report, the shelter was about 150 dogs over capacity, highlighting the critical need for community involvement.
“People like Welch and our volunteers bring much-needed attention to the need for animal adoption,” Powell noted, emphasizing the importance of spreading awareness about the pets waiting for their forever homes.
Overcrowding Challenges
The shelter has seen a significant influx of pets, with nearly 2,000 new animals entering in August alone. While many pets find new homes, others are transferred to partner organizations or reunited with their owners. As of now, 263 animals from August are still looking for homes.
The overcrowding issue has worsened over the years, with the average daily inventory of animals rising from 503 in 2021 to 790 in 2024. Powell urged the community to take action, stating, “Pet homelessness is a community issue that requires collaborative community support.”
How You Can Help
To assist in alleviating the overcrowding crisis, the shelter encourages the following actions:
- Adopt: Consider bringing a pet into your home.
- Foster: Temporarily care for pets until they find permanent homes.
- Volunteer: Offer your time to help with shelter operations.
- Spay/Neuter: Help control the pet population by ensuring pets are spayed or neutered.
- ID Tags and Microchips: Ensure pets have proper identification to prevent them from becoming lost.
The upcoming “Empty the Shelters” adoption event, sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation, runs from October 1st to 15th, providing an excellent opportunity for the community to get involved and help find homes for these deserving animals.
Welch’s visit not only highlights the plight of pets in need but also serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to support local animal shelters and promote adoption.
Sources
- Hawk Tuah Girl stops by animal shelter in Phoenix with her nonprofit, The Arizona Republic.
