Arizona Pet Project Awarded $150K Grant from The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation to Support for Veterans

The Arizona Pet Project is honored to announce a $150,000 grant from the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation to support and expand its services through partner organizations, including those focused on veterans with pets. Dedicated to keeping pets with the people who love them most during times of crisis, The Arizona Pet Project provides critical services and resources to vulnerable community members.
The unrestricted funds from the Foundation will bolster The Arizona Pet Project’s ability to meet the growing demand for pet-inclusive support services across the state. As housing insecurity and homelessness continue to rise, many individuals, including veterans, face the heartbreaking choice between accessing essential human services and caring for their beloved animal companions. The Arizona Pet Project’s model works to eliminate that choice by ensuring both people and their pets receive the care and resources they need.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation for their generosity,” said Leanna Taylor, CEO of The Arizona Pet Project. “Funds like these really help us move the needle. They give us the flexibility to respond immediately to urgent needs — whether that’s vet care, pet food, temporary boarding, rent and utility assistance, or helping a veteran access medical, mental health, and substance use treatment or housing services without sacrificing their bond with their service, emotional support, or companion animals. As the need for our services continues to rise, this grant ensures we can continue our partnerships with organizations like U.S. Vets, strengthening the safety net for veterans in crisis.”
The Arizona Pet Project collaborates closely with a diverse range of social service and veteran support organizations to remove barriers to care for individuals and their pets in crisis. Through key partnerships with UMOM New Day Centers, Central Arizona Shelter Services, Keys to Change in the Valley and in Tucson, Primavera and STAR Village — the organization provides services including emergency veterinary care, pet food and supplies, support meeting housing requirements (such as vaccines and licensing), temporary boarding, and more — all aimed at keeping families together
Veterans, who often rely on the companionship of their pets for therapeutic assistance, emotional support, and companionship, are among the populations served. The Arizona Pet Project bridges a vital gap by providing case management, veterinary care, pet-related financial assistance, and rapid support that allows veterans to meet shelter and housing requirements—services that have directly prevented delays in safety and stability. Most notably, The Arizona Pet Project covered more than $40,000 in emergency pet fees over the past year, allowing U.S.Vets to continue accepting veterans with emotional support animals while their shelter underwent emergency renovations. Their combined efforts provided safe shelter for 15-20 veterans with animals daily.
For more information about The Arizona Pet Project and its work to support Arizona’s most vulnerable pet families, visit azpetproject.org.