Well, it’s finally fall and, if you’re like us, you’ve already got your sweater on, despite the fact that it’s still 100 degrees. Today we invite you to get cozy and settle into those autumnal vibes as we share the truly heartwarming story of Nick and his beloved dog Cleo.

Nick fondly remembers his mother’s loving advice from his youth: “You’ve got to slow down and smell the roses.” But that’s often easier said than done when life throws seemingly insurmountable challenges our way.

Nick is a disabled senior, currently battling a painful recovery from a head-on car collision, while experiencing homelessness in Tucson, Arizona. His 15-and-a-half-year-old chihuahua, Cleo, is his best friend and constant companion. Cleo was rescued from the streets of downtown Tucson and has lived with Nick for more than a decade. “Overall, being able to love and learn from Cleo has been the best 11 and a half years of my adult life,” says Nick. “From day one, she’s never been considered our pet. It didn’t take long. She became part of me. She stole my heart and set my soul on fire.”

Nick and Cleo share healthy meals and spend every moment of the day together, even on job sites. Cleo loves taking walks every day at the park. After Nick’s head-on collision, “Cleo was the best therapy,” says Nick. She is ESA (emotional support animal) certified and provides Nick with the love, support, and companionship needed to navigate life’s challenges.

According to Nick, Cleo is his reason for living.

Sadly, this summer, tragedy struck, as Cleo became lethargic, and it was clear she was suffering and struggling to get by. “Her whole body was sick,” explained Nick. When he attempted to get Cleo in to see the vet, the soonest appointment was a month out. Not only that, but Nick’s finances were also incredibly tight. Nick shared that he was “sweating bullets trying to get up cash” to help Cleo feel healthy again.

That’s when Nick connected with The Arizona Pet Project. With a few phone calls, we were able to get Cleo in to see a vet within two days. Chihuahuas are prone to secondary periodontal disease, and Nick learned that Cleo would need to have all her teeth pulled or she would likely not survive. “The day after surgery, she was a whole new dog,” Nick shared. “She even got to keep one tooth!”

Nick felt such a sense of relief that he didn’t need to worry about her anymore.

Since Nick’s car accident, “Cleo has been the best therapy. Even better than the pain medicine,” Nick says.

As Cleo has gotten older, she’s slowed down a bit, but she still likes her daily walks around the park. These walks are the best part of both their days. Cleo walks slowly and will often stop to admire a wildflower or a bird of paradise for a minute or two. “After all these years, Cleo was the one who finally taught me to slow down and smell the roses.” Nick’s mom must be smiling down upon them.

“If not for the help of the Arizona Pet Project, my time with Cleo would have been less. The support we received from The Arizona Pet Project is immeasurable. I don’t have the words to express the magnitude of gratitude that I have.”

Nick and Cleo’s story touched our hearts deeply, and we knew we needed to share with you the joy we feel in knowing they are happy, healthy, and best of all, together. But even better news – yes, we know, it’s hard to believe there is better news – they are one of many families your support impacted over the past year.

Over the last fiscal year, we supported 875 pets with medical care and housing assistance, and provided an additional 2,046 pet families with supplies and resources. That makes you a hero to over 2,921 pets last year!

And you provided thousands more with other services, like temporary boarding, food, supplies, case management, and shelter and housing support. You! You truly are our partner in saving lives through your support of families and pets in times of crisis. The critical work we do in our community simply would not be possible without you.

Thanks to you, our team is on the ground every day, working with families and helping them navigate the unique challenges they face as pet owners.

When you support The Arizona Pet Project, you extend a helping hand to a pet in need, just like Cleo, often saving the life of someone’s best friend and reason for living.

Will you make your most generous gift today to support even more people and pets in crisis? Together, we can keep even MORE pets and families together. And we can save even MORE lives.