Approximately 50 people gathered at 10:30 am on a blustery Cottonwood morning to celebrate the opening of our Adoption Park. This new amenity sits just to the right of the entrance to the main building.
It’s a 900+ square foot fenced area with shade trees, two large benches, a soft gravel surface, and a double dog-park gate.
Among the speakers were Mario Cifuentez, Cottonwood City Manager, Ann Shaw, Cottonwood Mayor, Robyn Prude-home Bower, Clarkdale Mayor, and Christian Oliva Del Rio, Greater Verde Chamber of Commerce President (shown)
Of special note and recognition were representatives from the two primary corporate sponsors, ACE Hardware and Smeltertown Brewery. Shown here with the dedication sign are Vanessa Zaske manager of the ACE Hardware store in Cottonwood and Allyn Bachas, manager of Smeltertown Brewery in Clarkdale.
Ranger, an adopted dog from VVHS and his master, Chris Dowell, helped pull the ribbon off the gate as the audience counted down from 5.
The Adoption Park is designed to give prospective adopters a chance to spend some quality time with a potential adoptee dog in a secure, outdoor, shaded area.
Thank you to all who attended and celebrated the ribbon cutting with us!
Meet Our Newest Board Members
Dannette Smith
Dannette is one of four new members of the VVHS board. She hails from Minnesota and acquired a significant amount of her professional experience in New York and Minneapolis. She received her B.A., cum laude, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.
Her impressive business resume was built over a legal career of 28 years, where she also served on numerous corporate, trust, charity and society boards of directors. She became a recognized and sought after as a highly strategic and inclusive expert in corporate governance, ESG, securities law, treasury support, corporate security and shareholder and stakeholder engagement.
Dannette retired in 2022 and moved to Cottonwood where she lives with her husband Darren and two dogs, dogs Zuku and Gypsy. Both are rescue dogs and Zuku came from our shelter!
As a lifelong animal lover and adopter, Dannette feels the need “to help our community’s most vulnerable dogs and cats who cannot advocate for themselves.” Her outside interests include hiking, travel and fishing. Welcome aboard Dannette!
Scott Schoeder
Scott is one of four new board members. He hails from northern California and took a BS in Business Admin, Finance and Economics from Cal State, Chico. He spent 10 years on Wall Street and another 20 years as the CFO of Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco.
He served on the Sedona-Oak Creek Airport Authority Board of Directors for eight years and has always advocated for animals who are helpless to control their situation. He believes that “it is up to those who love animals to improve their circumstances and is delighted to help VVHS provide the best opportunities for the animals in its care.”
In June, our volunteers collectively spent 1,205 hours serving the homeless animals in our community. Some walked dogs, some socialized cats, others did laundry and administrative tasks. Some volunteers bathed our dogs, not letting the Arizona heat stop them from making our dogs’ day a little brighter.
Our pups got cool baths, plenty of pampering, and now they’re looking (and smelling!) their absolute best. Clean, refreshed, shiny, and ready to impress anyone looking for their new best friend.
We truly couldn’t do what we do without our incredible volunteers. They always find a way to make sure our animals get the love, care, and enrichment they deserve, even when the weather has other plans.
This Saturday, July 18th, let your weekend plans come with a little extra pop… of paint & purpose!
When you purchase paint at Ace Hardware, you’re not just celebrating color, you’re helping give shelter pets a second chance at life. 10% of all paint sales (at no extra cost to you) are donated to Verde Valley Humane Society.
No plans to paint this month? No worries, this is an ongoing fundraiser that happens the third Saturday of every month!
Eat Panda Express, Support Verde Valley Humane Society!
On Friday, July 24th from 9 AM to 9:30 PM, 20% of your dining bill can be donated to Verde Valley Humane Society!
Enter 3860287 in the fundraiser code box on the app when ordering, or visit the location in person, download this coupon(opens in a new tab)(PDF) and show it to them as a print out or on your phone.
Date: Friday, July 24, 2026 Time: 9:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Location: Panda Express located at:
2160 AZ-89A Cottonwood AZ 86326
(928) 634 – 9906
Hey friends, it’s Cane! I’m still searching for my human, someone who can keep up with my love of walks, adventures, and making everyday life just a little more exciting!I’m also a world-class cuddle expert and a loyal sidekick. Once I decide you’re my person, don’t be alarmed if I become your biggest fan and follow you everywhere. Bathroom breaks? Yep. Laundry day? Count me in! I’ll happily supervise all your daily activities.
I’m looking for an active family that can match my happy, adventurous spirit and give me all the love I deserve. Got another canine pal at home? No worries, I’d love to meet them! I think we’d make the perfect team… don’t you? Come meet me and see if we’re a match. Cane is available for adoption or fostering.
9-quart stainless steel water buckets. These durable buckets are used every day to provide fresh food and water for the animals in our care, and we’re running low.
Liquid I.V. hydration powder to keep our staff and volunteers hydrated in this heat.
Gift cards to ACE Hardware, Walmart, Fry’s and Safeway so we can purchase yogurt regularly for our enrichment.
Muffin/cupcake dishwasher safe stainless steel baking tin (6-cup and 12-cup) for dog enrichment
If you’d like to help, you can send a bucket (or any other much-needed item) directly from our Amazon Wish List!
Tee Up for Tails! Join us for this year’s 4th Annual Golf Outing!
What’s better than a day on the golf course? A day on the course that helps homeless pets find loving homes!
Join us for the 4th Annual Verde Valley Humane Society Golf Outing and enjoy a fantastic day of golf while supporting animals in our community.
Sunday, October 18th, 2026 Sedona Golf Resort(opens in a new tab): 35 Ridge Trail Dr, Sedona, AZ 86351 Scramble Format 9AM Shotgun Start (Registration begins at 7:30AM)
Your $160 golfer registration includes: 18 holes of golf Cart rental Lunch provided Complimentary golf balls & tees A day of fun supporting shelter animals!
Whether you’re playing to win or just enjoying a day with friends, every swing helps provide care, shelter, and hope for pets waiting for their forever families. All proceeds benefit the animals at Verde Valley Humane Society.
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Sponsors help provide food, shelter, medical care, and second chances for pets waiting to find their forever families, all while showcasing your business to our amazing community of golfers and animal lovers. Find more information on sponsorship at the link below.
Sunday, October 18th, 2026
Scramble Format
9AM Shotgun Start (Registration begins at 7:30AM)
18 holes of golf
