SKY_SANCTUARY_AGREEMENT.PDF

Agreement between Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC) and Sky Sanctuary
This agreement is entered into by Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (hereinafter
referred to as "MCACC") and Sky Sanctuary. The purpose of this agreement is to outline the
terms under which Sky Sanctuary will implement its Sponsored Medical Program at the East
and West shelters, with the goal of reducing barriers to adoption and providing foster support
to dogs with certain medical conditions under the care of MCACC.
1. Program Purpose
The Sponsored Medical Program is designed to provide medical and foster support for long-
term or at-risk shelter dogs, ensuring they receive the necessary care to increase their chances
of adoption and long-term placement in permanent homes. The program aims to expedite the
adoption process by addressing the medical needs of the dogs while they remain under the
care of MCACC.
2. Dog Eligibility and Limitations
● Maximum Number of Dogs: The program will support no more than 35 dogs at any
given time. For this purpose, a mother and her puppies are considered one unit.
● Duration of Care: Ideally, dogs will remain in the program for no more than 90 days,
unless specific circumstances require an extended stay due to medical or behavioral
needs. Any extension beyond 90 days must be approved by MCACC Community
Engagement Manager, Evaluation, Enrichment & Learning Manager and the Chief
Animal Medical Officer or their designee and DDP, with considerations for special
cases.
● Approval Conditions: All dogs entering the program require approval from MCACC
Community Engagement Manager, Evaluation, Enrichment & Learning Manager and the
Chief Animal Medical Officer or its designee. Dogs eligible for the program include
those with the following medical conditions:
o Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)
o Skin Issues
o Ear Issues
o Valley Fever
o Entropion
o Mothers with Puppies

o Other Special Needs as deemed appropriate by Chief Animal Medical Officer or
their designee
3. Roles and Responsibilities
● MCACC retains full ownership of all dogs enrolled in the Sponsored Medical Program.
The dogs will remain under the authority of MCACC or their designee while they
participate in the program, and Sky Sanctuary acknowledges that all actions regarding
the dogs, including medical treatment and fostering, must be approved by MCACC
Community Engagement Manager, Evaluation, Enrichment & Learning Manager and the
Chief Animal Medical Officer or their designee.
● MCACC Process: The Alternative Placement team will track approvals from the
Evaluation, Enrichment & Learning Manager and the Chief Animal Medical Officer or
their designee using a shared spreadsheet. A note regarding Sky Sanctuary’s
sponsorship will be recorded in each dog's Chameleon record. Sky Sanctuary will meet
regularly with MCACC, according to a schedule defined by MCACC, to provide status
updates on the sponsored dogs.
● Sky Sanctuary is responsible for all financial and volunteer support for the care of the
sponsored dogs, including but not limited to off-site medical treatment, day fosters, and
both short-term and long-term fosters. All treatment will be funded by Sky Sanctuary
and carried out by volunteers and fosters registered with both MCACC and Sky
Sanctuary.
● All fosters that participate in this program must be approved MCACC fosters in good
standing.
4. Off-site Treatment and Foster Care
● Once a dog has been approved for sponsorship by both Medical and Behavior
management or their designees, Sky Sanctuary is permitted to facilitate off-site medical
treatment upon approval from MCACC from the Community Engagement Manager,
Evaluation, Enrichment & Learning Manager and the Chief Animal Medical Officer or
their designee. This includes transport for medical care, day foster or long-term
fostering. Sky Sanctuary agrees that MCACC will not be held accountable for the
outcomes of any medical treatment or foster placements.
● Euthanasia Decisions: Sky Sanctuary will notify MCACC of any recommended
euthanasia decisions and will await MCACC approval, unless the dog is deemed to be in
irremediable suffering by an off-site veterinarian. In such cases, immediate action may
be taken. Sky Sanctuary will promptly communicate the decision and provide
documentation to MCACC.

● The goal of these actions is to provide medical care and support that will enable these
dogs to be adopted more quickly, removing barriers that may otherwise prevent them
from finding homes or positive outcomes.
● If an animal needs to be returned to the shelter it is understood that MCACC may not be
able to continue medical treatments or perform diagnostics and in such cases, a
permanent outlet may need to be found for the animal.
5. Communication and Documentation
● Sky Sanctuary and MCACC will maintain clear and consistent communication
throughout the program. Timeliness of updates and documentation is critical, and Sky
Sanctuary agrees to provide regular reports on the status of sponsored dogs, including
medical treatments, foster placements, and progress toward adoption.
● Both parties commit to transparency and collaboration to ensure the success of the
program, with MCACC or their designee responsible for providing timely approvals and
Sky Sanctuary responsible for ensuring all documentation is submitted in a timely
manner.
6. Term and Termination
This agreement is effective upon execution and shall remain in effect unless terminated by
either party with written notice.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

CONTRACTOR: MARICOPA COUNTY
By: _________________________________ By: _______________________________
President/Director Chair, Board of Supervisors
Printed Name: Caitlin Harrell Printed Name: ______________________ Kate Brophy McGee
Date: 09/16/2026 Date: _____________________________
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ATTEST:
By: _________________________________ By: _______________________________
Deputy County Attorney Clerk of the Board
Printed Name: ________________________ Kim Miles Printed Name: ______________________ Juanita Garza
Date: _______________________________ 9/29/2026 Date: _____________________________