Arizona Small Dog Rescue — A Guide for Tucson Pet Owners

Arizona Small Dog Rescue (AZSDR) is one of Arizona’s most active and highly rated nonprofit dog rescues. Based in Phoenix, AZSDR focuses primarily on small breed dogs — Chihuahuas, terrier mixes, dachshunds, Maltese, Shih Tzus, and other toy and small breeds that are among the most frequently surrendered and euthanized in Arizona shelters. But despite the name, the organization accepts dogs of all sizes, because as they put it, “love comes in all sizes.”

While AZSDR’s shelter is in the Phoenix metro area, many Tucson-area dog owners adopt from them, foster for them, or follow their work because small breed rescue is underserved in southern Arizona. If you’re a Tucson pet owner looking for a small dog to adopt, interested in supporting breed-specific rescue, or caring for an aging small breed dog, this guide covers what AZSDR does, how to work with them from Tucson, and what small breed owners should know about the unique health and end-of-life considerations that come with toy and small dogs.

Organization Overview

Important note for Tucson readers: AZSDR is based in Phoenix, not Tucson. There is no Tucson storefront or adoption center. However, the organization serves the entire state, pulls dogs from shelters across Arizona, and places dogs with foster families and adopters statewide. If you’re specifically looking for Tucson-based shelters, our guides to Pima Animal Care Center and the Humane Society of Southern Arizona cover the two largest local options.

What AZSDR Does

Arizona Small Dog Rescue pulls dogs from overcrowded shelters, owner surrenders, and at-risk situations throughout Arizona and occasionally from out of state. While their focus is small breeds, they don’t turn away dogs based on size. In 2024 alone, the organization rescued over 1,100 dogs and spent more than $350,000 on veterinary care.

Here’s how their rescue process works:

• Intake and medical care. Every dog that enters AZSDR receives immediate medical attention, vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, and any treatments they need.
• Foster care program. AZSDR operates a robust foster network. Foster families provide temporary homes where dogs can decompress, heal, and socialize. Fosters receive all supplies and AZSDR covers all medical expenses.
• Adoption matching. The organization takes matching seriously. Adopters fill out a detailed application, and the team works to pair dogs with families based on lifestyle, household composition, and the dog’s individual needs.

How to Adopt From Tucson

If you’re in Tucson and interested in adopting from AZSDR, the process is straightforward:

1. Browse available dogs. Visit azsmalldog.org/adopt to see current dogs available for adoption.
2. Submit an application. Fill out the online adoption application. You don’t need to have a specific dog in mind.
3. Meet-and-greet. AZSDR will arrange a meet-and-greet. For Tucson residents, this may involve traveling to Phoenix or to a foster home closer to you.
4. Finalize adoption. If it’s a good match, you’ll complete the adoption paperwork and bring your new dog home.

Adoption events are held at PetSmart at 90th & Shea in Phoenix on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

How to Foster or Volunteer From Tucson

Because AZSDR is foster-based, they’re always looking for new foster families — and fosters don’t need to be in Phoenix.

• Fostering: You must be 18 or older. AZSDR provides food, supplies, and covers all medical costs. Apply through the foster page.
• Volunteering: Opportunities include adoption events, transporting dogs, fundraising, and facility maintenance. Apply through the volunteer page.
• Donating: Financial donations are tax-deductible. Donate online at azsmalldog.org. You can also become a “Paw Partner” through a recurring monthly donation.

Why Small Dog Rescue Matters

Small breed dogs face a unique set of challenges in the shelter system. They’re among the most popular pet dogs in America, which means they’re also among the most frequently overbred, impulse-purchased, and subsequently surrendered. Chihuahuas alone are one of the most euthanized breeds in Arizona shelters.

Small dogs also tend to be overlooked by general-population rescues that focus on larger, higher-profile breeds. Breed-specific and size-specific rescues like AZSDR fill that gap by providing specialized care, more thorough behavioral assessment, and adoption matching that accounts for the particular needs of small breeds.

Small Breed Longevity — What to Expect

One of the most remarkable things about small breed dogs is how long they live. While large and giant breeds often have lifespans of 7–10 years, many small breeds routinely live 12–16 years, and some reach 18–20. This is wonderful news for owners, but it also means that small breed owners are more likely to navigate the full arc of their dog’s aging process.

That extra longevity is a gift, but it also means that small breed owners often spend more years managing age-related conditions — dental disease, heart murmurs, vision and hearing loss, tracheal issues, and cognitive decline.

Common End-of-Life Conditions in Toy and Small Breeds

Small dogs don’t just live longer — they tend to develop a specific set of conditions as they age that are different from the cancers, hip dysplasia, and joint disease that dominate large breed end-of-life care:

• Congestive heart failure (CHF). Mitral valve disease is extremely common in small breeds, especially Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chihuahuas, dachshunds, and Miniature Poodles. Understanding how congestive heart failure progresses in dogs can help you know what to watch for.
• Dental disease. Small breeds are far more prone to severe periodontal disease. By the time a small dog reaches their teens, dental disease is often one of the primary quality-of-life factors.
• Tracheal collapse. Common in Yorkies, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas, and other toy breeds, causing a chronic honking cough that worsens with excitement, heat, or exertion.
• Luxating patella. Many small breeds are prone to kneecap dislocation, which can range from intermittent to chronic and painful.
• Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD). Because small dogs live longer, they’re more likely to develop cognitive dysfunction — the canine equivalent of dementia.
• Blindness and deafness. Age-related sensory loss is more common in small breeds that reach their mid-to-late teens.

When to Start Thinking About End-of-Life for a Small Dog

Because small dogs live so long, the transition from “healthy senior” to “declining geriatric” can happen gradually over years rather than months. Here are some signals that it’s time to start the conversation with your veterinarian:

• Your dog is no longer interested in food or has difficulty eating due to dental disease
• Coughing from tracheal collapse or heart disease is frequent and distressing
• Your dog seems confused, disoriented, or no longer recognizes familiar people or places
• Incontinence has become unmanageable despite treatment
• Your dog has stopped engaging with the activities or people they once enjoyed
• Pain management is no longer keeping your dog comfortable

Small dogs are resilient, and many of them maintain a good quality of life well into their late teens with proper care. But when the balance tips — when there are more bad days than good, or when the interventions that used to help no longer do — that’s when understanding your options for compassionate end-of-life care becomes important.

Tucson Vetcalls — Compassionate In-Home Veterinary Care

If your small breed dog is aging, managing a chronic condition, or approaching end of life, Tucson Vetcalls provides gentle, in-home veterinary care so your pet can be seen in the place they feel safest — at home, in your lap, without the stress of a clinic visit.

Dr. Maria Miller, DVM, offers quality-of-life assessments, pain management, and peaceful at-home euthanasia for dogs of all sizes. For small dogs especially — many of whom have spent their entire lives as close companions — being cared for at home can make the final chapter gentler for everyone. To learn more or schedule a visit, go to tucsonvetcalls.com or call (520) 243-9115.