TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — As part of Giving Tuesday, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona focused on the importance of spaying and neutering pets with its campaign "Giving Tattoos Day."
Supporters joined HSSA on Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, at two Tucson locations:
- Tucson Hop Shop (3–8 p.m.) – 3230 N. Dodge Blvd.
Enjoy a dog-themed celebration with adoptable dogs, temporary tattoos, and tattoo specials from Humble and Grand Tattoo Co. Tucson Hop Shop will donate a small percentage of sales during the event to HSSA. - JoJo's Restaurant (5–9 p.m.) – 76 W. Washington St., Downtown Tucson
Join us for a cat-themed celebration featuring information about our Community Cat services and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) efforts. Enjoy live music and receive a tattoo with every donation. JoJo's will donate 10% of sales during the event to HSSA.
The "Giving Tattoos Day" campaign adds a fun twist by highlighting the green tattoo pets receive after their spay/neuter surgery.
"A lot of people don't know, but pets, when they're altered, either spayed or neutered, get a small tattoo on their belly," said Jonathan Neuser, director of marketing and communications at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.
Spaying and neutering are vital for maintaining pet health and preventing overcrowded shelters.
"It can really help with preventing certain types of cancers, as well as helping curb behavioral issues," Neuser said.
With a campaign like "Giving Tattoos Day," Humble and Grand Tattoo Company owner Kevin Patrick said it made sense to get a tattoo shop involved in donating a portion of proceeds from the day.
"It's important for us because, being pet owners and animal lovers ourselves, I think it's huge to be a part of the community in other ways," Patrick said.
Tucson Hop Shop will also donate a percentage of their sales on Tuesday to HSSA.
"A lot of our customers are very pet-oriented — they bring dogs, cats, and even birds to join them when they have a drink. It's just a great local organization that does good work, and our customers love it," said Jessie Mance, co-owner of Tucson Hop Shop.
Last year, HSSA veterinarians performed over 7,000 spay and neuter surgeries, preventing countless litters and reducing shelter burdens.
On Tuesday, they surpassed their goal of $50,000 to fund a month's worth of spay/neuter surgeries (about 500 surgeries) or to provide care for 55 shelter pets, with an average cost of $910 per animal.
Donations on Tuesday's Giving Tattoos Day were triple-matched.
From 5 to 6 p.m., they hosted a Donation Power Hour, sponsored by Pima Federal Credit Union, which kickstarted the hour with a $2,500 donation.
During this time, HSSA's CEO, Dr. Kristin Barney, applied a temporary tattoo for every donation made.
"We are so grateful for everyone who called in or went to our website to give me 64 nice tattoos," Barney said. "It's so exciting to be part of this industry, part of Giving Tuesday, and part of this community that's so generous to support pets."
Supporters who donate any amount now through December will receive a custom temporary tattoo as a thank-you.
Donors can give online at GivingTattoosDay.org or call the hotline at (520) 734-2546.
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Maria Staubs joined KGUN 9 as a multimedia journalist and producer in July of 2024. Her passion for writing and storytelling stems from anchoring her middle school’s news show and editing her high school’s yearbook. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication with a minor in film and media production, as well as a master's degree in mass communication. You can email Maria at maria.staubs@kgun9.com or reach out to her on X/Twitter or Instagram.
