There’s no place like home for the holidays, but for hundreds of pets discovered abandoned in homes due to foreclosure throughout the Valley, there would be no place like a permanent home.

Patches (left) and Ellie are part of a family of eight kittens who ended up at the local pound when their owner died without plans for them. They are beautiful green-eyed Calicos that are fixed, tested, and have all their shots. Each of the eight kittens are seeking a loving home, as they love attention and petting.

Walk to Save Animals, a family and dog friendly event with 2K and 5K pet walks, dog agility demonstrations, dog training advice, pet photos with Santa, adoptable dogs, low-cost vaccine clinic, up-close interactions with exotic pets ambassadors for the Arizona Animal Welfare League & SPCA Education Department, will be presented by PETCO.

Sweet Coco, approximately 3 years old, is a gorgeous blue-eyed Siamese Lynxpoint mix. She is an affectionate lap kitty who would love to be queen of her own palace, but does get along with others.

The Labor Department announced that the jobless rate hit 7.8 percent in September, making it the first time since it has been below 8 percent in almost four years. While improving, that statistic still leaves a large number of people out of work.

Petco stores around the nation, including those throughout the East Valley, are hosting the 2nd Annual Adoption Reunion the weekend of Oct. 6-7 to help find loving homes for sheltered animals.

Sleek, shiny, soft and sweet Calvin is playful and would love to cuddle with someone with a gentle touch, as he can sometimes be reserved. He is 6 months old and is a well mannered little gentleman. Calvin would be fine as a solo kitty or in a home with other good cats.

Bengal is a green-eyed, brown tabby who looks a lot like a little Bengal, hence the name. She’s playful and affectionate. She’s a lap kitty, and would be fine solo or with another laid back cat. She is fixed, tested and has all her shots.

Like any true celebrity, Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier from “The Artist” and “Water for Elephants,” puts in his time on the treadmill.

Like any true celebrity, Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier from "The Artist" and "Water for Elephants," puts in his time on the treadmill.

For people interested in learning how to get into dog training, pet grooming or veterinary assistance, there is an online option that can fit around just about any schedule.

It’s that time of year and the kittens are overflowing again at Cactus Cats Rescue of Ahwatukee Foothills.

Baseball took hold of me early. It was the first game I followed intensely. I kept a scorebook of entire seasons, stayed up past bedtime for extra inning games with a radio in my bed for West Coast starts.

Polydactal means extra toes on each foot. Ernest Hemingway had a fondness for these cats, and had many at his Key West estate. Esme and Tipper would fit right in, but instead they seek homes here in Ahwatukee.

As part of Pet Cancer Awareness Month, Petco has teamed up with Blue Buffalo pet foods to help put a stop to this terrible disease during the company’s National Adoption Weekend, taking place at all Petco locations on May 12-13.

Lisa Anderson knew the people who lived in the house on the next street over had a lot of cats. But Anderson, along with other members of various pet rescue groups, had no idea the magnitude of the mess they would uncover as they began retrieving the Persian-breed cats from the home.

It’s a startling and sad fact that cancer will affect one out of every four dogs and of those, more than half will die from the disease. In fact, cancer is the No. 1 disease-related cause of death in both dogs and cats, according to Morris Animal Foundation, a world leader in advancing veterinary research.

It’s a startling and sad fact that cancer will affect one out of every four dogs and of those, more than half will die from the disease. In fact, cancer is the No. 1 disease-related cause of death in both dogs and cats, according to Morris Animal Foundation, a world leader in advancing veterinary research.

Ian is sweet and affectionate. He loves to be petted and is great at the groomers. Ian’s a gentle lap cat who gets along well with others. He is a 7-year-old, declawed Maine Coon who has been fixed and tested.

Ian is sweet and affectionate. He loves to be petted and is great at the groomers. Ian’s a gentle lap cat who gets along well with others. He is a 7-year-old, declawed Maine Coon who has been fixed and tested.

Sweet black and white cat Weskers seeks an all cat loving home. He’s a cuddler and talkative with people and other felines, is approximately 3 years old, fixed, tested and has all his shots. Come meet Weskers and other Cactus Cats Rescues from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at the Ahwatukee Foothills PETCO, 5011 E. Ray Road. Visit them online at petfinder.com/cactuscatsrescue.

One-year-old Stevie absolutely loves people, cats and even dogs. She is a sweet cuddler who likes to talk about her day with you when you come home. Stevie is fixed, tested and has all her shots.

Ahwatukee Park is going to the dogs this weekend for the sixth annual Ahwatukee Foothills Dog Show.

Ahwatukee Park is going to the dogs this weekend for the sixth annual Ahwatukee Foothills Dog Show.