Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL), Arizona’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter, is thrilled to announce the 10,000th adoption at its Chandler Adoption Center, the Valley’s largest shopping-center based adoption storefront, located in Chandler Fashion Center. The Muniz Family, who adopted the 10,000th pet from the storefront, wanted their first puppy and chose to support a rescue instead of buying one from a breeder.

In 2012, AAWL’s Chandler Adoption Center replaced a retail pet store, where purebred and designer puppies were sold at exorbitant prices while their parents lived in puppy mills, often in terrible conditions. Since AAWL took over the location, dogs and cats rescued from the local community and the organization’s Rural Rescue partners have been provided with exceptional care by staff, volunteers, and the medical team, before being adopted into loving forever homes.

Over the past seven years, AAWL has rescued over 200 puppy mill survivors from across the country, requiring extensive medical and behavior rehabilitation paid for by AAWL’s Medical Miracle Fund. Even as recently as last month, AAWL rescued 30 dogs from commercial breeding facilities.

“This is a tremendous milestone for our organization,” said Judith Gardner, President and CEO of AAWL. “The Adoption Center at Chandler Mall has succeeded beyond our wildest expectations and accounts for more than one-third of our total adoptions. It proves that people will adopt rescued dogs and cats instead of supporting commercial breeders if you make it easy for them to do so.”

Like all animals adopted from the organization, these cats and dogs are spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and behaviorally and medically evaluated to give pets the best shot at life with their new family.

In addition to adoptions, the Chandler Adoption Center offers all the necessities for new pet owners to keep their new cat or dog happy, including veterinarian-recommended food and treats, trending toys, and fashionable finds from local partners. Proceeds from retail sales benefit AAWL.

Adoptions also occur at AAWL’s main campus at 25 N. 40th St., Phoenix, as well as select PetSmart locations around the Valley.

To learn more about AAWL, follow the shelter on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit http://www.aawl.org.