Paws Without Borders is a 501 (c) (3) dog rescue based in Tucson, Arizona. We rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome abandoned, abused, and neglected dogs throughout the desert southwest and northern Mexico (Sonora). We are completely volunteer-based, which means that 100% of every donation goes straight into the care of our animals.
We believe in making the world a
better place one dog at a time.
PWB Cares
A dog shouldn't have to die just because it needs medical care.
Paws without Borders works with shelters and community members in California and Arizona to provide crucial medical attention to dogs in need. We also partner with Vidas Con Causa, our sister organization in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, to provide medical resources to the dogs in their care.
Compassion, collaboration, and practical action can change a dog's life trajectory, making a meaningful difference for both dogs and people.
Here are a few of the dogs that we have helped (some are still available for adoption!).
Honey
We pulled Honey from the Santa Cruz County Animal Care and Control in Nogales, Arizona, in the summer of 2025. Honey is one of those exuberant, always happy, loving pit bull mixes who has never met a stranger!
Late last summer, Honey started to exhibit vaginal bleeding even though she had been spayed. Concerned she had a UTI, we took her to the vet, who put her on a round of antibiotics, but the bleeding continued. During another vet visit, we learned that Honey had transmissible venereal tumors (TVT), which are essentially a highly transmissible form of cancer.
Fortunately, TVT is extremely treatable. Soon after we got the diagnosis, Honey began six long weeks of chemotherapy. Her loving foster traveled 3 hours each week for her treatments, and right before Thanksgiving, she was cleared of the infection!
Honey's medical treatment cost us about $1,000.
Honey is such a wonderful dog, and she is still waiting for her forever home. She loves, loves, loves small dogs, so if you have a small dog that's looking for a companion, please consider adding Honey to your life! You won't be disappointed!
Our Current Case
Jack
Jack came to us from a California shelter, and he has blossomed into a goofy, snuggly boy.
Jack just has one problem. It's kind of embarrassing. He's got an issue with his plumbing. He thought he'd be good at basketball, as he is a bit of a dribbler.
He needs surgery, or he faces a lifetime of wearing diapers. The surgery is going to cost us $4,000. You can help by donating to Paws without Borders.
Chappis
Chappis was found hobbling the streets of Hermosillo, Mexico, after being hit by a car. When our rescue partners at Vidas Con Causa discovered her, she had been dragging her injured leg behind her, still trying to move despite the terrible pain. For a dog her size, the injuries are devastating. The moment we saw her condition, we knew we had to help.
The damage to her leg was severe, and sadly, it could not be saved. While losing a leg is never easy, dogs are incredibly resilient, and three-legged pups often go on to live happy, active lives. We knew that's the life we wanted for her, and so we decided to go ahead with the amputation.
Her surgery was scheduled for the first week in March, and we used our savings to pay the bill. Donations towards her medical bills help us ensure we can cover the next emergency that crosses our path.
Because the surgery was done in Mexico, it was much less than the cost of doing it here. The surgery and follow-up care are expected to cost about $850.
Every bracelet we sell during March and April 20206 will go towards paying off this bill and replenishing our medical fund for the next emergency.
Rusty
Rusty's story could have ended in tragedy if Good Samaritans hadn't found him and Paws Without Borders hadn't intervened. But now this sweet boy is living his best life, with the very people who originally found him!
Late in November 2024, Rusty was found wandering in a very rural area of Arizona. He wouldn't let people get close but neighbors were putting out food and trying to lure him in as they could tell even from a distance that he needed help, and quickly. After a few weeks, Rusty's body gave out, and he collapsed in the front yard of two Samaritans.
He was a sweet boy, accepting their kindness, but they quickly realized the extent of his injuries were more than they were able to care for. They rushed him two hours to a veterinarian in Phoenix who noted that he would require extensive diagnostics and surgery. Unable to afford this, they surrendered him to Arizona Humane Society, who put out a plea for rescue help.
Paws Without Borders saw the post and reached out to better understanding the extent of the injuries and to see if we might be able to help. We put out a plea for fosters, and a miracle happened... the couple who originally found Rusty reached out and said that they would love to Foster him!
From there, the long process of diagnosing and treating Rusty's injuries began. We worked with several facilities in the Phoenix area where we learned that Rusty had been attacked with a crowbar and his eye was found deep in the crevice of his skull, requiring removal. His jaw bone was damaged and works need to be partially removed.
Rusty underwent this harrowing hours long surgery in January 2025 and within about a month he was fully recovered. It was then his fosters knew they couldn't possibly let the sweet boy go, and made him officially part of their forever family!
Rusty's journey cost Paws Without Borders about $13,000, and it was worth every penny!
Today Rusty is living his best life, spending time between Phoenix and a cabin in the Arizona mountains chasing squirrels and lounging in the sun.