What do nearly 15,000 pounds of recyclable cans and bottles have to do with pets at Pima Animal Care Center? That’s the approximate weight of all the recyclables collected, cleaned, and sold by PACC volunteers and Friends of PACC donors Jo Namsick, Cathy Surnam, Jenny Perry, and Ann Watson. And every penny earned has gone back to helping pets at the shelter since the program started in 2015.  

As of today, they have donated over $14,600 to PACC and Friends of PACC through their Cans for Canines and Felines recycling project. Their donations have benefited all the major projects at Friends of PACC including medical needs, Keeping Families Together, Mature Mutts, Mission PAWSible, and TOP Dogs.  

Origins of the Project

Jo and Cathy first started volunteering in 2013 to walk, socialize, and love on the dogs at PACC. When asked how they started the recycling program, Jo says that “in October of 2015, Cathy and I impulsively started picking up trash strewn around Columbus Park while we were walking dogs who were kennel mates.  We tossed the garbage into the trash cans provided and kept the aluminum cans to cash in at Recyco, Inc. About five week later we had accumulated about $40.00.” This first $40 was donated to the community pantry program at her church.  

When Jo and Cathy found out about PACC’s need for funding special medical treatments the two of them decided to expand the project. “We began spreading the word to other volunteers, staff, and neighbors. They started collecting and bringing in their recyclables,” says Cathy. In the first three years of the program the duo raised over $5,000 for PACC pets with medical needs and their efforts have only grown from there.

Project volunteer, Jenny Perry also shared how she became a PACC volunteer and jumped on board with the recycling project: “I have two rescue dogs myself and through many visits to PACC to find them, I saw the same helpful volunteers there every visit. It was talking to them that opened my eyes to how important volunteers are, so I decided to become a volunteer myself. I met Cathy and Jo, learned about the Cans for Canines and Felines recycling project, and just knew that would be a place where I could make an impact. We all use recyclables […] and so I thought what an easy way to make a positive difference for animals...just ask friends and neighbors to drop off or call me to pick up! I can't always be at the PACC facility, so being able to volunteer with this program is perfect for me.” 

The shelter is always looking for new volunteers! Click here to learn more about the volunteer programs offered at PACC. 

“Not only is this project helping pets at Pima Animal Care Center, but it’s keeping perfectly recyclable materials out of the landfill. It’s a win-win for pets, people, and the planet,” says Torre Chisholm, Development Director for Friends of PACC.  

For the Love of Pets 

When asked what inspires their efforts, both refer to the one-to-one time they get to spend with shelter dogs. “Just look at their [the dogs’] faces. You want to make their time at PACC as comfortable and happy as possible,” says Cathy. And Jo’s focus is the big dogs in need of behavioral support: “My main inspiration to help pets was, and still is, to help make them more adoptable and prevent behavioral issues from getting in the way of them finding a new home.” 

Jo and her partner Bob even found a partner for life in Orion, a dog they met and adopted from PACC in 2014. “Orion is a devoted (and very spoiled) companion and family member. He is the very definition of patience, serenity, and loyalty,” says Jo. “I am also endlessly inspired by the pets who come through some traumatic situation and demonstrate a huge capacity for accepting and handling adversity with grace and without complaint.” 

How to Help 

Anyone can donate specific recyclables to the program by dropping cleaned, sorted, and bagged items off at Pima Animal Care Center (4000 N. Silverbell Rd.) during shelter hours (M-F 12-7 and Sat-Sun 10-5).

Only aluminum beverage cans, aluminum cat food cans, and #1 PET plastic bottles are accepted.

Important Notes:

• Please clean, sort, and bag all of your items.

• Aluminum beverage cans bring in the most funds and the project does NOT accept glass, steel, or tin.

• Please wash out cat food cans, and if possible, remove the cat food labels.

• Labels must be kept on the #1 PET plastic bottles.