As the COVID-19 pandemic has dragged on, veterinarians and pet owners say the emotional bond between people and their pets has had a significant positive influence on human mental health. But, while pets have provided valuable companionship during the lockdown, there’s been a big increase in pet adoptions, according to the Animal Policy Group, and also the workload for veterinary practices, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinarians like Drs. Sarah Bason and … [Read more...] about Pandemic Pets: How Animals, Owners, Vets are Managing
pandemic
Aerial Arts School Continues to Gain Momentum
There’s no doubt, a new generation of jumping, flipping, twirling athletes has been inspired by the Tokyo Olympics. And locally, Momentum Aerial offers a launching pad into graceful, thrilling movement with a recreational sport that requires a great deal of confidence in the forces of physics. Momentum Aerial is a school and manifestation of the collective dream of two Flagstaff women, housed in three warehouse bays and stretching across 5,400 square feet in east Flagstaff. It is here that … [Read more...] about Aerial Arts School Continues to Gain Momentum
Navajo Marine Leads COVID-19 Direct Relief Effort to Successful Completion
For Navajo Marine Colin Tsosie, helping lead the Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund’s Chinle distribution team was a way he could help protect his elders and those affected by the pandemic. Since April 2020, Tsosie and his staff of ten have been working long hours, organizing staging areas for food distributions, receiving and packaging food and cleaning supplies, and conducting up to four distributions in one day across the Central Agency region of the Navajo Nation. For all his … [Read more...] about Navajo Marine Leads COVID-19 Direct Relief Effort to Successful Completion
Rough Year for Pets, Too
It’s tricky enough to match up homeless pets with new owners, but the upheavals of 12 months of pandemic conditions have added to the challenges of animal adoption. In some cases, it also has added new difficulties to the world of pet ownership. Sudden changes for families facing unemployment and a loss of income because of the sweeping effects of COVID-19 have caused some to have to leave their homes because of evictions and foreclosures. The unexpected and unwelcome chaos has left … [Read more...] about Rough Year for Pets, Too
An Incredible Team Effort: Navajo-Hopi Relief Group Raises $18 Million in One Year
When Ethel Branch first launched a modest GoFundMe last March to help Navajo and Hopi elders and families withstand the impacts of COVID-19, she had no idea how quickly it would grow. One year later, the grassroots Navajo-Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund has received over 100,000 donations, gifts and grants totaling $18 million and has forged partnerships and mobilized hundreds of volunteers to deliver humanitarian relief to thousands in need. “The success of our fundraising campaign was … [Read more...] about An Incredible Team Effort: Navajo-Hopi Relief Group Raises $18 Million in One Year
The Shot Felt Round the World
Despite reporting its highest number of COVID-19 patients ever in the first week of the New Year, Northern Arizona Healthcare officials remain optimistic about battling the virus with the rollout of vaccines. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that Arizona is the No. 1 hotspot in the country, with a seven-day average of 121.8 new cases per 100,000 people. In early January, 80 COVID-positive patients were admitted at Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC); 30 … [Read more...] about The Shot Felt Round the World
Childhood Inequities, Neglect, Abuse Hidden in Pandemic
Virginia Watahomigie is worried about our families. As the executive director for the Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y), she knows that isolation, depression and anxiety – all conditions mental health experts say have been made worse by the pandemic – are increasingly having a negative effect on children in Arizona, particularly in rural areas where resources are less available than in larger cities and distances to travel for support are far greater. Watahomigie also is … [Read more...] about Childhood Inequities, Neglect, Abuse Hidden in Pandemic
Governor Ducey Shares Latest On COVID-19
Governor Doug Ducey today toured the vaccine distribution site at the Arizona State Fairgrounds and announced ten Arizona health care frontline workers who will be among the first Arizonans to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. After the tour, the Governor also announced the state is distributing $15 million in additional funding to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) for health emergency needs. The funding will be used to help replenish the public health emergency fund. “The … [Read more...] about Governor Ducey Shares Latest On COVID-19
Third COVID-19 Surge Stressing Healthcare Workers, Hospitals
As the number of COVID-19 patients rises in Northern and Central Arizona hospitals, Northern Arizona Healthcare officials say they are able to manage the situation for now, but that could change quickly. At the time of publication, Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) is treating 34 COVID-19 patients with 12 cases pending and hospital capacity, including critical care capacity around 60%. Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC) is reporting 22 COVID-19 patients, also with its capacity hovering at … [Read more...] about Third COVID-19 Surge Stressing Healthcare Workers, Hospitals
