I’ve always been of the mindset that a house just isn’t a home without a dog. A logical person might think that’s a pretty dumb statement. Dogs certainly don’t add to your property value and I guess you could make an argument that they actually increase maintenance costs due to the things dogs tend to do. I’m thinking more with my gut than my brain, (both of which, coincidentally, are a little smaller these days)… or maybe with my heart.

Buster Prickett

When you first meet Valerie Cook, owner of VJ Ranch in New River, chances are she will be standing at the ranch gate surrounded by her pack of adoptable dogs. The VJ Ranch is a successful dog rescue operation―having found a “forever home” for 332 previously doomed dogs in 2011.

Valerie will likely be wearing her favorite T-shirt, the one encouraging pet owners to do the right thing and have pets spayed or neutered. According to the Arizona Humane Society, in Maricopa County alone, 94,889 animals entered the many animal shelters last year. Sadly, 48,567 of those animals were put down because
no “forever home” could be found.

“Everybody’s got us on speed dial, but nobody knows what we do,” said Barbara Ward Windgassen, founder and head of Anthem Pets, the non-profit advocate for fourlegged victims in our area. Indeed, many who lose or find a pet turn first to Anthem Pets to help reunite the animal to its owner or, barring that, find it a new home.

But many don’t know Anthem Pets emerged seven years ago when it lobbied hard for a piece of Anthem land to build a dog park. The Anthem Community Council sent the group packing, so it created its award-winning, eco-friendly dog park at Jackass Acres on the frontage road between Anthem and New River. The park now has more than 300 members.

Photos by Brad Wood

More than 50 animal rescue groups will set up shop at the Anthem Community Park under the umbrella of Phoenix Animal Care Coalition or PACC911. The goal to get as many animals adopted as possible. Last year’s extravaganza placed more than 170 pets in new homes.

The groups will bring purebred and mixed-breed dogs and puppies, cats and kittens, bunnies, guinea pigs, rats and even horses. All cats and dogs will be spayed/ neutered and up-to-date on vaccinations.

Team Anthem is organizing a bike ride in honor of fallen Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy William Coleman.

The 25-mile ride will start and end at Bicycle Vibe on Carefree Highway. The route will go through New River and Anthem, passing by the memorial site. The multi-sport club is teaming up with Bicycle Vibe and Hands Across Anthem to sponsor the ride. Twenty dollars per rider will benefit Deputy Coleman’s family (paid through Hands Across Anthem on the day of the ride).

The MCSO officer was killed Sunday, Jan. 8 in an early morning shooting in Anthem.

Coleman Memorial Ride
Sunday, Feb. 5
8 a.m.
Bicycle Vibe
2605 W. Carefree Hwy
bicyclevibe.com/for/Coleman

On Tuesdays from Feb. 7 through tax day, AARP will offer free IRS tax preparation from 9 a.m.– 2 p.m. at the Community Center in Anthem for basic personal filings.

Neighbors do not need to be AARP members to participate, however the service is intended primarily for low and moderate income families, with special
attention to those individuals 60 and older. For more info, 623 879-3011 or aztax-aide.org.

Smoothies offer a quick, delicious way to get “whole food” nutrition into our bodies before running out the door in the morning. Best of all, smoothies will not break the budget.

Teens can be heard collectively complaining that there’s nothing to do. But this local bunch is funneling its energy into an up-start team of junior riders with USA Cycling. Under the watchful eye of child psychologist and bicycling enthusiast Chris Wylie, this pack of more than 20 riders is training weekly. “Most importantly, the team is learning how to become leaders in our community,” said Wylie, who had incorporated community service into the training program.

“They all were certified to help out with the Special Olympics and volunteered in the local Veterans Day parade here in Anthem.”

Some of the members of Fly Jr. Cycling Development Team, from left, (front): Brandon McNulty, CJ Stone, Blake Heckathorn, Alex Terrell.
Back: Chris Magras, Taylor Skinner, Kenny Anderson, Chris Wylie (Director, Coach).

photo by Brad Wood

Fly Jr. Cycling Development Team
Info: 623-640-3133 or write to
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