Phoenix Teenager Wins National Award for Work to Protect Vulnerable Dogs 

For Immediate Release:
October 3, 2024

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

— During the city’s hottest summer on record, 15-year-old Phoenix resident Jordan Sucato was distributing hundreds of dog boots to help unhoused individuals protect their animal companions’ sensitive paws from the scorching-hot pavement—and now, her hard work has earned her a Hero to Animals Award from peta2, part of PETA’s youth division.

Through Laws for Paws LLC, the nonprofit organization she founded, Sucato has already raised over $10,000 this year, helping to provide more than 750 pairs of protective boots and other supplies to animal companions in need throughout Phoenix, where asphalt temperatures can easily reach 140 degrees—hot enough to severely burn dogs’ delicate paws. Sucato, who grew up volunteering at local animal shelters and fostering animals, said she’s passionate about raising awareness of the needs of unhoused people’s animal companions, who “are often forgotten about.”

“These animals endure harsh temperatures almost every day. My goal is to provide them with comfort and relief in any way possible,” says Sucato. “I believe that all animals deserve equal consideration, regardless of how they’re housed, which is why speaking in behalf of all animals is so important.”

“Jordan Sucato’s mission to protect the most vulnerable dogs in her community is proof that today’s young people are passionate, informed, and driven to make the world a kinder place for all animals,” says peta2 Vice President Rachelle Owen. “peta2 salutes her for setting a shining example of compassion and is ready to support students across the U.S. who want to follow Sucato’s lead and make a difference for animals.”

peta2 notes that dogs are extremely vulnerable in the heat and that walking them on hot pavement can be dangerous. In addition to recommending boots for dogs, the group urges guardians to touch the pavement before walks to ensure that it won’t burn dogs’ foot pads, walk them during cooler parts of the day, walk only in the shade or on earth or grass, and limit the time they spend outside in hot weather as much as possible.

peta2—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers young people positive, empowering actions to help animals. For more information, please visit peta2.com or follow the group on TikTok or Instagram.