In 1988, Karen and Pat Martin were helping a friend find their lost Irish Setter. During that hunt, we came across an Irish Setter in the Maricopa County Dog Pound. He had been there several weeks and his owner had not claimed him. He was scheduled to be put down when Karen intervened and rescue him. That was the start of AZ Setter Rescue and for the next 26 years they found homes for Irish, English, Gordon Setters and Irish Red and White Setters.
Today they are home to a few of the last Setters they rescued in the program. With the popularity of animal rescue, the Martins felt their departure from rescue would leave not the animals in need without help.