The Espanola Valley Humane Society is committed to reporting its numbers to the community that it serves.
“We know that our goals can only be achieved in partnership with those who wish to provide the best for the homeless animals of Northern New Mexico,” Society Executive Director Bridget Lindquist said.
There were remarkable improvements in 2011 in spite of the fact that the number of animals surrendered to the society has remained astonishingly high.
Last year, 4,095 animals were taken in, which included over 100 animals from owners evacuated from their homes and later reunited. This is the fourth consecutive year that the total number of surrendered or abandoned animals from our community has not significantly decreased, which may be partially due to the economic downturn and the cost of owning a pet.
To combat the rising cost of living, the Society continues to offer a food-pantry-for-pets to help people keep their animals. The organization also offers a low cost vaccination clinic three mornings a week.
The great news about 2011 is the increase in positive outcomes for those 4,095 animals. While adoption numbers (1,508 animals) remained steady, transfers increased by 48 percent. The Society’s “Driving Doggies” program was life-saving for the 1,346 animals that were taken to Colorado where pet-overpopulation is not the problem that it is here in the Valley.
About 40 percent of the animals brought to the shelter were strays found by good Samaritans or animal control officers. Sadly, only 159 animals were reclaimed by their owners.
Shelter Manager Lisa Gipe said, “Pet owners need to remember to quickly check with us after their animal is lost. So many animals come to us and we know they must be owned, but they have no identification.”
The shelter also offers low-cost microchipping, which is a permanent identification to help reunite lost pets with their owners.
The remaining major outcome for homeless animals is humane euthanasia. The shelter in 2011 had to euthanize 981 animals. This is a 23 percent reduction from the previous year and the lowest number of animals euthanized in a single year since 1997. This achievement would be celebrated if it weren’t so tragic that these 981 creatures were not wanted by anyone. A large percentage of these animals were feral cats or dogs with severe/moderate behavioral issues.
Community Outreach Coordinator Nina Stively said, “Just because they cannot be easily adopted does not make them ‘throw away’ animals. These animals, as are all that come to the shelter, are a product of over-population and a society that gives them no value.”
To address the biggest challenge facing the shelter (over-population) the Society offers low-cost sterilization to the community’s pets. Not only were 1,396 animals sterilized prior to adoption, but also 1,884 privately-owned pets. A record-setting 3,280 sterilizations were completed by the Society in 2011.
Many free or reduced-price programs were offered, including Mission Meow for outdoor cats, Pit Fix for pit bull mixes, and the Otto Fund, that helps owners on disability or social security.
“In 2012 we hope to be very visible in our community promoting spay and neuter of all pets in Espanola.” said Gretchen Yost, shelter veterinarian. “With financial help for low income families, we hope that our community will rally and help tackle our pet overpopulation problem. Our first major promotion is ‘Beat the Heat’ which provides free spays for all female cats in February.”
Reflecting on the past year, Lindquist said, “I’m very proud of all the Humane Society accomplished in 2011. We were a refuge for hundreds of displaced dogs and cats during the gas outage in February, the Los Conchas fire in June, and the flooding of Santa Clara in August. We’re humbled by the extraordinary support from our surrounding communities, and we’re inspired to continue to do our best for the animals.”
To volunteer, donate needed items or money, contact the Shelter at 753-8662. They are located at the end of Hamm Road, just off lower San Pedro Road.