Animal Welfare

Thanks to a bequest from the estate of Carla Freeman, the Santa Fe Community Foundation established the Animal Welfare Fund in 2020 to address animal welfare-related needs existing in the community. Grants support organizations providing services and/or advocacy to protect both domestic and wild animals in Santa Fe, Mora, Rio Arriba, and/or San Miguel counties.

We invited requests that work to improve:

• Population control • Free or low-cost spay/neuter clinics • Trap/neuter/release programs • Transportation for stray dogs/cats from overcrowded shelters to areas where they are more likely to be adopted • Reduction of the use of euthanasia as a form of population control

• Cruelty prevention • Humane education/public information • Rescue/adoption programs • Support for local and/or statewide trapping ban

• Wellbeing • Training/socializing animals with goal of re-homing • Providing emergency and preventive care • Providing food and other supplies for pets of low-income owners

• Reintroduction/conservation of native

New Mexico species

Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc.

Albuquerque | apnm.org

Mission | To advocate for the rights of animals by effecting systemic change, resulting in the humane treatment of all animals. We create policies, infrastructure, and services that protect animals and strengthen our communities. We design and implement humane, pragmatic solutions to seemingly intractable problems involving animals. Our vision is to make humane the new normal in New Mexico. Proposal | Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM) advocates for pro-animal policies and provides comprehensive services to ensure companion animals, equines, captive chimpanzees, and wildlife are treated with compassion and respect. APNM seeks support for our extensive animal protection programs, including teaching people of all ages empathy and compassion for animals; addressing root causes of a variety of harms to animals; protecting wildlife from inhumane treatment; and establishing state and local infrastructure that protects animals. Noteworthy | Each year, over 100,000 lost and abandoned dogs and cats are taken in by animal shelters in New Mexico. More than 20% are euthanized. APNM addresses complex issues that lead so many companion animals to be abandoned. We led the effort to establish a funding stream for spay/ neuter services statewide, publish a directory of free/low-cost spay/neuter programs, help communities organize and fund spay/neuter clinics, and facilitate a network of safe havens for animals of domestic violence survivors.

Athena Fund

Mission | The Athena Fund assists individuals of low or moderate income with veterinary expenses related to cancer care for their pet including chemotherapy, radiation treatment, pain management, and supportive care. Proposal | Funds will support animal medical care and services for low to moderate income individuals' pets. Noteworthy | Approximately eight million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately four million are dogs and over three million are cats. Each year, approximately three million animals are euthanized (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals).

Española Valley Humane Society

Española | espanolahumane.org

Mission | To reduce animal suffering in underserved communities. We address the issue by providing free services, admitting more than 3,500 animals each year at the shelter, and providing more than 6,000 spay/neuter surgeries at the clinic. Proposal | Española Humane's public clinic reduces animal overpopulation through free spay/neuter surgery for owned pets in our region. Pandemic restrictions in 2020 and in 2021 severely limited hours and service, which left many animals unaltered and with few alternatives for pet guardians. We seek funding to provide 120 spay/neuter surgeries, at an average cost of $125, which includes vaccinations. Noteworthy | The population of Española is around 10,000 and in 2019 we admitted more than 3,500 animals. By comparison, a nearby shelter in a city of 75,000 took in 5,000 animals that year. Our goal is to alter 80 percent of pets in Rio Arriba and northern Santa Fe counties. We believe if we provide 5,000 free spay/neuter surgeries per year over the next five years we can achieve our goal. Ten years ago, we took in 5,000 animals annually, so statistically, we are making progress.

Felines & Friends New Mexico

Santa Fe | fandfnm.org

Mission | To promote kind and humane treatment of all animals. To promote understanding of ownership and care of animals. To promote early spay/neuter of all animals in an effort to reduce the number of unwanted animals euthanized in shelters. To educate the public on the health and safety benefits of early spay/neuter. To provide low/no cost spay/ neuter of cats and dogs. To facilitate T/N/R for members of the community are feeding stray cats. To promote the concept that everyone can make a difference. Proposal | We seek funding to help with vet bills. As a "second chance" organization, we provide extraordinary care in order to prepare cats for permanent homes. Procedures include amputations, eye care, I-131 for thyroid conditions and treating diabetes. Noteworthy | In the last 12 months, Felines & Friends has rescued close to 100 kittens facing euthanasia at shelters in southern New Mexico. None of these kittens were provided with any vet care prior to arrival and many had upper respiratory infections and/or ringworm. We also take kittens born to feral mothers here in Santa Fe and socialize them. The mothers are spayed and provided with necessary vet care prior to being returned to their caretakers.

The Horse Shelter

Santa Fe | thehorseshelter.org

Mission | The Horse Shelter serves as a sanctuary for New Mexico’s abandoned, abused, and neglected horses. Rescued horses will be rehabilitated and adopted out whenever possible to environments that support their well-being and future long-term care. Proposal | We are requesting support for our Volunteer and Groundwork Training program. This program helps educate volunteers and adopters on horse handling and in the process also helps our 75 rescue horses receive continued socialization, handling, and groundwork training. Our volunteer program has grown to average 450 to 700+ hours (depending on season) per month and has shown tremendous success helping our horses advance in training and become easier and more desirable to adopt. Noteworthy | There are approximately 60–70 horses annually that the NM Livestock Board finds running estray, or seizes on cruelty charges that need to find placement in rescues. The Horse Shelter takes an average of 25 of these horses in and there are also many owners in hardship that need help placing their horses. Many of these horses have never been handled by humans and need socialization, as well as basic handling and groundwork training before they can be considered to be safe around humans.

Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary

Santa Fe | kindredspiritsnm.org

Mission | To provide end of life and hospice care for older, unwanted dogs, horses, and poultry in a peaceful and serene sanctuary and small organic farm setting. By providing an inthe-home model of high standards of care for senior animals, Kindred Spirits seeks to be a change agent that models and inspires pet owners to keep their old animals in their home. Proposal | We seek funding for food, veterinary care, staffing, and overhead expenses. Our animals live in a nontoxic, sustainable, and family-style living environment without cages but with good fences, allowing them to develop a community of their own kind and socialize. Noteworthy | We operate with a limit of 20–24 senior dogs, three senior horses, and a variety of 60 poultry staffed by Ulla Pedersen, RN, founder and director since 2002, six part-time employees, and 18 trained volunteers. Concepts of eldercare/ hospice are relatively new as applied to companion and domestic animals. Of the 65,000 animals euthanized each year in New Mexico, older, disabled dogs are the first to go.

Max and Tucker Canine Welfare Fund

Mission | Established by a single donor, the Max and Tucker Canine Welfare Fund assists individuals of low or moderate income over age 60 with veterinarian expenses for their companion dog. Proposal | Funds will support treatment for a curable condition for seniors' pets. Noteworthy | Seniors who own a dog spend an average of 22 more minutes per day staying active, a new study has found, and take an additional 2,760 steps per day (globalnews.ca).

New Mexico Wildlife Center

Española | newmexicowildlifecenter.org

Mission | Connecting people and wildlife for an abundant tomorrow. Proposal | New Mexico Wildlife Center (NMWC) is requesting help with general operating expenses associated with our wildlife hospital and education programs. NMWC functions as the premiere destination for wildlife education and rehabilitation in New Mexico. Each year, our education programs reach 10,000 people, while our wildlife hospital treats 1,000 wild animals. Our education is focused on increasing knowledge towards reducing human-wildlife conflict and developing a sense of compassion for wildlife. Noteworthy | In 2020, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish published a report listing 116 New Mexico species that are classified as threatened or endangered. This report lists habitat loss and fragmentation, vehicular collisions, pesticides, poaching, and numerous other anthropogenic causes as main threats to many of these species. Many of these threats are preventable with public education, awareness, and support.

Northern New Mexico Street Homeless Animal Project Inc.

Santa Fe | nmshap.org

Mission | To alleviate suffering of all companion animals living as family with New Mexico’s homeless community. Since 1998, we have assisted with veterinary care (both preventative and emergency), food, and other essential supplies for these beloved companions. We strive to keep these companion animals healthy, fed, and together with their loving homeless families — no matter what life situation landed them on the street. Proposal | Your gifts help us assist the cherished companion animals of homeless citizens in northern New Mexico. People of all ages are found living on the street — their beloved animals help ease depression, loneliness, and give a sense of purpose. As the only non-profit providing this service in New Mexico, Street Homeless Animal Project (SHAP) is committed to facing this challenging community crisis. A truly unique, non-profit treasure in Santa Fe, SHAP does this life-sustaining work every day. Love has no address… Noteworthy | SHAP handles over 300 clients/calls for help each year. 25% of homeless persons have companion animals for protection, unconditional love, and to help overcome mental health disorders. 50% of our clients are youth under 21 on the street due to mental health issues, domestic violence, substance abuse, prejudice, and the economy. The COVID crisis has made it much worse for homeless or marginal people. Mental health issues remain rampant. Companion animals by their side helps them in many ways.

Pecos People for Animal Welfare Society

Santa Fe | pawsnm.org

Mission | To improve the health and wellbeing of pet dogs and cats by providing mobile, no-cost/low-cost spay and neuter services to underserved areas of San Miguel County and as a result, reduce the huge overpopulation of pets. Proposal | PAWS has an opportunity to make a huge impact on the reduction of pets for the Pueblos of San Felipe, Santa Domingo and Cochiti. Working with another nonprofit, Desert Paws, Inc., we will advertise four clinics for the three Pueblos, schedule the surgeries and accomplish approximately 120+ spays and neuters for Pueblo dogs and cats using the COVID-19 Delta variant protocols. The surgeries will cost about $83.33 per pet and will include a wellness check, needed vaccinations, and pain medications. Noteworthy | More than 100,000 dogs and cats enter New Mexico's animal shelters each year. Over 20,000 dogs and cats are euthanized due to an inadequate number of homes in which to place them.

Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society

Santa Fe | sfhumanesociety.org

Mission | Since 1939, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter has been dedicated to its mission: support animals, save lives, spread compassion. Proposal | The Santa Fe Animal Shelter requests funds to support our Behavior Program. This summer, we admitted a record-breaking number of homeless animals — all while dealing with major staffing and revenue shortages. These shortages compromise our ability to provide the kind of hands-on rehabilitative care that's needed by animals who have suffered from neglect and abuse. Your contribution will help give second chances to New Mexico's most vulnerable homeless animals. Noteworthy | Animals who experience neglect and abuse often develop unwanted behaviors that make them less likely to be adopted and more likely to be returned post-adoption. They also typically require twice as long of a shelter stay as those who do not need behavior work. At many shelters, these animals are often first in line for euthanasia. As a no-kill shelter, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter is committed to creating successful outcomes for hard-to-place animals, no matter how long it takes.

The Santa Fe Raptor Center

Santa Fe | santaferaptorcenter.org

Mission | The Santa Fe Raptor Center has a two-fold mission: to care for all, wild, orphaned and injured bird species in New Mexico, with the hope of releasing them back into the wild. The second half of our mission is education about wild birds, their habitat, and why we need them. This education is geared mostly towards children's programs. Proposal | We are seeking funds for our general operations. This includes the feeding and medical care of all birds that come to us, including our educational birds. Noteworthy | Studies show that we are losing birds in large numbers every decade. This is due to urban sprawl, lead poisoning, fracking, and climate change. Our work is necessary to help slow this unfortunate statistic down a bit. Through our rehabilitation efforts as well as our educational programs, we hope to make a difference that keeps on giving in the future.

Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary

Santa Fe | skymountainwild.org

Mission | Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary envisions a world in which all wildlife live free and thrive. The Sanctuary's mission is to create healthy ecosystems for wild horses and to provide sanctuary for vulnerable mustangs where they live free forever. Proposal | Sky Mountain Wild Horse Sanctuary seeks investment to sustain the freedom and health of wild horses on their home ranges while protecting the lives of vulnerable mustangs already removed from the range. Funding supports humane use of science and technology to sustain mustangs at numbers healthy for them, other wildlife, and range, and conserves sanctuary lands for the Sky Band of Mustangs who were at risk for abuse and slaughter, and for all wildlife that share the sanctuary. Noteworthy | Agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service round up over 10,000 wild horses from the range annually. BLM spends 50 million dollars per year warehousing wild horses at a cost of $46,000/mustang that lives and dies in holding facilities, freedom lost. In 2021 thus far, over 10,000 horses, including mustangs, have been shipped from our state to Mexico for slaughter.

WildEarth Guardians

Santa Fe | wildearthguardians.org

Mission | WildEarth Guardians protects and restores the wildlife, wild places, wild rivers, and health of the American West. We are working to end trapping, snaring, and poisoning of native species on public lands and to advance non-lethal management and an ethic of coexistence. Proposal | We seek funds to support our Ending the War on Wildlife Campaign, which is focused on reforming Wildlife Services — a federal program that inhumanely kills tens of thousands of native carnivores and other wildlife every year, primarily on public lands — and removing tools of cruelty. As part of that campaign, we are working to ensure that the legislative ban on traps, snares, and poisons on New Mexico’s public lands, enacted in April 2021, is properly implemented through rulemaking this fall. Noteworthy | Nearly 150,000 native animals have been killed by private trappers on New Mexico public lands since 2008, along with numerous companion animals. Guardians has partnered with allies to end trapping in New Mexico for over a decade and coordinated the Trap Free New Mexico Coalition's efforts to pass legislation banning the use of traps, snares, and poisons on New Mexico public lands last spring. Our next step is to ensure that the NM Dept of Game and Fish fully implements and enforces the ban.