Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
Summer is tough on animal shelters with summer ending trips and back to school schedules. Did you know that animal shelters never completely accomplish their goal, even during a period of many adoptions, a surplus of furry friends. Santa Fe Animal Shelter is in need once again and while you may not be able to adopt, there are lots of ways to help.
Perhaps you could foster an animal, but there’s no extra money in the budget? No problem, New Hope will provide everything you need to accomplish the objective.
Here, the New Hope adoptions team lays out some of the assistance they provide to ease the idea of fostering.
Can’t afford to foster? We provide all the supplies you may need to foster a dog including food, bowls, toys, blankets, towels, medication (if needed), monthly heartworm preventative, dog crates, and pens. All you need to provide is your time and love.
Worried about working 8 hours a day? Our dogs spend 24 hours in their kennel 7 days a week. They would much rather be alone for 8 hours than 24 hours.
Live in a small space? Your quarters are bigger than most of our kennels and the only space they need is your lap.
Don’t you have a yard? Our dogs love leashed walks or playtime inside. Anything to give dogs or cats a break from the stressful kennel life increases their chances of adoption.
They have options for bottle feeding puppies and kittens that are too young to be outside yet. If you have the time, once again they provide all supplies.
Maybe you can make a different donation of time, supplies, or funds?
Dylan Moore, the Senior Director of Shelter Operations, has the job of navigating the day-to-day operations and the big picture of the shelter.
“Our population challenges persist in the post pandemic world. Three numbers tell us why 2025 is so hard,” Moore said. “Our average length of stay has increased from just over 15 days for dogs and just under 13 days for cats in 2019 to over 30 and almost 25, respectively. This means it is taking us on average double the time to find a placement for animals once they are in our care.”
That means their “carrying population,” or the number of animals directly receiving services, has also increased. In August alone, they had 363 animals receiving care. If they look back to the pre pandemic data, that number was 298. Currently 80% of their animals come from City or County Animal Services. That makes the adoption process more difficult.
“That means we tend to not have much history or background on the animals so planning their way out of the shelter is harder, and with a lack of information about what came before their arrival,” Moore said.
Volunteering to walk dogs, play with cats or take animals to one of their many adoption events are just some of the choices. You can learn more on the shelter website or call and talk to their volunteer team. To volunteer or learn about shelter information call 505.983.4309.
Additional ways to help include donating much needed towels, blankets, and toys. Items don’t have to be new, just clean. If items are coming from Los Alamos or White Rock, it can be delivered to the shelter for you, just call 505.695.9139 for a drop off.
Courtesy photo