Northern New Mexico Adoption Extravaganza Saturday, Oct. 1. Courtesy/SFAS
SFAS News:
SANTA FE — Two major animal welfare groups will join forces Saturday, Oct. 1, for an “adoption extravaganza” in hopes of finding families for dozens of homeless dogs and cats of all ages.
The Northern New Mexico Adoption Extravaganza features $25 adoption fees for all event pets from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter (SFAS) and Felines & Friends New Mexico 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 1, at Santa Fe Place Mall. The joint effort comes at a time when shelters and rescues have been at or near capacity for months.
“Our goal is simple: if we can all come and work together as one, we can find more homes for all these loving animals,” Jack Hagerman said, CEO of the Santa Fe animal shelter. “These are unprecedented times; at this point, we have more animals coming into our shelters than those being adopted.”
October is also Subaru Love Pets month, and Subaru of Santa Fe will be the Santa Fe Animal Shelter’s presenting sponsor and provide free giveaways.
“Like this summer’s rains, kitten season has been quite a monsoon this year, bringing us all hundreds of little ones in need of forever homes,” Bobbi Heller said, executive director of Felines & Friends New Mexico. “Events like this help adopters find their perfect matches. Fabulous foster parents have nurtured and socialized these kittens and will be on-hand to introduce them and answer questions.”
All adoptable animals will be spayed or neutered, microchipped, and have age-appropriate vaccinations. The $25 adoption special will only be valid at the event. Potential adopters may begin the adoption process now for Felines & Friends New Mexico on its website.
According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters annually. Nationwide, adoption numbers have been slowing and the numbers of animals remaining in shelters has been heart-breaking. The numbers are just as staggering in Northern New Mexico, with all organizations continuing to deal with overcrowding.
“We have so many animals growing up in the shelter when they should be in loving homes chasing toys,” Hagerman said.