Companion Animal Rescue Effort (CARE)
If you need assistance urgently, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visit DomesticShelters.org, or access the resources below for help.
The CARE program requires that individuals receiving services are trying to reach safety from a domestic violence situation and have a victim’s advocate.
Through an advocate, CARE can provide financial assistance through mini grants covering expenses for core vaccinations, emergency veterinary care, and temporary safe boarding for 30 days for up to four companion animals for people escaping domestic violence.
Advocates may apply for companion animal boarding and veterinary mini grants on behalf of their clients here.
Domestic violence survivor potential grantees may complete waiver and release here.
For additional resources, please click here.
All applications are handled on a case-by-case basis. If you have any questions, concerns, or special circumstances you’d like to discuss, please don’t hesitate to call our helpline at (505) 533-CARE (2273).
The CARE helpline is available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. The helpline is unavailable on weekends or federal holidays. The CARE helpline is also closed from December 26th through December 31st.
All CARE activities are funded by CYFD unless otherwise noted.
Eligibility requirements for potential grantees:
- Must be living in the state of New Mexico.
- Must be seeking safer housing due to domestic violence.
- Must be working with a domestic violence shelter or other advocacy provider; advocate must complete application form.
- Must provide advocate with contact information and companion animal information.
- Animals must be at least 4 months of age to be eligible for boarding.
- Must authorize a release of information agreement between the shelter/advocacy agency and the CARE program.
- Must be willing to provide proof of sterilization or agree to spay/neuter procedure for their companion animal(s); financial assistance available.
- Must sign the completed application.
Client advocate responsibilities:
- Must complete and sign application with advocate info, grantee info, and waiver.
- Must help arrange boarding and/or veterinary services (CARE staff can provide a list of facilities in your area if needed.)
- Must obtain permission from the grantee to release information to the CARE program. The release of information agreement must cover the grantee’s entire time of receiving advocacy services. The CARE program must be able to be told if the grantee is still receiving advocacy services.
- Must provide updates on the grantee’s situation if requested by the CARE program.
What the CARE program can and cannot provide for grantees:
- The CARE program can cover the cost of boarding for up to 4 animals for an emergency 21-day period.
- The CARE program will cover the cost of some types of veterinary care, including vaccinations required to enter boarding, spay/neuter procedures, microchipping, and wellness exams. Other medical expenses may be covered on a case-by-case basis. The CARE program cannot pay for treatment for ongoing conditions (such as treatment for diabetes, or chemotherapy.)
Advocates, once your care application has been approved, please also consider beginning an application for Red Rover safe housing grants to cover boarding expenses beyond the 21-day emergency period the CARE program provides. (MOVED)
Additional Resources and Information
- For residents of the City of Albuquerque, you can call 505-768-2000 and let the operator know you need to speak to an Animal Welfare Department kennel supervisor to inquire about a protective custody hold for your animals.
- For residents of Bernalillo County outside of Albuquerque, you can contact call 505-314-0281 and Press 1 for emergencies, or ask the operator for “enforcement,” to inquire about a protective custody hold for your animals.
- For those outside Bernalillo County, here are some New Mexico domestic violence shelters that offer companion animal options that you can inquire about:
Resources for Victims of Domestic Violence in New Mexico
APNM’s CARE Program: If you need help call the CARE Helpline at (505) 533-CARE or (505) 533-2273 or email care@apnm.org.
Children, Youth & Families Department – Domestic Violence Resources: 1-800-797-3260
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224
New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence | Provider Map
Domestic Violence Resource Center
Crime Victims Reparation Commission
Community Against Violence, Inc. (Taos area)
24/7 Hotline: 575-758-9888
COPE (Alamogordo area)
24/7 Hotline: 575-437-2673
Family Crisis Center, Inc. (Farmington area)
24/7 Hotline: 505-564-9192
Grammy’s House (Artesia area)
24/7 Hotline: 575-365-5144
Hartley House (Clovis area)
24/7 Hotline: 575-769-0305
Haven House (Rio Rancho area)
24/7 Hotline: 800-526-7157
HEAL and The Nest Domestic Violence Shelter (Ruidoso area)
24/7 Hotline: 866-378-6378
Navajo United Methodist Center New Beginnings Program (Farmington area)
24/7 Hotline: 505-325-7578
Roberta’s Place, Inc. (Grants area)
24/7 Hotline: 505-287-7724
The Roswell Refuge (Roswell area)
24/7 Hotline: 575-627-8361
Other Resources
- RedRover Relief: assistance for domestic violence victims seeking safety with their pets.
- How to create an Emergency Kit for your animals.
Pet-Friendly Hotels
Questions? Please contact us!
Helpline: (505) 533-CARE (2273)
Email: CARE@apnm.org
Your support drives our ability to accomplish great things! As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, we depend on the donations from you and others who strive for the humane treatment of all living things.
We would love to hear from you. Please reach out to us and let us know how we can help you. We love to hear new ideas about how we can help New Mexico’s animals and be better advocates for them.
Co-Sheltering – CARE is encouraging new or existing domestic violence shelters in New Mexico to welcome animals, along with their human family members, into their environments through education on the benefits and feasibility of establishing and enhancing co-sheltering programs. Call us at 505-803-0754 to learn more.
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