McKinley County Initiative

Element 1: Transfer Project

Beginning in 2018, thanks to a transformative bequest from a McKinley County animal advocate, Valerie King, APNM began funding the Gallup McKinley County Humane Society to enhance the life-saving services its shelter provides for animals in McKinley County through its “Rez Pets Ride” transport program. It’s clear this gift will have an enduring and positive impact on animals in Gallup and surrounding communities.

Funding this important transfer effort — in which the shelter relocates thousands of adoptable dogs and cats each year to high-adoption shelters in Colorado and other states — enables the Gallup McKinley County Humane Society to make a dramatic increase in spending on spay/neuter. The shelter has succeeded in sterilizing more animals in the first six months of this year than in the whole of last year. The shelter has also been able to hire another part-time, high-volume, spay/neuter veterinarian and is making plans to bring mobile spay/neuter services to the Pine Hill-Ramah Navajo area and other underserved locations later this year.

Gallup McKinley County Humane Society: Annual Achievements

2018

• Animals transferred to other screened shelters: 3,952
• Spay/Neuters Performed: 2,491, an 82% increase compared to 1,371 performed in 2017, because of APNM’s financial support for the Transfer Project

2019

• Animals transferred to other screened shelters: 3,684
• Spay/Neuters Performed: 1,917, a 40% increase compared to 1,371 performed in 2017, because of APNM’s financial support for the Transfer Project

Communities from which animals served originated:
Gallup and McKinley County
Gamerco, NM (north of Gallup)
Pine Hill-Ramah Navajo, NM
Ramah, NM
Grants and Cibola County, NM
Zuni Indian Pueblo in Zuni, NM
Navajo Nation
Anywhere within 100 miles of Gallup (Pie Town, Fence Lake)

Element 2: Helping At-Risk Animals

Thanks to generous funding from an anonymous donor, beginning in December 2018 Animal Protection of New Mexico has been partnering with the McKinley County Humane Society to bring more relief to animals at risk in the region. The project is employing a combination of increased on-the-ground outreach to residents, supportive services for animals, and an awareness campaign encouraging people to “Be a Lifesaver” and call for help when they see an animal in need.

• This billboard, installed on Highway 491 between Gallup and Shiprock, is encouraging people to seek help for animals in need.
• An outreach team is distributing materials in neighborhoods to raise awareness of the needs of animals for food, water, weather-proof shelter, and positive interaction with people.

• When supplies are needed, doghouses and straw can be provided immediately, and spay/neuter services are scheduled at the Gallup animal shelter facility.
• A compelling video was produced and is being promoted on Facebook to encourage people to call the McKinley County Humane Society for help for an animal at risk.

• Vulnerable animals are already getting lifesaving help because of these efforts.