Thanks to generous funding from the ASPCA®, in 2016 APNM began working with the Animal Welfare Coalition of Northeastern New Mexico (AWC), a nonprofit contracted to provide management and operation of animal sheltering services for the City of Las Vegas and surrounding San Miguel County. We kicked off this collaboration at ArtBark 2016, AWC’s annual fundraiser to benefit the shelter.
- Together, we’ve increased positive community awareness, support of municipal and county government officials, and donations for the Las Vegas animal shelter, better known as the AWC Pet Center. Our Humane Communities partnership continues through 2018.
- We helped bring free, mobile spay/neuter and vaccination clinics to the community, provided by Soul Dog Rescue and PAWS New Mexico. The AWC Pet Center booked every available time slot in a matter of days so that households with companion animals in need could access vital veterinary medical care, while helping to curb companion animal overpopulation in Las Vegas and San Miguel County.
- By facilitating enhanced discounts to AWC for spay/neuter services and rabies vaccines at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter’s satellite clinic, the number of animals they can help doubled. AWC transports animals to Santa Fe for these services 1-2 times per week for residents whose animals have entered the shelter for various reasons (lost, found, running at large, etc.).
- We expanded the services of APNM’s Straw Fund to San Miguel County, providing free straw as needed to people whose animals living outdoors need help to stay warm and dry during the winter months.
- Covering the basics of shelter improvements, we purchased new cleaning equipment and supplies, and training for staff on its proper use. We also helped purchase new awnings for outdoor runs.
- Rio Gallinas Charter School participates in APNM’s Animal Connection Jr. program.
- We provided training scholarships to several animal services officers from both the City of Las Vegas and San Miguel County and sponsored a free regional training hosted locally.
- The ASPCA® conducted an intensive workshop specific to AWC’s Board of Directors, assisting in planning for fundraising, board development, and short and long-term goals.
- According to AWC Board Chair, Marshall Poole, “The Humane Communities Program gave us resources both to meet some immediate needs, but also to reach out and educate the community about animal welfare issues and create more awareness of our vision and mission.”
