Adoption Promotion Event at PetSmart - May 22nd

The adoption promotion event held May 22nd at PetSmart was certainly rewarding for volunteers with 4 kittens adopted, plus an adult cat adopted the day before!! Two of the adopted kittens, Specks and Thomasina, are living with their new family in Deming. Milo, another adopted kitten, is residing with a feline who was adopted from our cat program about a year ago. The fourth kitten adopted, named Dexter, is living with a woman who adopted a senior cat from us two years ago (unfortunately the senior cat recently passed away). We are thrilled with these adoptions and so happy to have return adopters coming back!

“Second Chance at Love” Adoption Event - April 30th & May 1st

The weekend promotion event was a success with a lot of traffic to our table and adoption display with people dropping by to see the animals or to ask questions and get information about pet-related topics. We appreciate the interest shown by the public in our adoption work, helping rescue animals, and humane education efforts. We are grateful for the dedicated volunteers who generously donated their time, promoting animals and assisting the public. Two very special animals were adopted at the event!

Polo is a young adult male, small mixed-breed dog and a former chained dog who was rescued by HSSNM from a residence in-state and fostered by HSSNM members/volunteers. The foster family trained him to be housebroken, to use a doggy door and some general manners. He was adopted by a nice couple and is happy in his new forever home where he is receiving lots of attention.

Chico is a 4 and ½ month old Chihuahua puppy whose owner had to re-home him because he was not compatible with the other family dog. Chico was adopted to a family with children who will be his playmates.

Advocacy Meetings to Help Chained Dogs -
Saturday, April 10th & May 8th

Representatives of ACTion Programs for Animals, the Dona Ana County Humane Society, Dog Park Coalition, Humane Society of Southern NM, and concerned citizens and dog lovers attended the first advocacy meeting on April 10th to help chained dogs. HSSNM hosted the meeting at their offices. Michel Meunier, Las Cruces Dogs Deserve Better representative and ACTion Programs for Animals president lead the meeting. Attendees discussed ways to help chained dogs with adequate orientation and training to approach owners and ways to secure resources such as fencing for pet retention if possible or appropriate. Attendees also discussed projects, including education campaigns, with framework to accomplish. Please click here for pdf with notes of the meeting and action items.

The second meeting was held on May 8th with representatives from ACTion Programs for Animals, the Dona Ana County Humane Society, Dona Ana County Animal Control Reserve Officers’ Program, the Humane Society of Southern NM, and Spay-Neuter Action Program. Dogs Deserve Better signs to promote un-chaining were distributed, to be used in resident yards and designated businesses with a local phone number as a contact.

Special Toy Rabbit Sale at HSSNM Offices - April 3rd

The toy rabbit sale held at HSSNM offices and Farmer’s Market, in conjunction with a literature-education table, was a success with over $100.00 in proceeds from donations for the rabbits and other Easter-toy items. Some were purchased as dog toys! We want to thank members of our board for staffing the tables at the office and Farmer’s Market and to all the people who helped with a purchase of toys. The money will go to support our programs and services for the animals. And we still have some toy rabbits left for next year for another mini-fundraiser…...hippity hoppity!!

Pet Adoption Event - Saturday, March 20

Our adoption promotion event held at PetSmart on March 20th was a success with two animals finding forever homes that day. A cat named “Autumn” who has been with us in foster found a home and “Scruffy” a small terrier mix also found a forever home. Many people stopped by during the event to look at the animals while others had questions or inquiries. The monthly adoption events are always a good opportunity to meet people and provide direction about resources or other information related to pets and their care. We also accepted a new cat in our foster care program who will be placed up for adoption.

Seminar by Attorney & Author Catherine Wolfe - March 15th & 16th

Animal control officers from Dona Ana County and the City of Las Cruces and El Paso, including an attorney at law, a student in criminal justice, the shelter director from the Animal Services Center of Mesilla Valley, and board members of HSSNM were attendees at a two-day seminar "Investigate & WIN Animal Abuse Cases," sponsored by the Humane Society of Southern New Mexico. Catherine Wolfe, a Michigan attorney and author of "Get The Edge in Fighting Animal Cruelty Cases," presented the two-day workshop where attendees learned how to conduct smart investigations and effective presentations of evidence, including how to operate with maximum efficiency to handle more cases successfully. In addition to learning practical and unconventional techniques from the expertise of Catherine Wolfe, participants had opportunity to network and make important connections with people at the seminar.

This seminar is the catalyst for several planned in the near future and hopefully will continue to attract interested and involved participants thus having a major impact on the animal cases statewide.

Catherine Wolfe's book is available on her webisite, http://www.wolfepackpress.org for $39, which includes shipping and handling.

HSSNM Members & Friends Meeting- February 20th

HSSNM held a membership meeting February 20th from 3 PM to 5 PM at Encantada Park Clubhouse for interested members and the public. The HSSNM Board of Directors was introduced and each gave reports involving their responsibilities for the past year and outlined some needs, goals and activities of the upcoming year along with the HSSNM financial status. This was an informative session and a great review along with discussions for focusing on HSSNM goals for the future.

Highlight of the meeting was the comments by Animal Services Center of Mesilla Valley Board of Directors Chair and City Councilor Miguel Silva. Silva discussed his anticipated actions and expectations for the Center and suggested how outside organizations could be great resources for work needed at the shelter. Silva drew a lot of comparison of the shelter with his experience with the Solid Waste Authority and how that entity has been developed over quite long period and is considered a successful operation at this juncture.

The tongue in cheek by Silva was he "talked trash" a lot but he did feel he brought a lot to the table as the new ASCMV Board Chair with this previous experience. Silva re-iterated how it was a difficult transition for the new shelter director to take over such a entrenched problem and she was still getting her feet on the ground.

Silva graciously fielded questions and concerns from the members, stayed for the presentations of the HSSNM Board which probably gave him a very good picture of the organizations efforts and anticipated acivities for the coming year. He gave generously of his time to speak personally with members after the meeting officially closed. He did agree that many of the questions and concerns might be addressed in a town meeting forum with a panel discussion format and participant questions and stated he was willing to seek that sort of venue with the Board.

It is felt this was a good update for everybody and some beneficial communication was accomplished. The HSSNM Board looks forward to the coming year with its challenges and accomplishments and asks for our membership to get involved to assist with this effort.

Submitted by Frank Bryce

"Second Chance at Love" Pet Adoption Event, February 12-13

The “Second Chance at Love” adoption event held at PetSmart on February 13th & 14th was a tremendous success with five cats and two dogs finding love and a family with adoption into permanent homes! We are thrilled with the success of this adoption promotion, especially for little Dot, a senior kitty who found a forever home that weekend along with Max, a Pinscher mix.

Our thanks to all who volunteered at the event, helping with set-up and showcasing/featuring the animals and help with exercise and potty breaks for the dogs, and other jobs. Adoption events like this would not be possible or successful without your help!

Our thanks to all the people who dropped by the event to see the animals and to chat with us. We are always delighted and pleased to have so many people stop by to see our wonderful animals, to ask for help with their own pets, or just to chat with our volunteers. We greatly appreciate your interest in helping rescue animals and the work/programs of HSSNM!

To date, pet adoptions have continued as a result of the “Second Chance at Love” event. Our beloved Betty Boop, a chow mix who was in foster care with HSSNM several months was recently adopted! We are soooooo happy for Miss Betty and for several kittens who’ve been adopted since the event.

January Adoption Event - January 16

The New Year’s adoption promo event held at PetSmart on January 16th resulted in four adoptions! Three small breed dogs were adopted including a miniature Schnauzer rescued from Hobbs. A beautiful long haired male kitten in foster care with HSSNM found a forever home and was adopted by a woman who previously adopted an adult cat from us in 2008. So this lucky kitten has a feline friend to live with as well as his human family!

Our thanks to all the people who played a role in this event, including the fosters who care for the animals while they wait for homes and the volunteers affiliated with the cat adoption program, and all the volunteers who worked the event. Our thanks also to everyone who invited friends & family to the event. All of you, in various roles, made the adoption promo a huge success!

Pet Adoption Event December 12th

At the monthly adoption event on December 12, we had one gray adult cat adopted, Juniper. Then on Monday, December 14, the two black and white kittens, Snaps (left) and Sylvester, were adopted. It was kind of a fall out of the weekend event.

It was a good event with many people stopping by and offering support for our ongoing efforts on behalf of the many cats and dogs in this area.

Pet Photos with Santa - Saturday & Sunday Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20

Our thanks to ALL who brought their pets to PetSmart for the “Pet Photos With Santa” feature during December with proceeds going to support HSSNM programs and services. We are thrilled to report, during three weekends, over 80 photos were taken with pets and their families! Santa got a real work-out!

Our grateful appreciation to everyone who went through the hoops to get their pets and family to the location all at one time and to HSSNM volunteers and friends who had everything in place, making it such a huge success. It would not have been possible without your concerted, collective efforts!

We want to acknowledge Frank Bryce for his role as coordinator for all the photo features. We also want to thank Vanessa Bryce for serving as photographer all three weekends. Our thanks to volunteers who played the role of Santa, greeting so many folks and furry friends with the added challenge of being dressed all in fur, from head to foot!

Frank Bryce, HSSNM president, acknowledges the hard work of Evelyn Hancock as captain of the program.

Thanks to HSSNM Cat Adoption Program Volunteers!

A volunteer appreciation luncheon was held on November 15th to acknowledge the dedication of HSSNM volunteers who work in the cat adoption program at the PetSmart Charities Adoption Center. These volunteers, under the direction of Evelyn Hancock (captain of the HSSNM Cat Adoption Program) have successfully rehomed over 100 cats in a ten month period.

The luncheon was hosted by the HSSNM board of directors at Encantada Community Center. President Frank Bryce presented Evelyn Hancock with a certificate of appreciation for the tremendous success of the program under her direction, resulting in over 200 adoptions in less than 2 years. Mr. Bryce noted the success of the program has made the adoption center here one of the top performing within the nationwide chain of PetSmart stores.

Following presentation of the award to Evelyn Hancock, individual volunteers were recognized with certificates of appreciation. Volunteers in attendance were Kathy Billing, Dean Hammond, Diane Hammond, Kelley Hestir, Kristen Hestir, Barbara Kane, Charissa Paskowski, and Chris Wydra. Volunteers recognized with certificates also included Pablo Coss, Jacob Deaven, Joel Garduno, Tiffany Kautz, Kayla Nelson, Bob Smiggen, Monica Smiggen, and Sara Squirell.

Pre-Holiday Sale & Open House - Saturday Nov. 14
Thanks for your support!!

Thanks to all who attended the pre-holiday sale and open house at our offices on November 14th. And special thanks to those who helped with preparation, organizing and pricing items for the event. All the work and promotion made a difference with $400.00 generated in sales and donations. The money will be put to good use to support our programs and services with the pet help line and humane education work. The specialty toys and collectibles not sold will be featured at future events or fundraisers so please stay tuned for those dates and times.

Pet Adoption Event November 13 and 14
A Successful Event!!

We're happy to report three animals were adopted at the HSSNM/PetSmart Holiday Pet Adoption Event on November 13th & 14th. Stella, a 6-year old white cat with tabby markings found a forever home with a woman from Magdalena, NM. Willy Billy, a 4-year old Maine Coon mix was adopted by a couple who live in Deming. And Wilma, a 9-month old Chihuahua/ Dachshund mix who was rescued from the Hobbs Shelter and brought to Las Cruces for a second chance at a new home found that second chance on Nov. 14th . She was adopted by a couple who live at White Sands Missile Range. We are thrilled for these animals finding forever homes. We are thankful to their adopters for choosing them, for wanting a rescue animal in great need of a home. And we're so appreciative of their foster parent/s and families for taking them during the transition time needed to help rehome them.

Adoption Event - Saturday Oct. 17

We will hold an adoption event at PetSmart on Lohman Avenue on
Saturday, October 17th from  10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Animals featured will include some of our foster dogs and cats looking for forever homes,  and cats who are in the HSSNM adoption program with PetSmart Charities.  In addition, we are looking for permanent homes for small dogs who have come to us from the now-closed shelters in Carlsbad and Hobbs.  For more information, please contact the HSSNM office at 523-8020.  
Stop by and meet some of these adorable guys-- and spread the word  about these animals looking for a second chance at love in a forever home!!

Good News!

This recent adoption event was a HUGE success, resulting in several adoptions. Four dogs and four cats found loving homes!! Peggy the young Sheltie who was in foster with us for awhile was adopted by a family. Her sister Paula was placed earlier so now they have both found forever homes! We are also thrilled about the adoptions of three small dogs, all rescues from Hobbs & Carlsbad shelters, who found homes at this promotion event. And, of course, we are delighted about the adoptions of the four felines. The success of our cat adoption program with PetSmart Charities, thanks to the leadership of Evelyn Hancock & all the volunteers in the program, has been totally AMAZING!!

Pre-Holiday Sale & Open House - Saturday Nov. 14
Thanks for your support!!

Thanks to all who attended the pre-holiday sale and open house at our offices on November 14th. And special thanks to those who helped with preparation, organizing and pricing items for the event. All the work and promotion made a difference with $400.00 generated in sales and donations. The money will be put to good use to support our programs and services with the pet help line and humane education work. The specialty toys and collectibles not sold will be featured at future events or fundraisers so please stay tuned for those dates and times.

Pet Adoption Event November 13 and 14
A Successful Event!!

We're happy to report three animals were adopted at the HSSNM/PetSmart Holiday Pet Adoption Event on November 13th & 14th. Stella, a 6-year old white cat with tabby markings found a forever home with a woman from Magdalena, NM. Willy Billy, a 4-year old Maine Coon mix was adopted by a couple who live in Deming. And Wilma, a 9-month old Chihuahua/ Dachshund mix who was rescued from the Hobbs Shelter and brought to Las Cruces for a second chance at a new home found that second chance on Nov. 14th . She was adopted by a couple who live at White Sands Missile Range. We are thrilled for these animals finding forever homes. We are thankful to their adopters for choosing them, for wanting a rescue animal in great need of a home. And we're so appreciative of their foster parent/s and families for taking them during the transition time needed to help rehome them.