Needed: spay/neuter services and good ideas to help shelter
When Democrats get together in force, it can be quite a “hoedown.”
And indeed it was Sunday (Sept. 2) at a “Meet and Greet” for New Mexico gubernatorial candidate, Michelle Lujan Grisham, in Taos.
Many times, having a bit of the opportunist gene, I will take every opportunity to have contact with politicians to promote my animal agenda, putting a face to my name. This strategy has worked well in the past with every judge and elected official knowing Trish Hernandez is the voice for animals in Taos County along with Pennie Wardlow, director of Four Corners Animal League.
Over the past 17 years, we have been the “face” of our overwhelming animal challenges working with other animal organizations and advocates, government officials, our animal shelter and the public. The interaction has not always been positive, but ultimately changes were made. We will stand our ground.
When the new judicial complex opened a few years ago, this animal advocate high-tailed it to the grand opening as I knew every politician and those running for office would be there. That was a very successful day for networking and advocating for the animals.
Because of the contacts made that day the first “Taos County Animal Summit” was created and animal control officers from all over our state came to Taos for two days. Invited speakers came from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Animal Protection of New Mexico and District Attorney Donald Gallegos with his then-assistant district attorney and now judge Emilio Chavez.
This event occurred because my committee and the county commissioners worked to make it happen. Networking ... networking ... networking.
Recently, the Four Corners Animal League has had to become a partner with the Santa Fe Animal Shelter because Stray Hearts is now charging for public intake of animals.
From what I understand, the initial fee is $75.00 per animal. I personally experienced this when I attempted to bring in three puppies. The charge was $450 for all three. Without going into detail, that did not happen and I was able to leave the pups at the shelter.
Folks, this happened, not because our shelter, Stray Hearts, is without compassion. The director, Cynthis Lucas and the board of directors had to make changes to public intake to take care of the animals already sheltered.
The number of dogs in the shelter hover around 120. The shelter’s capacity is for 60. Cutbacks were made and unfortunately, the public will feel frustrated and angry being the object of one of the cutbacks. This is a very dire situation as more dogs will be dumped in sage fields, thrown out on roads and highways, and animal pregnancies will thrive.
Wardlow’s organization rescues and saves so many dogs, especially puppies, she could not even begin to afford to take them to our shelter. So, fortunately, Santa Fe entered into a contract with Four Corners to take their dogs. Wardlow does have to make the drive with her car full of dogs, but what a relief to know she now has a place for her rescues. Thank you, Pennie Wardlow, for your perseverance in finding a way to save these dogs.
Pennie Wardlow’s Four Corners Animal League began in 2000. During these past
18 years, 14,000 one-litter cats were not born because of FCAL’s spay/neuter and
224,000 unborn to cats with two litters, according to her estimates. A female dog can have at least five years of pups with approximately eight to a litter. Spay/neuter is vitally important to reduce the number of stray dogs and cats. There are options.
On Sept. 15-16 Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe is bringing two spay and neuter vans to the Sheriff’s Office at 599 Lovato Place near the Taos County Complex. Call the sheriff’s office and ask for the county Animal Control Office for details at (575) 737-6480.
Both county and town animal control will take strays you find. Call (575) 758-2916 and ask for an animal control officer.
I believe the Stray Hearts Animal Shelter will make arrangements and discounts, so please call and talk to them, (575) 758-2981.
Our community needs to come forth and help Stray Hearts Animal Shelter with financial donations. I think it would be hard to sleep at night envisioning puppies being dumped in fields where the coyotes will take care of them in no time. Let’s help get the shelter out of this position. Let’s help the director and the board to find a solution. Don’t let our vulnerable, innocent animals die that way. Please do something.