The Artesia Animal Shelter, located at 501 Paddy Wagon Way, is in urgent need for pet adoptions as they have nearly reached capacity and have been forced to stop accepting owner-released animals.
Normally when the Shelter reaches maximal numbers, the animals are picked up and transported to Colorado by the Rescued Pets Movement, a nonprofit out of Houston, Texas. However, even the Rescued Pets Movement is having trouble finding places to relocate animals as many areas of the country are currently experiencing similar problems.
Sheri Bailey of Paws and Claws Humane Society, a nonprofit contracted by the City of Artesia to care for the animals during their stay at the Shelter, will be attending the New Mexico Humane Conference this weekend in Albuquerque. The conference involves breakout sessions geared toward improving animal relations in homes and shelters as well as improving shelter operations to help generate involvement.
Bailey shared with the Daily Press that she hopes to network with more rescue organizations at the conference so that more animals can be re-homed rather than euthanized.
Although Paws & Claws and the Artesia Animal Shelter avoid euthanizing animals as much as possible, representatives of both organizations explained that at some point euthanasia is the only humane option as animals who live in kennels for too long become “kennel crazy.” Some affected animals are so mentally traumatized they may refuse to eat or even self-mutilate.
Concerned community members who are unable to take on the responsibility of full-time pet parenting can help in other ways. Residents over the age of 18 can volunteer to play with and walk animals at the Shelter, providing stimulation and socialization to keep them healthy until adoption.
Residents who are missing animals are urged to look at the Shelter before searching neighborhoods, as animal control has been working swiftly to keep animals off the streets and out of the heat. Microchipping speeds up this process, allowing owners to be identified quickly.
Harry Bailey of the Artesia Animal Shelter would like to encourage the community to continue vaccinating, spaying and neutering their pets, as this ensures loose animals will not become sick or create unwanted litters. He also shared the importance of calling animal control rather than taking in animals directly from the streets. Bailey shared this helps animal control find the proper owners while also keeping the community safe.
