APAS at a crossroads

For more than six decades, the Animal Protection Association of Socorro (APAS) has been a lifeline for pets and their families across Socorro and Catron counties. But now, the all-volunteer nonprofit that has spayed, neutered, fed and cared for thousands of animals is facing an uncertain future.

Founded in 1962, APAS began at a time when Socorro had no animal shelter and no animal-control ordinances. Volunteers stepped up to care for homeless dogs and cats, raise funds to establish the city’s first shelter and even staffed the facility until it was eventually taken over by the city. Since then, the organization has led sterilization campaigns, vaccination drives, humane education in schools and outreach to families in need.

Today, the group focuses on subsidizing veterinary care for low-income residents, donating pet food and supporting spay and neuter programs. In 2024 alone, APAS funded more than 400 surgeries and donated more than a ton of dog and cat food to the Socorro Storehouse.

But despite its long record of service, APAS is struggling to survive.

“APAS has reached a sort of crossroads, because the volunteers who currently work there are just aging out and we’re having some burnout. We’ve been around since the 60s,” Connie Robnett, President of APAS, said. "There's six of us, three in our late 60s and three in our 70s, who are basically running the organization, so unless we get some more community involvement, we’re going to fold up the tent.”

She confirmed that if APAS cannot get more people involved at the board level, it may cease to exist.

Many of the group’s board members have served in leadership roles for decades. Robnett has announced her intent to step down after many years, and other members hope to reduce their workload as well.

“If we can’t get more help for all the work that is involved behind the scenes, APAS will dissolve in 2026.” Robnett said.

In addition to board leadership, the group needs volunteers to help with everyday operations: coordinating low-income spay/neuter vouchers with local veterinarians, updating the website and Facebook page, distributing flyers, organizing fundraisers like yard sales and “Pancakes for Puppies,” and writing grant applications.

Grant funding has been critical to APAS’s survival. The Carroll Petrie Foundation has supported emergency medical care for pets, and the group is seeking additional funding from the state’s Pet Food Tax program to extend its spay/neuter program.

APAS has also recently expanded its work to Catron County, partnering with Dr. Fassinger of Magdalena and Arenas Valley Animal Clinic to make affordable veterinary care more widely accessible.

While fundraising events and grants keep the lights on, what the board said they need most is people power.

Those interested in joining the board or learning more about volunteer opportunities can call APAS at 575-418-7848.

More information about the organization can be found at www.socorroapas.org or on Facebook at facebook.com/apaSocorro.