Socorro animal shelter saves over 300 lives

According to Lupe Tarango, director of the city’s Animal Control Office, the Socorro Animal Shelter has transferred 304 cats and dogs, including kittens and puppies, to out-of-state rescue partners so far this year, with even more transports scheduled as soon as next week.

Designed for 29 kennels, the shelter often runs at three times capacity and is the only facility serving all of Socorro County.

Currently, the shelter houses 36 dogs, one pregnant cat, and three kittens thanks to a recent transport where the shelter transported 65 animals to Kanab, Utah, and 10 more to Henderson, Nevada. The shelter partners with other rescue organizations in Albuquerque and Colorado who take in dogs and cats that might otherwise face euthanasia due to overcrowding.

“We haven’t been at a point where we’re having to euthanize, but we always have animals for adoption,” Tarango said.

Despite the high intake, city adoption events have proven challenging.

“People forget how much work to have a pet is, and they don’t really give it a try, and then they just give up and bring that animal back,” said Tarango, noting an event where 12 out of 14 adopted animals were returned.

Adoption fees are $95 and include spay/neuter and a one-year rabies vaccine. State statute requires all pets over 6 months old to be spayed/neutered. Residents can visit the shelter to get information on APAS, a nonprofit that sponsors $200 towards the surgery fee at a clinic. Learn about APAS at www.socorroapas.org.

The shelter is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the weekends. Volunteers are always needed to help exercise the dogs, as well as donations of wet cat food and slip leashes.