Person sitting outside on a bench with a cat wearing a harness and leash on their lap

Saving homeless pets in New Mexico

Every day, homeless dogs and cats are being killed in animal shelters in New Mexico simply because they don’t have a place to call home. But you can help change that.

With your help, we can end the unnecessary killing in animal shelters throughout New Mexico and make the state a safe place for all cats and dogs to call home.

Dog Cat

Adopt a pet and bring love home

When you adopt a dog or cat who’s been patiently waiting for a place to call home, you’re not only saving a life. You’re also making space in shelters for other homeless pets.

Adopting a pet from a rescue group or animal shelter instead of buying from a breeder or puppy mill provides a lifesaving second chance to an animal who needs it most. You might not feel like a hero, but to one animal, you’re the entire world.

There are loving dogs and cats in shelters in communities across New Mexico waiting to meet someone like you.

Find Adoptable Dogs and Cats
Smiling person sitting with a dog outside

Do you believe more animals should be saved in New Mexico's shelters?

Use your voice to stand up for homeless pets in New Mexico so that every pet can safely find their way out of shelters.

You can pledge your support and commit to helping us save every pet possible in the state of New Mexico.

Your support lets us know that you want to advocate for homeless pets, get shelters and communities the resources they need to save cats and dogs, and keep pets with their families.

I Want to Help
Person kneeling down and hugging a dog

The goal of ending killing in shelters is called no-kill

No-kill is a community philosophy and commitment to saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved.

A 90% save rate for animals entering a shelter is a meaningful and common-sense benchmark for measuring lifesaving progress.

Typically, the number of dogs and cats who are suffering from irreparable medical or behavioral issues that compromise their quality of life and prevent them from being rehomed is not more than 10% of all dogs and cats entering shelters. Therefore, we designate shelters that meet the 90% save rate benchmark as no-kill.

Achieving no-kill is a collaboration between shelters and their community, so the first step is for individuals to understand the progress being made in their own community and learn how they can help.

You can help us achieve no-kill in New Mexico when you adopt, foster, volunteer, and advocate for homeless pets.

See How Your Community Is Doing
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How do we reach no-kill?

We reach no-kill with YOU. Be a part of the lifesaving here in New Mexico when you adopt, foster, volunteer, advocate, and keep pets with their families.

Two smiling people sitting outside with a dog between them

Adopt a pet

When you adopt a dog or cat from an animal shelter or rescue group, you’re not only adding a loyal and loving companion to your family, but you’re also making room in shelters.
Find adoptable cats and dogs near you
Person holding a tiny kitten in their arms

Foster a pet

Welcoming a furry houseguest into your home, even for just a few nights, helps that pet while freeing up space in the shelter to save more lives.
The fun of fostering
Person holding a puppy over her shoulder in front of kennels

Volunteer in your community

Whatever your experience or interests, there are countless ways to volunteer your time for pets in need here in New Mexico.
Getting started as a volunteer
Two people sitting outside with a small dog on stairs leading into a hous

Advocate for animals

You can help create the kind of community you want to live in by teaming up with fellow community members to support progressive pet programs and policies.
Advocating for animals
Person bending down to pet a black and white community cat

Help cats in your community

Community cats (you might think of them as stray or free-roaming cats) are felines who call the outdoors their home, and they’re among the most at-risk animals when they end up in shelters.
Helping cats in your community

Helping pets stay with families

From promoting pet-inclusive housing to reuniting lost pets with their people, you can help pets stay in their homes right here in New Mexico.

Two people interacting with a large white dog

Reunite lost pets with their people

Before taking a stray pet to your local shelter, try visiting a veterinarian’s office to see whether the pet has a microchip; then try to reunite the pet with their family via social media and talking to your neighbors.
Reuniting pets with people
Smiling person sitting with a dog outside on some steps

Promote pet-inclusive housing

Ensure the availability of more pet-inclusive housing to keep pets with their families.
Promoting pet-inclusive housing
Person using a stethoscope to listen to the chest of a husky dog

Keep your pet healthy

Spaying and neutering are routine medical procedures that not only help prevent unintended litters, but they may also prevent medical and behavioral problems.
Learn about spay/neuter
Two smiling people sitting on the floor with a dog in a veterinary clinic

Microchip your pet to keep them safe

A veterinarian or shelter staff member will scan for a microchip when lost pets are brought to them, so this safe and effective technology can help get your pet back to you quickly if they’re ever lost.
Microchipping your pet

Help a New Mexico shelter or animal rescue group

The Best Friends Network is made up of thousands of public and private animal shelters, rescue groups, spay/neuter organizations, and other animal welfare groups, all working to save the lives of dogs and cats in communities like yours across the country, including here in New Mexico.

Each and every one of our network partners needs caring people like you to adopt, foster, donate, volunteer, and advocate to help save the lives of pets where you live.

Find an animal shelter or rescue group near you today: 

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Make your voice heard

If you can’t adopt or foster, you can spread the word about the importance of stepping up to save the lives of cats and dogs.

Let your family, friends, and neighbors know that together we can make a difference in the lives of pets.

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Show your support

Do you believe that the killing in shelters needs to end?
I Agree
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About Best Friends

Best Friends Animal Society is working to save the lives of cats and dogs all across the country, giving pets second chances and happy homes.

As recently as 2016, 2 million cats and dogs were killed in shelters in this country simply because shelters didn't have the community support or the resources to save their lives. That number was down to 415,000 last year, but there’s still work to do to ensure a bright future for every dog and cat in America.  

Best Friends operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and is committed to saving the lives of homeless pets by working with shelters and passionate people like you. We’re sharing our resources and what we know to help shelters around the country achieve no-kill in their communities. 

Together, we will bring the whole country to no-kill in 2025.