Based on my long association with Animal Humane I felt compelled to offer an alternative perspective to the recent post by a former Animal Humane employee/volunteer.
I am an active volunteer for Animal Humane and in the past 20+ years have served in a variety of capacities for the organization—volunteer HR consultant, board member and President, Interim ED, adopter and donor. I have witnessed positive and negative changes in that period which have impacted the care of the animals and the number of adoptions and euthanasia. The most dramatic positive changes have taken place in the last five years, subsequent to the hiring of Peggy Weigle, the Executive Director. Since her arrival she has never wavered in her efforts to improve the well-being of the animals, increase adoptions and reduce euthanasia. She challenges staff and volunteers to come up with new ideas to improve these areas and encourages departments to establish and meet goals in the best interests of the animals. Positive changes in these areas have brought about improved conditions/morale for staff and volunteers and reduced turnover of both. As a result donations and funding have increased, along with community support that further Animal Humane’s good work.
Animal Humane’s ever growing foster program is only one of many programs that address the health and behavior of animals and reduce euthanasia (others mentioned in Peggy’s post). Puppies and kittens (1,380 in 2010), too young or sick to survive in a shelter environment, were placed in foster homes, along with many adult animals recovering from injuries, surgery, medical conditions or behavioral issues. In 2012 the new Foster2Home program will address the needs of more adult animals with longer term medical, stress related or behavioral issues through off site adoptions. The result will hopefully be less euthanasia of more problematic animals, who in the past may not have been adoptable. This program not only gives these animals more one on one care, training, and potential for adoption, but also increases the shelter’s ability to take in more animals and find them “forever” homes. During times when we may get too many animals all at once, e-mails and phone calls go out to foster and volunteer networks, calling for temporary fosters so that euthanasia does not become the solution to the problem.
Under the guidance of Peggy Weigle, Animal Humane has become a role model for all shelters in New Mexico. In addition to the many improvements at Animal Humane, she encourages collaboration among various animal organizations that reduces over population through spaying and neutering and education, all of which address the issue of reducing the need to euthanize. Read Animal Humane’s Annual Report and learn about all their wonderful programs and progress and come visit the main campus and satellites anytime. A picture is worth a thousand words. Talk to Peggy and hear her vision for improving the lives of homeless dogs and cats. You will have no doubts as to her commitment, sincerity, integrity and passion for quality work on behalf of homeless companion animals and Animal Humane.

As a former board member and President, foster parent, adopter, donor, and volunteer since 1972, I have seen an amazing transformation of Animal Humane. The keys to Animals Humane’s great success are the wonderful staff, board and volunteers who team together for the benefit of the animals and our community. They are kind, caring, and knowledgeable and receive the necessary ongoing training to do their jobs well. The main campus and satellite adoption sites are first class—innovative, cheerful, clean, and well maintained. The focus is on the animals’ well-being from the time they may enter foster care, to where they are housed, to where they play, to their health care; to the activities and training they are offered to enhance their behavior so their next stop is a “Forever Home”. You can’t help be impressed with the full service veterinary clinic that serves the shelter’s animals, other animal rescue groups and provides low cost services to folks with lower incomes. Spaying & neutering and reducing the overpopulation of animals is a #1 goal, with 10,000 spays & neuters in 2010. Animal Humane is also the state coordinator for SPAYNM, a statewide clearing house for low-cost spay/neuter resources. Animal Humane is “one stop shopping” for all your animal needs before and after adoption—education on breeds & who meets your needs through our Meet Your Match” and “Meet & Greet” programs; real life day to day photos and stories about the animals on the web site and kennel cards to help you get acquainted; resources for caring for your new pets; counseling on behavior issues; behavior training classes; products, advice and resources that address the nutritional, exercise, physical and emotional needs of you & your pet. I am proud to be associated with this well-organized, financially sound, business with heart! It is a great place to make a positive difference for animals and people.