Welcome to our new web site!

To give our readers a chance to experience all that our new website has to offer, we have made all content freely avaiable, through October 1, 2018.

During this time, print and digital subscribers will not need to log in to view our stories or e-editions.

Animal rescue program does so much with so little

Posted

Las Cruces Bulletin

Editor's note: This is the second of a two-part series.

In the past four years, the Las Cruces ACTion Programs for Animals (APA) has rescued more than 2,300 dogs and cats from the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley (ASCMV).

“APA is one of a number of organizations working with ASCMV to reduce the overall euthanasia rate, which was 52 percent in 2012 but reached 32.6 percent in 2015,” said APA board member and volunteer Becky Corran.

“APA is the only local group which regularly pulls cats, kittens, dogs and puppies who are at risk from our shelter, and we take the populations other rescues do not want – cats, kittens, shy, timid dogs, large dogs, Chihuahua mixes and many pitbull types,” said Founder/ Executive Director Michel Meunier.

On June 23, for example, APA was notified that ASCMV had received 60 kittens. APA was able to bring 10 to its facility.

It costs APA about $50 to prepare an animal for a typical adoption. Every pet APA staff finds a home for has been spayed or neutered – or APA has set an appointment and pre-paid – and microchipped. APA is “using our resources to offset the adoption fees so more people are able to get pets into their homes,” Fisher said.

The average medical bill for each animal that goes through APA to find a home is $125 to $150, Fisher said. And, it sometimes runs to $500 if the animal has a serious medical problem. Working with local veterinarians, APA also offers low-cost spay/neuter surgeries for pets from low-income households For more information, call APA at 5714654 (adoption center) or 644-0505 (information line) or email them at mail@apalascruces.org.

Visit http:// actionprogramsforanimals. org.

You can find a complete list of their upcoming events, including fundraisers, adoptions and vaccination clinics, by clicking on “events” at the top of the home page. Click on “resources” to learn about lost, found and rehoming services and other animal- care services in Las Cruces, and to see APA’s 2015 annual report. Visit them on Facebook at ACTion Programs for Animals.




X