National Pet Adoption Day

ACTion Programs for Animals (APA) of Las Cruces will host a pet adoption event 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Petco, 3050 E. Lohman Ave., as part of Petco National Adoption Day.

Cats, kittens and dogs will be available for adoption during the event, APA said in a news release.

APA is offering half-off adoption fees for kittens and cats in June as part of National Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month.

In addition to kittens, canine graduates from the Prisoners and Animals Working Toward Success (P.A.W.S.) Program will be at the June 17 adoption event. APA has coordinated P.A.W.S. In partnership with Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility since 2016. APA focuses on taking long-term large dogs from the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley for P.A.W.S. training. Dogs stay at the prison with their handlers – inmates at the facility – for about two months. Once the dogs graduate, they return to the APA adoption center.

“The program has helped us rehabilitate and train hundreds of dogs, most of which we pull from the animal shelter,” said APA Executive Director Michel Meunier. “Our in-house P.A.W.S. team keeps up the dogs’ training and showcases them at adoption events.”

Meunier also noted that June is the start of “kitten season,” when large litters of kittens are born and often end up in animal shelters.

“If people are ready to welcome a kitten into their home, we encourage them to take advantage of our low adoption fee this month and consider adding one of our felines to your family,” Meunier said.

To meet more of APA’s adoptable animals, visit the APA adoption center at 537 N. Solano Drive 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday or call 575-571-4654 to schedule an appointment.

Adoptable animals may also be viewed at apalascruces.org.

For more information, text 575-644-0505, leave a message at 575-571-4654 or email mail@apalascruces.org.