Off-leash: Reaching out to help animals

Ben Swan | The New Mexican

5/10/2008 - 5/11/08

For almost a year now, a group of dedicated animal lovers has been meeting and plotting the best ways to bring humans and companion animals together.

The group's informal meetings typically begin with a glass of wine and stories about animals who need homes, or the fate of a recently rescued kitten or puppy. Sometimes the serious discussion is broken up with an anecdote from Marguerite Wood, an amiable woman who always has a tale to tell from her many years of rescuing small dogs.

The Companion Animal Alliance of Northern New Mexico brings together representatives of the area's two shelters, small rescue organizations and business owners. It's a group that accomplishes a lot because members understand each other and what needs to be done, says Pam Hagan, owner of Zoe & Guido's Pet Boutique. Hagan organizes the mass adoptions and offers her home and business as a base.

That hasn't always been the case. Bridget Lindquist, director of the Española Valley Humane Society, says the camaraderie and good communication are now taken for granted.

"There was a time," Lindquist recalls, "when, for whatever reason, we operated in our own little world independently. That's been transformed. The need has been so tremendous, and it still is. We had to get so buried that the only salvation was to rise up and reach out to each other."

The alliance — its members include one or two people from the Española shelter, Zoe & Guido's, Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society, Bridging the Worlds Animal Sanctuary, Small Dog Rescue, Felines & Friends and kibbles N' pix Pet Portraits — has found there's strength in numbers. That it's not a fight for a limited number of homes for way too many animals, but a shared mission and love of animals.

"Practically speaking, there was a chemistry right out of the gate," Lindquist said. "There were the right personalities in the room to do the work. It wasn't about ego, that our shelter is better than yours, but simply finding homes for animals."

The group works informally to identify animals that might need immediate homes or might find a better chance of adoption through a different venue or group. Spaying and neutering is a part of its mission, along with adopt-a-thons, like Saturday's at San Isidro Plaza, near Lowe's Home Improvement.

The massive adopt-a-thons offer people a choice of animals, something that is missing when individual organizations sponsor adoptions. And instead of fighting for those limited resources — pet owners — the group finds more animals are being adopted.

Communication also is a key for the group. Members talk about what went wrong with an adoption or perhaps share problems with potential owners. The group, as an umbrella organization, enhances other animal-rescue efforts and does not compete with them.

"It's apparent that we're stronger together," Lindquist said. "And from what I hear, all our (adoption) numbers are up."

Finding a group of like-minded people is a treasure, says Linda Pedelty, a volunteer and board member with Bridging the Worlds. "This work can be so isolating," she said. "You really do see the worst of the worst, and sometimes you wonder how you can get up in the morning. But then you see you have community and you feel you really are moving the dial. And that, to me, is part of it as well."

There's plenty to be said for the sad state of animals — overpopulation, neglect, abuse and abandonment. But as long as group of people can get together and put aside differences for a common goal, that should give everyone hope. And a reason to keep trying.


Continue our conversation on pets at SantaFeScoop.com. Contact Ben Swan at scoop@sfnewmexican.com.