Animal Humane has the highest adoption rate in New Mexico. That’s because we take great pains to provide our clients the healthiest pets possible. And that begins the minute our residents arrive. Then they are vaccinated, wormed and medicated as needed. And they’re monitored on a daily basis until we graduate them to a home.

Finding the right home for our pets is huge for us. We want new parents to find their perfect match—a friend for life. So every dog is given Safer™ and Meet Your Match™ testing to develop a profile of their personality, energy level and trainability. We’re a little less formal with cats, but we gain a lot of knowledge through daily handling. We make sure to pass that along as well.

We want our placements to last, so we lay down some firm rules. Every family member must meet their new pet prior to graduation. And if there’s already a dog at home, he/she has to approve as well—we introduce them through a supervised “Meet and Greet.” Programs such as “Foster-to-Adopt” also ensure the new pet is the right fit for your family.

Step 1: In keeping with our goal to place our canine and feline residents in forever-homes, we ask that every adopter fill out a brief survey prior to adopting the animals. It takes only a few minutes and will help us determine the best match.

Step 2: An advisor will accompany you to our Doggie Dorms or Cat Condos to view the pet residents available for adoption. You will be given time to get acquainted with the pets that are available. Please allow plenty of time to visit with a variety of different pets. This is the most time-consuming part of the process.

Step 3: An adoption advisor can also discuss your concerns about dog training or cat behavior.

Step 4: If you find an animal that you’d like to adopt, then you’ll proceed back inside the lobby to complete the process and fill out any necessary forms. This part takes about 15-20 minutes (depending on how busy we are at that particular time).

Step 5: After signing the adoption contract, paying the adoption fees, and going over our post-adoption programs, the animal will be scheduled for sterilization on the next available surgery day (Monday through Friday). Your new pet will be ready to go home with you the day following surgery. If you are fortunate enough to find a pet that is already sterilized, it is possible to take your pet home the same day.

Step 6: You should take your new family pet for a 'get acquainted' visit with a vet of your choosing. Our adoption department will provide you with a list of local veterinarians.

If you would like to contact an adoption advisor for further information, please call our main shelter at 505.255.5523.