Portales Animal Shelter volunteers Kirsten Peterson-Barber and Monica Calhoun are two of the volunteers that work every week to help the shelter in any way they can and to try to find loving homes for all of the cats and dogs found on the streets of Portales.
We got together with them to talk about their volunteerism and their passion for animals.
What is the goal for your group?
To save the lives (of animals) and speak up for those that cannot speak up for themselves. These animals were put into this position because of humans not doing what is right. People need to care for their animals and get them spayed and neutered.
What are your next steps?
To start with, we are going to do our best to save these animals from being euthanized, either through owners saving them or rescue, foster homes or adoption.
After we establish that, we believe that there needs to be stricter regulations on breeding and adoption. Many people in the community think they can profit from breeding in their back yards and a lot of the time, innocent animals are not cared for properly, which then in turn causes over population, illnesses, and innocent animals either getting hit by a car because they’re wandering the streets and overwhelming the animal control center.
If we can get the city to help educate the community and help with affordable spay and neuter clinics and immunization clinics, that can help bring down the numbers that we are being faced with.
What could people in the community do to help?
Stand together as a team to protect the lives of those that cannot speak for themselves.
The community needs to learn and have the understanding that animals you take in are family, not profit, and they need to also understand that over breeding and not providing your fur babies with proper immunizations has caused this problem, but it can be easily taken care of if the community steps up to do their part.
What are the steps you take now to place an animal in foster care?
If they’re a new foster, we do home inspections to make sure they will be in a safe place and well cared for. Once someone is established as a foster parent, we usually just ask if they can continue caring for future animals. Our rescue programs in the area work hard to make sure animals go to safe environments until they can be rescued and/or adopted.
What and where are the rescue groups that you work with now? Do they have requirements on the type of animals they take?
I communicate with several rescue groups that mainly reside in Clovis and Portales, but I’m also connected with the humane society and a shelter in Texas called Masa.
Animals they take and all of the ones I primarily work with are ones that are not sick and have a good temperament with families and other animals. Whether cats or dogs, they want to know their temperament before handing them over to rescue/foster.
Facts from the City of Portales:
How long will the animal shelter hold someone’s pet that has been found?
A section of its statute advises for three days, not including the day of impoundment, for strays to be claimed.
How many animals can the shelter hold?
There are 32 operable dog kennels and 11 cat kennels.
How many is the average number that the shelter has in one month?
Cats 28 per month
Dogs 73
Since January 1, 2018, 137 were owner surrender and 411 were strays.
How much does it cost to adopt a dog or cat?
$90 to adopt a dog or cat ($25 adoption, $30 sterilization deposit, $30 rabies deposit, $5 city license).
How many animals are euthanized in an average month?
An average of 5 percent or 5 animals per month since January 1, 2018, which is a total of 42 so far for the year.
In 2017, 25 percent of 1,118 total animals euthanized, but there was also a large outbreak of parvo and distemper during the summer months.
Is it mandatory to spay or neuter an animal that is adopted from the shelter? And if not, is there a financial incentive to the new owner to do so?
Spay and neuter is ordered by state statute, which mandates the deposit for this. The current deposit for this is $30.
What can people in the community do to help Portales Animal Control?
People in the community can assist by being responsible animal owners, who spay and neuter their pets, keep their pets contained to their property and by following the state laws and ordinances regarding their pets and by
caring for their pets properly.
Note: At this time the shelter is close to capacity so if you are missing a pet, be sure and go by and look for your pet. If you are considering a adding a pet to your family please consider adopting from the shelter.
Animal Shelter is open:
Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 4:30 PM
Closed on Saturday, Sundays and City Holidays
For information about a low cost spay and neuter for your pet contact:
High Plains Humane Society at 575-693-7973
