Resources

During the creation of this book, I met with many remarkable individuals dedicated to offering sanctuary to animals that otherwise would have no place to go. And it was my privilege to learn about many wonderful organizations that do phenomenal work in service to animals, and thus to us all. It is my hope that they will inspire by example and encourage readers to seek out more information and get involved, either on a local or national level. This list is by no means a comprehensive one. Please forgive me if I’ve left out your favorite! Most of the groups represented below are 501(c)(3) nonprofits that operate on modest budgets, receive no government support, and rely almost entirely on donations, memberships, or bequests. The staff at each facility and program, small and large, is deeply devoted and compassionate—and likely overworked and underpaid for their daily heroic efforts. To readers who are moved to make contributions, your generosity will go directly to the care of the four-legged tenants and to the on-going maintenance of these very special places.
regional/southwest

4H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT OF SANTA FE COUNTY
3229 Rodeo Road at the Fairgrounds
Santa Fe, NM 87507
505-471-4711
jhange@nmsu.edu
www.cahe.nmsu.edu/4h
(The state website has links to the national site.) I met Skuttle and Tara Werner and ChexMix, Bandit, Janna, and Josh Groseclose at the Santa Fe County Fair, a 4H-sponsored event. 4H is the largest youth organization in the U. S. with more than 6.8 million participants. This dynamic educational program offers opportunities to develop life skills and attitudes that encourage and enable young people to become productive and self-directed contributing members of society. national

BEST FRIENDS ANIMAL SANCTUARY
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab, Utah 84741
435-644-2001
info@bestfriends.org
www.bestfriends.org
Best Friends is the nation’s largest sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals. It also created the first statewide No More Homeless Pets campaign, which coordinates the efforts of its members with county shelters and animal welfare groups. In addition, Best Friends sponsors many educational programs, runs a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, and maintains a wildlife rehabilitation center.

PEACEFUL VALLEY DONKEY RESCUE
PO Box 223
Acton, CA 93510
866-DONKS 31
donkeyrescue@earthlink.net
www.donkeyrescue.org
The mission: to provide a safe and loving environment for abused, neglected, and unwanted American donkeys while working to improve the plight of donkeys worldwide. Sadly, finding neglected donkeys is far too easy for Mark and Amy Meyers, as these are among the most misunderstood and mistreated animals on the planet. New arrivals come in as fast as the Meyers can respond to calls. Their hope is to pair up each rehabilitated animal with a loving, life-long human companion.

STEVENSON COMPANION ANIMAL LIFE-CARE CENTER
Texas A&M University 4461
College Station, Texas 77843-4461
979-845-1188
www.cvm.tamu.edu/petcare
The dream of Dr. Ned Elliot, who recognized the extraordinarily deep bond between people and their pets, the Center has been designed to provide personalized care in a home-like environment for animals that outlive their human companions. The Center’s furred and feathered clients also ensure that veterinary students come out of the program not only as highly qualified vets, but as compassionate human beings as well.

WILD SPIRIT WOLF SANCTUARY
378 Candy Kitchen Road, HC 61 Box 28
Ramah, NM 87321 - 9601
505-775-3304 / 505-775-3823
candywlf@cia-g.com
www.inetdesign.com/-candykitchen/
Ravenis one of sixty wolves at Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, an organization that has rescued hundreds of wolves and wolf dogs over the past decade from well-intentioned but misguided people that try to keep them as pets. The mission of Wild Spirit is to provide a safe haven for captive-bred wolves and wolf dogs that have been displaced, abandoned or abused, and to educate the public on the needs of wild canids, the complexities of wolf dog guardianship, and the treatment of all wild, domestic, and hybrid animals. The motto at Wild Spirit is: Wild animals are not pets!

AMERICAN PET PRODUCTS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (APPMA)
203-532-0000
info@appma.org
www.appma.org
Founded in 1958, the APPMA is the nation’s leading not-for-profit trade organization serving the interests of the pet product industry. APPMA’s membership comprises more than 750 companies and businesses. APPMA supports industry-related market research, identifies and funds scientific research, and monitors and responds to legislation and government regulation.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
212-876-7700
information@aspca.org
www.aspca.org
The mission of the ASPCA is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. Founded in 1866, it is the oldest and most famous among the many wonderful animal welfare organizations. The ASPCA sponsors and promotes national programs in humane education, public awareness, government advocacy, shelter support, and animal medical services and placement.

AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL
www.avma.org
Established in 1863, the AVMA represents more than 69,000 veterinarians working in private and corporate practice, government, industry, agriculture, public health, academia, and the uniformed services. As the collective voice for its membership and for the profession, AVMA advances the science and art of veterinary medicine, offers information resources, continuing education opportunities, and quality publications.

ANIMAL PROTECTION INSTITUTE
916-447-3085
info@api4animals.org
www.api4animals.org
The mission of API’s 85,000 members is to advocate for the protection of animals through legislation, litigation, and education. Over the last thirty years, API issues have included wildlife conflicts, private ownership of exotic animals, animal exploitation for entertainment, animals used in research, and treatment of animals used in agriculture. API also operates a 186-acre primate sanctuary near San Antonio, Texas.

ASSISTANCE DOGS OF THE WEST
PO Box 31027
Santa Fe, NM 87594
505-986-9748
assistancedogs@aol.com
http://www.assistancedogsofthewest.org/
The organization that referred me to Chip and John, Assistance Dogs of the West provides crucial help and companionship for people with disabilities. Some of ADW’s canine candidates are rescued or donated puppies or young dogs. These animals, that might otherwise be killed, are given not only a chance to live but also to love and serve those with physical challenges. The cost per dog for the 18-month training program is $10,000, but those who need them are asked to pay a one-time fee of only $1,000, which is still often a stretch for families already burdened with extensive medical expenses.

CENTER FOR THE HUMAN-ANIMAL BOND
Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine
765-494-0854
http://www.vet.purdue.edu/depts/vad/cae
This facility is devoted to studying the relationship between humans and animals and to providing educational, research, and service-oriented programs. The Center is concerned with all aspects of human-animal interaction and welfare, including companion animals, farmed domestic species, and wildlife. An emphasis is placed on humane ethics in managing our living resources.

DELTA SOCIETY
875 124th Avenue NE, Suite 101
Bellevue, WA 98005-2531
425-226-7357
info@deltasociety.org
www.deltasociety.org
Delta Society has been the leading force and guiding light in promoting the value of the human-animal bond on human health and well-being. It has been in the vanguard of reporting on cutting-edge research to the media and to health and human services organizations. Delta Society’s many programs and resources include the National Service Dog Center, Animal-Assisted Therapy Service, and Pet Partners Program.

DORIS DAY ANIMAL LEAGUE
227 Massachusetts Ave NE / Suite 100
Washington, DC 20002 - 6094
202-546-1761
www.ddal.org
Actress and activist Doris Day has often been quoted, saying: “The animals can’t lobby Congress, and they can’t vote. We can.” The League focuses primarily on lobbying for legislation that increases protection for animals, while its sister organization, the Doris Day Animal Foundation, concentrates on educational programs that empower individuals to act on behalf of animals.

FUND FOR ANIMALS
888-405-FUND
www.fund.org
Founded in 1967 by the late author and animal advocate Cleveland Amory, Fund for Animals has spearheaded some of the most significant events in the history of the animal protection movement. Continuing Amory’s legacy of: “We speak for those who can’t” the Fund uses education, legislation, litigation, and hands-on care to protect animals from cruelty and exploitation.

KINDRED SPIRITS ANIMAL SANCTUARY, ELDER CARE AND HOSPICE
3749-A State Highway 14
Santa Fe, NM 87508
505-471-5366
KindredSpiritsAnimal@yahoo.com
www.kindredspiritsnm.com
Kindred Spirits provides life-long care to unwanted, older animals with special needs that would be virtually unadoptable elsewhere. Founder Ulla Pedersen and those who volunteer at the Sanctuary believe that to understand and value our aging and ailing animal friends translates directly to greater compassion for our own kind. Ulla would love to expand the facility to serve more creatures in need. Her plans include a dedicated hospice for dogs to spend their final few days in a tranquil setting that would honor their life and offer emotional support and understanding for their grieving human companions.

KRITTER GITTERS ANIMAL RESCUE AND RELOCATION
2176 37th Street
Los Alamos, NM 87544
505-662-6806
krittergitter@att.net
www.krittergitters.com
With indispensable aid from two skunks and a raccoon, Bob and Cathy Anderson run Fur and Feathers Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc., the primary goal of which is to assist distressed or injured animals and then return them to the wild. The Andersons work closely with local Animal Control as well as Fish and Game, helping to educate exasperated residents and assisting in the safe capture and relocation of mischief-making fauna. In addition, they offer many educational programs designed to increase respect and appreciation for, as well as peaceful coexistence with wildlife.

LATHAM FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF HUMANE EDUCATION
510-521-0920
info@latham.org
www.latham.org
The Foundation’s mandate: To foster a deeper understanding of and sympathy with man’s relations—the animals—who cannot speak for themselves; to inculcate the higher principles of humaneness upon which the unity and happiness of the world depend; to emphasize the spiritual fundamentals that lead to world friendship; to promote the child’s character through an understanding of universal kinship.

NEW MEXICO DISASTER DOGS
11 La Rosa Court
Los Alamos, NM 87544
505-672-1477
www.nmtf1.org
To obtain Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certification, dogs and handlers must perform highly specialized tasks in potentially dangerous and confusing environments. This requires hundreds of training hours (20-30 hours/week during the first two years), all done on a volunteer basis, with approximately $10,000 in expenses (search teams are only paid for their time during a deployment). And each team must be recertified every two years. This is a major commitment that takes intense love of the work and a strong desire to help in a crisis.

OUT OF AFRICA WILDLIFE PARK
4020 N. Cherry Road
Camp Verde, AZ 86322
928-567-2840
www.outofafricapark.com
Founders Dean and Prayeri Harrison are completely committed to educating rather than merely entertaining the public about the majestic big cats in their care. Their focus is to help visitors separate romantic fantasy from the actual reality of living alongside wild animals. In fact, many exotic residents at Out of Africa were adopted by the Harrisons after being confiscated by Arizona Fish and Game, or after having been abandoned or donated by individuals who could no longer care for their wild “pets.”

PRISON PET PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
PO Box 17
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
253-858-4240
ppppsd@yahoo.com
Begun in 1981 by Sister Pauline McQuinn, this program in the Washington State Corrections Center for Women was the first of its kind and remains the model for the nation. To date more than 500 dogs, all from shelters or rescue groups, have been placed with families or disabled individuals, while inmate trainers have had the opportunity to rehabilitate themselves by learning valuable vocational skills including Pet Care Technician certification through the American Boarding Kennels Association.

SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER AND HUMANE SOCIETY
PO Box 23569
Santa Fe, NM 87502
505-983-4309
www.sfhumanesociety.org
Kate Rindy, director of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Human Society, told me, “The tragic reality is that there are too many animals and not enough homes for them.” A third of dog owners and 15% of cat owners do not have their pets spayed or neutered, and in this group the principal reason given was that they had simply not bothered to do it, even though they claimed that pet overpopulation was an important issue to them. Preventing unplanned and unwanted litters of puppies and kittens will dramatically reduce the burden on public and private shelters and rescue groups.

VPI SKEETER FOUNDATION
P.O. Box 2344
Brea, California 92822-2344
800-872-7387
Skeeter@veterinarypetins.com
www.skeeterfoundation.org
Inspired by Skeeter, a Miniature Pinscher, Dr. Jack Stephens established the Foundation to share his belief in the positive influence of animals on human health. Endorsing the “Prescribe Pets Not Pills(tm)” philosophy, the Foundation facilitates visiting pets programs in hospitals and convalescent homes, and funds studies documenting how the human-animal bond promotes healing and recovery from illness and injury.