Sandoval County Animal Services Wins No-Kill Recognition, Seeks Fosters and Adopters

Sandoval County Animal Services has received national no-kill recognition for maintaining high save rates, and the department is urging county residents to help sustain that status by fostering, adopting, volunteering, or donating. The county operates a climate-controlled kennel for dogs and dedicated feline housing, and it emphasizes placing animals with foster families rather than keeping them in the facility long term.

The department lists available animals on Petfinder and Adopt-a-Pet to increase visibility beyond the shelter, and it accepts foster and adoption applications by email at sandovalpets@sandovalcountynm.gov. Residents can also learn about volunteer roles and donation options, including a designated medical fund that supports treatment for injured or ill animals. The shelter provides information on how to report lost animals or request assistance, which helps reunite pets with owners and reduces intake pressure.

For local taxpayers and households, the no-kill recognition has measurable operational and budgetary implications. Prioritizing foster care lowers kennel crowding and can reduce per-animal shelter costs by shifting care responsibilities to community homes. Donations to the medical fund and volunteer labor help offset veterinary expenses that would otherwise fall to county budgets. Increased adoptions and fosters also reduce the long-term need for capital investments in expanded kennels or emergency intake capacity.

Policy trends that led to the recognition reflect broader shifts in animal welfare toward community-based solutions. No-kill designations typically reward shelters that combine proactive intake diversion, foster networks, strong adoption marketing, and medical care. For Sandoval County, maintaining high save rates will require continued coordination between county services, local veterinarians, rescue partners, and residents willing to provide temporary and permanent homes.

The recognition may also have market effects in the local pet economy. Higher adoption activity increases demand for pet supplies and veterinary services, and it can stimulate volunteer-led fundraising and retail partnerships. Conversely, a sustained reliance on community fosters and donors creates recurring needs for outreach and resource development to ensure the program remains financially viable.

For residents who want to help, the immediate steps are simple: view animals on Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet, submit a foster or adoption application by emailing sandovalpets@sandovalcountynm.gov, consider a donation to the medical fund, or sign up to volunteer. Keeping the county's no-kill status depends on neighborhood-level participation; each foster or adopter directly reduces shelter load and contributes to long-term animal welfare in Sandoval County.