Northern New Mexico Animal Protection Society
The Northern New Mexico
Animal Protection Society
operates the Española
Animal Shelter and serves
the animals of northern
New Mexico
NNMAPS
Summer 2003
News
An ounce of prevention . . .
Avoiding heat stroke
While women glow, men perspire,
and horses sweat, dogs can only
pant. When the heat goes up, our
furry friends need our help to keep
cool and to avoid life-threatening
heat stroke.
Dogs can’t handle high temperatures as well as we humans can
because they cannot wick off heat
by sweating all over their bodies.
Panting serves them fairly well under
reasonable conditions, but when the
temperature of the air around them
starts getting close to their own body
temperature (normal for an adult
dog is 101.5°), cooling by panting
stops being very efficient.
You can take measures to help your
canine friends avoid overheating and
the possibility of heat stroke. If they
stay outdoors during the day, make
sure they have access to shade and
cool water, and don’t ask them to
exert themselves while it’s hot. Above
all, don’t leave them in a car in hot
weather: a car in the sun can be a
death trap for anything living. Keep in
mind that muzzling a dog prevents it
from panting and releasing
heat. (Some cases of heat
stroke arise at the groomer,
when a dog is muzzled
while under a dryer.) It’s
best to avoid circumstances that require
muzzling when it’s hot.
Initial signs of heat
stroke are frantic, rapid,
loud breathing; the dog’s
tongue and gums will be
bright red; there is often
vomiting. If not treated
immediately, the dog will
stagger, and there will be
bloody diarrhea.
If you suspect heat
Looks goofy! But panting helps a dog cool off. A
stroke, move the dog
muzzle prevents panting and can lead to heat stroke.
immediately to cooler surroundings-an air-conditioned room or cool
basement. If his temperature is
already 104 or higher, or he is showing signs of weakness such as
staggering, cool him by putting him
in a tepid bath or, at the very least,
hosing him down with a garden
hose. Don’t use ice water--there is
danger in too rapid a temperature
change. Then get in touch with your
veterinarian.
What about cats? Can they get
heat stroke? Yes, they can. In theory,
they should be more prone to it,
because their smaller mouths make
them worse than dogs at releasing
heat. On the other hand, they are
less prone to the circumstances that
favor overheating. They are less
likely to overexert themselves in the
heat, and (because we humans are
less likely to confine them), they can
usually find a cool spot to chill out.
They are most likely to get in trouble
if chased by something (dogs, a
coyote) in the heat of the day, or
chased to a spot where they cannot
get shade. So it’s especially important when it’s hot to make sure your
cats are in a safe environment that
allows them to find a cool spot.
Summer 2003
1
Española Animal Shelter
NNMAPS
108 Hamm Parkway
(formerly 160 Hamm Pkwy)
Española, NM 87532
505/753-2039
M-F 10-5, Sa 11-5, Su 12-5
www.espanolashelter.org
Staff
Julien McRoberts
Executive Director
Sue Dean
Asst. Executive Director
Denise London
Shelter Manager
Catherine Sayler, DVM
Shelter Veterinarian
Paddy Mogan
Resale Stores Manager
Shelle Brudno
Volunteer Coordinator
Maria Brandle
EBay Coordinator
NNMAPS Board
Mark Rich
President
Mark Springer
Vice President
Scott Broadhurst
Treasurer
Marian Sperberg-McQueen
Secretary
Lisa Bronowicz
Lucy Cornwell
Priscilla Dakin
Kerry Johnson
Kathleen Kentish Lucero, Esq.
Joe Maestas
Bob Morgart
Ronni Sonnenberg
Maryellen Stewart
Advisory Board
Carlota Baca
Alvin Becker, DVM
Candy Berry
Dawn Douglas
Bruce Galpert
Peggy Grant
Karen Larson
Susan Stockstill
Fran Sonnenberg
Website Coordinator
Nyree Cox
Newsletter Editor
Marian Sperberg-McQueen
2
EAS News
From NNMAPS Executive Director Julien McRoberts
Ah, summer. Gardening, swimming, balmy summer
evenings, and lemonade.
Every time I pass a lemonade stand I think of our
organization. What does lemonade have to do with
NNMAPS? Well, this past quarter life has thrown us a lot
of lemons. So, in the true spirit of NNMAPS we have
made lemonade.
In May a fire devastated our Española thrift store. Our
inventory was ruined, as were most of the furnishings.
Once over the initial shock, thrift store manager Paddy Mogan seized the opportunity to remodel and upgrade the store, which will reopen this fall. Many of you
have kindly made monetary and in-kind donations and have helped us through
this difficult period. We also thank you for your concern about the two store cats,
both of whom were found and are now doing fine.
Our shelter has recently received several badly abused animals. Our caring,
skilled staff were able to give them the medical treatment and TLC they so badly
needed and restore them to health. The lemonade has come not only from their
full recovery, but also in the form of news coverage, especially of Lucky, victim of a
botched ear-crop, which has raised public awareness about animal abuse and
about the resources of the Española Animal Shelter.
We hope that next time you pass by a lemonade stand you will think of NNMAPS
and the good work we do. Every contribution you make helps us turn lemons into
lemonade!
About NNMAPS
The Northern New Mexico Animal Protection Society (NNMAPS—pronounced
EN-maps), a private non-profit organization founded in 1993, has operated the
Española Animal Shelter (EAS) under contract from the City of Española and Rio
Arriba County since 1994. We also operate at the shelter a low-cost spay/neuter
and vaccination clinic for cats and dogs. Approximately one third of NNMAPS’s
funding comes from fees and contracts. The remainder comes from private donations, grants, fundraising efforts, and resale store proceeds. Donations are gratefully received and are tax deductible.
NNMAPS Mission Statement
The Northern New Mexico Animal Protection Society (NNMAPS) is dedicated to
improving the lives of companion animals and to solving the problem of pet
overpopulation in northern New Mexico by providing humane shelter for cats and
dogs, facilitating their adoption, and offering spay/neuter, humane education, and
other progressive animal welfare programs.
Española Animal Shelter and Clinic Services
Shelter: Adoption fee: $55 (includes spay/neuter & shots). Stray holding fee: $10.
Strays are kept for 3 days, then put up for adoption. Clinic: Vaccinations: $6 each.
Dog spay: $55. Dog neuter: $35. Cat spay: $35. Cat neuter: $25. Pit bulls &
rottweilers are altered for a flat fee of $15. Microchipping for identification: $30.
Please note that some fees are higher for people from outside our service area.
Volunteers Opportunities are Plentiful!
Our efforts could not go forward
without our volunteers. If you would
like to get involved helping animals
(and meet other people who care
about animals) please consider
volunteering for us. Here are some
of our current needs identified by
volunteer coordinator Shelle
Brudno..
We need people to assist at our
mobile adoption events. The more
volunteers we have at each mobile,
the more animals can come and get
an extra opportunity for adoption.
Mobile adoption events are generally on weekends at locations in Los
Alamos and Santa Fe. Volunteers
care for the animals during the
events and help match potential
adopters with our furry friends.
We also need more people to help
drive animals to the mobile events.
Drivers load the equipment and
animals at the shelter, drive to the
mobile location, help set up and
work the mobile (with the other
volunteers), and then return animals
and equipment to the shelter.
Foster parents are always welcome!
Foster homes, particularly for kittens
(now that kitten season is at its
height) and for adult dogs are
especially needed.
We are also looking for someone
to assist with coordinating the dog
foster program and someone to help
distribute our monthly posters.
Volunteers are needed to help put
together special events, such as the
various parades in Los Alamos and
Santa Fe.
And we are looking forward to fall
and our annual Auction in November. This event requires many volunteers, in a variety of functions, in
order to continue to be a great
success. Computer work, decorating,
set-up, and table monitoring are a
few of the areas where volunteers
would be especially welcome.
If you are interested in these or
any volunteer opportunities, please
call the shelter at 753-8662 or
contact Shelle Brudno directly at
470-1278. Thank you!
Happy Tails and Old MacDonald’s Farm
This spring and summer have
brought challenges to the EAS,
including some cases of severe
animal abuse and some rather
unusual animals. Fortunately, at the
end of these tales, tails have been
wagging!
First came a puppy whose owner
had apparently given him a home
ear crop and then tossed him into
the sewage at the waste treatment
plant. An alert plant worker heard
him crying, rescued him, and carried
him next door to the EAS. The pup,
soon named Lucky, needed extensive
antibiotic treatment to counteract
the infections that had set in on the
open ear wounds.
Lucky, now happy in his adoptive
home, reminds us of the cruelty of
ear cropping. Even when done by a
veterinarian and with anaesthesia, it
is a painful—and entirely unnecessary—procedure. Let’s hear it for
floppy ears!
We also received and treated
Moses, found dumped in a gunny
sack in La Puebla. Chemical burns
had left open, bleeding wounds over
Penelope the potbellied pig and EAS
receptionist Linda.
his face and upper body. He was in
such pain that he couldn’t bear to
be touched. Treatment, including
pain medications, healed him; it
took a over a month for his fur to
regrow. Now that he is recovered,we
find that he is an amazingly mellow
yellow and white cat. (He and his
buddy Sky, also yellow and white,
would love to find a home
together.)
And Old MacDonald’s farm?
In one very unusual week we
received ducks, a rooster, hamsters, a gorgeous black rabbit, a
pygmy goat, and a potbellied
pig, in addition to our normal
felines & canines. We’ve been
grateful for assistance with care
for these animals: shelter vet
Catherine Sayler freely admitted
that she was not an old hand at
spaying potbellied pigs!
Summer 2003
3
The Ins and Outs of the Indoor Cat
stimulation of the out of doors or
that being outdoors is somehow
more natural is a myth: cats have
been domesticated for many generations, and as a species they have the
adaptive ability to get the stimulation they need from an indoor
environment.
The simplest way to change from
the outdoor to the indoor
philosophy is never to
introduce a feline to the
outside. Kittens who grow
up indoors are generally
content with their environment and neither need nor wish to
go outside. And if you adopt an
adult cat that you suspect or know
was used to going outside, you may
find that he will accept your home
as an exciting new place that needs
no added interest from the outside.
Along these lines, I once moved with
my cat to a new city and went to a
great deal of trouble to find an
apartment with a cat-friendly outdoor environment (away from traffic
and no dogs), only to find that the
new apartment provided all the
stimulation she
needed; she
actually refused
to go out. The
rent would have
been a lot
cheaper if she’d
let me know
before the
move.
Short of
moving to a
new city, how
can you transform an indoorWindows are a cat’s entertainment center.
outdoor cat to
Those of us who grew up in northern New Mexico in the fifties and
sixties remember the family cat’s
routine: snoozing on the porch
during the day, running into the
kitchen at the sound of the can
opener for breakfast and dinner,
outside at night to roam and hunt.
While this area retains many of its
charms, it has, unfortunately, become
a less safe environment for our
outdoor cats—if it ever was really
safe. The fact that many more
people live here has created a more
dangerous environment. Increased
traffic, more dogs, both pets and
strays, more people putting out
poison for rodents and insects, or
simply being careless about antifreeze disposal: all these make
going outdoors risky for Fluffy.
But is it ok to keep a cat entirely
indoors? Yes, it is! Indoor-only cats
have been the norm in many larger
cities for some time now, and they
have a proven track record of wellbeing—and of living longer,
healthier lives than their outdoor
kin. The idea that they need the
4
EAS News
one that stays strictly inside? The
answer is as various as the personalities of cats. You may find that it was
you who thought going outside was a
good idea, and that Fluffy is perfectly
content to stay in. At the other end of
the spectrum is the cat who, as the
vets say,“exhibits destructive behavior”
when kept indoors. In most cases,
Indoor cats have a proven
track record of living longer,
healthier lives.
however, a gradual transition over the
course of several weeks or months—
increasing the indoor time, decreasing the outdoor time—will help make
the change go smoothly.
Some changes to the indoor environment will probably be needed.
Obviously, if Fluffy has been using all
the great outdoors as her litterbox,
she’ll need to know she has her own
private bathroom inside: show her
her new litterbox (or boxes), which
you have put somewhere easily
accessible to her. Scratching posts
will substitute for tree trunks (and
furniture): these are most attractive to
cats when placed not in an obscure
corner but in a high traffic area. They
scratch in part to show their ownership of territory where their people
are most likely to be. Access to a
window sill where there’s a view of a
bird feeder will be welcome; my cats
particularly enjoy watching local
lizards staring back at them from the
outside sill. And plenty of toys and
playtime with her favorite person
(that would be you) will allow your
cat to discharge her energy and learn
to love home.
Why Not Neutersol?
By Catherine Sayler, D.V.M.
After the new “neutering” shot’s
approval this spring, at least one
NNMAPS Board member had visions
of traveling Northern New Mexico
back roads armed with a dart gun
and a keen eye for the unneutered
dog.
News of the first injectable canine
neutering agent, Neutersol, hit major
media with the predicted lack of
details—most notably, exactly where
the “shot” needed to be given.
Unfortunately, the Neutersol solution
must be given in equal doses into a
specific anatomical region of each
testicle, which limits its administration to licensed, trained veterinarians. Still, with a complacent animal,
the injections take less time than
surgery, which led most shelters to
investigate Neutersol as an option.
The injection can only be used on
dogs between three and ten months
of age with testicles that fall within a
narrow size range. Even with a
limited eligible population, the
biggest disadvantage to Neutersol is
that, while it causes sterility 99.6% of
the time, it only reduces hormone
production by 41-52%.Whether this
reduction is enough to dampen
hormone-induced behaviors such as
barking, digging, chewing, roaming
and aggression remains to be seen.
Despite all the disadvantages, most
organizations battling pet overpopulation felt an initial urge to support
the concept of non-surgical sterilization by buying a few doses of the
product. Sticker shock set in fast. At
$50 a dose, the cost of the drug is
beyond the reach of most shelters,
which currently neuter dogs for $25
EAS veterinarian Catherine Sayler
with her cat Niña
to $45. At the Española Animal
Shelter, each $1000 donated to the
Critter Fixer Co-Pay fund spays or
neuters fifty animals, compared to a
$1000 purchase of Neutersol which
would cover only twenty animals.
Someday, when Neutersol comes
off patent and the price drops, and
behavioral effects are better understood, shelters may be stocking it
floor to ceiling. For now, old-fashioned surgery and anesthesia are
the best and cheapest option. As for
neutering via dart gun, one can
always dream.
Cat tip number 47:
How do you handle a cat? The
trick is to make her think you’re
smarter than she is.
Applause, applause!
The following donors have made
recent contributions of $100 or
more. or have contributed goods
and services to the shelter. The
Española Animal Shelter, NNMAPS,
and the animals are grareful to
everyone who makes a donation!
P. K. Adams
Agua Fria Nursery
Anonymous
The Beat Goes On
Evelyn Bemis
The Benji’s Buddies Fund
Jennifer Bennett
Jack & Carol Berber
Paula Bertino
Bonnie Beutel
Mark Bibeault
Ron Blankenship for Kristin Potter’s 4th
grade class
Lori Faye Bock
Ramona Brandt
Sanford and Jane Brickner Fund
Russell Scott Broadhurst
The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston
Betty Caldwell & Norma Kearby
Century Bank
Joan Christopher
Rosan & Paul Clayton
Frank & Elva Clinard
Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Hope Curtis
Dahl’s Plumbing
Nancy David & William Woodruff
Nancy Dickerson
Dawn Douglas
Patrick Dunnigan
Eddie’s Plumbing
Yvonne Edwards
Ira Eisenstadt & Deidre Howley
Eldorado Animal Hospital
Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Santa
Fe
Valerie Espinoza
Deborah Gallegos
Dr. Mark Gelber
Angela Gingrich
Kathryn Gursky & Richard Bolton
Deborah Gallegos
Hacienda Home Center
Scott Hancock
Handsel Foundation
Summer 2003
5
Jeffry Hanus Appraisals
Clara Keyes Hardin
Barry Harfield
Donise Hardy
Jean Harris
Wendy & Donald Hassemer
Hernandez Elementary 4-H Club
Homes of America
Tim Honnell
Hedwig Kay
Barbara Kiplinger
Los Alamos United Way
Laura Langdon
Mary & Jim Leatheberry
Sandra Lesser
Kathleen Kentish Lucero
Joseph Maestas
Susan Hallsten McGarry
Peregrine McGehee
Rhiannon McGehee
Marcia Miller
Marsha Mason
Johanna McLauglin
Harriet McQueen
Messengers of the Healing Winds
Iris and Raymond Moro
Ann Mountori
Barbara Munson
Catherine Morlock & John Moses
NM Academy of Healing Arts
Susan Noel
Payne’s Nursery St. Michaels Dr.
Marcella Peralez-Holsworth
Petco
The Plant Stand at Jackalope
Plants of the Southwest
John & Peggy Polk
Helen Randall
Eliza Lovett Randall
Retro Pets, Krista Brooks
Yvonne & James Rogers
Santa Fe Greenhouses
Bobbie Schmidt
Juliana Seeligson
Amie Selecman
Benjamin Serber
Sarah Singleton
Luween and David Smith
Francesca Stedman
Subway of Espanola
Sunshine Mobile Homes
Loreen Tillis
Tropic of Capricorn SF
Sally Wagner
Paul Walsky, M.D.
Sylvia Williams
Helene Wurlitzer Foundation
6
EAS News
Robert Young
Zakworks, Inc.
We apologize for any misspellings.
Their Last Litter!
We are grateful to all who have
donated to our Last Litter Fund (see
option 5 on the next page). The
following are the dogs and cats who
have benefited from this fund so far
and who have retired from parenthood!
Whiskers, Roxy, Negrita, Blacky,
Heeler, Charle,Vicious, Shera, Kitty,
Medison, Ms. Cat, & Rosie
We should note that “Vicious” turns
out to be a very sweet cat, not at all
like her name, and that we have
received two litters of kittens from
Ms. Cat this summer and are glad
that the 3 littles ones currently in
foster are her last.
Let your love live!
Remember NNMAPS
in your will!
You know the satisfaction of writing
a check to a charity whose goals you
support. But have you thought about
leaving a legacy of caring by including a charity in your will or trust?
By including NNMAPS, in your will
or trust planning, you can leave a
gift that will continue to aid the
organization after you are gone.
And, just as there are tax benefits
from writing a check, there can be
significant tax benefits when
NNMAPS is included in your estate
planning.
Your banker, lawyer, or accountant
can provide you with information on
the many different legacy and trust
options.
AUCTION NEWS
Save the date! Our eleventh annual
Fine Arts Auction fundraiser & dinner
tur
da
y, November
will take place Sa
Satur
turda
day
ado Hotel. FabuDorado
15th, at the El Dor
lous auction items include antiques
and artwork, plus exciting getaways,
trips, adventure, wines, gourmet
dining, & much more.
Please phone our hotline number
for info on where to make donations,
how to get tickets, how to sponsor an
ad, how to volunteer, etc.: 466-4304
466-4304.
We are seeking underwriting for
our auction expenses, as well as
sponsors. Please phone 466-4304 to
learn about the benefits of underwriting and sponsorship.
Donations for the auction are
extremely welcome. Please phone
466-4303 to make arrangements.
We will produce “hot sheets” : upto-the-minute announcements about
exciting auction item donations,.
Hot sheets will allow you to do
advance planning for your bidding.
To receive hot sheets send your email address to us at
[email protected], and
we will forward you auction item
news as it happens.
To be successful, we need your
continuing support and participation.
Please join us for the 2003 benefit!
Tickets are $60 each, $750 for a
reserved table for 10, $1,000 for a
Patron Reserved table for 10, and
$1,200 for a Patron Reserved table for
12. Ask your friends to join you, and
buy your tickets early! We are planning for a full house and a marvelous event!
5 ways to get involved & help the animals
1
2
3
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would
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olunteer.. Please have the
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volunteer coordinator call me.
Volunteers walk the dogs and keep the cats
amused.They save lives by fostering animals.
They staff our mobile adoption events and help
with fundraising and publicity. Let us match
your time and talents with our needs!
4
ould lik
e to dona
te
would
like
donate
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check made out to NNMAPS.
We rely on donations from the general public to
keep our shelter and clinic going. Less than 6%
of our budget comes from city & county contracts.
ould lik
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wsletter
eceiv
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Española Animal Shelter News, our newsletter,, is
currently published three times per year. It has
animal health and safety information as well as
news of the shelter and NNMAPS activities. (We
do not share or sell our mailing list.)
!
5
"
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ould lik
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chase a br
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WALK OF HOPE AND LOVE.
This walkway at the shelter is made of bricks
with inscriptions honoring and remembering
people and pets. Each brick can have two
lines of thirteen letters and spaces each. The
cost is $50 per brick, and proceeds support the
shelter. Inscription:
ant to mak
e this her last litter!
want
make
! Iw
A donation of $55 will subsidize the spaying
of an animal whose litter has recently been
surrendered to the shelter’s care. Shelter
staff will notify you when this donation is
used to spay a momma dog or cat.
Name ______________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City _________________________ Zip ___________
Phone _____________ (h) __________________ (w)
Mail to NNMAPS / 108 Hamm Parkway / Española, NM 87532
"
Summer 2003
7
The Española Animal Shelter
NNMAPS
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage Paid
Santa Fe, NM
Permit #124
108 Hamm Parkway
(formerly 160 Hamm Pkwy)
Española, NM 87532
505/753-8662
Printed on recycled paper
Calendar
Our Eleventh Annual
Fine Arts Auction and
Dinner will take place
Saturday, November
15, at the El Dorado
Hotel. See pp. 6 & 7
for details.
Pets and Children: Realistic Expectations
Parents often hope that caring for a
pet will teach a child responsibility.
A worthwhile hope, but for the sake
of both the child and the pet, expectations must be realistic. As one
expert remarked: “You can’t expect
a four-year-old to care even for a
goldfish without supervision.”
Pre-adolescent children may make
promises, but they are not yet intellectually or emotionally in a position
to take full responsibility for a pet.
Pre-school kids can usually help
with feeding and brushing a cat or
dog, and help with filling its water
bowl. When they’re 5-7, they can
often do these things without direct
supervision, but a parent needs to be
there as backup. Children 8-12 still
need supervision and
gentle reminding when
petcare tasks get forgotten.
Whatever a child’s age, it
is best for both the child
and the pet when the
whole family participates in
responsibility for the pet.
Children learn a lot by
example. Even if they aren’t
yet able to carry out all the
tasks required for proper
pet care, they will learn
from older family members
when they see them caring
for the family pet’s health and
happiness.
A brighter future for cats & dogs in northern New Mexico
8
EAS News