Are you ready to add a new pet to your family? We can help you find the most reputable and safest places to adopt a furry companion in Albuquerque, NM.
There are various animal shelters in the city that have dogs, cats, and other small animals in need of loving homes. Before you begin the adoption process, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the steps involved and the fees required.
You may also want to research the different shelters in your area to learn more about their specific policies and procedures. Adopting a pet from a shelter is a beautiful opportunity to give an animal a second chance and a loving home. Let's start your adoption journey today.
What Do You Need to Adopt a Pet in Albuquerque?
You'll need to meet specific requirements to adopt a pet from an animal shelter or rescue in Albuquerque. Each shelter has its own policies. But in general, you may need to provide proof of identification, fill out an adoption application, answer a questionnaire, and possibly undergo a home visit.
To find out the specific requirements for the shelter you're interested in, it's important to check with them directly. Here are the general conditions you'll likely encounter when adopting from most animal shelters and rescues.
- Age requirement
You'll need to meet the age requirement set by the shelter to adopt a pet. The age requirement is usually 18 years or older, but some shelters may require you to be 21 or even 25. You'll also need to present a valid ID.
- Fill out an online application
Before starting the adoption process, you'll usually need to complete an online application on the shelter's website. This application will ask for your contact information and may also inquire about your home situation, experience with pets, pet-parenting style, and the size of your home and yard. This information ensures that you're ready to care for a pet and that the dog or cat will be well taken care of.
- Adoption fees
There is a cost to adopt a pet from a shelter. This fee covers the expenses of housing, feeding, and caring for the animal, including staffing, insurance, mortgage, utilities, and medical care. Your fee may seem high, but it's significantly less than the actual cost of caring for the animal until it's adopted. Non-profit shelters and rescues often rely on volunteers and donors to help cover these costs.
- Meet and greet
Before you can adopt a pet, you may need to participate in a "meet and greet" with the animal. This allows you to interact with the pet and see how you get along. It's also helpful to bring any family members or current pets you have to the meet and greet.
- Home visit
In some cases, the shelter or rescue may also require a visit to ensure that your home is a suitable environment for a pet. This step helps to prevent any pet returns to the shelter in the future.
Cost to Adopt a Pet from an Animal Shelter
The fees for adopting a pet from a shelter in Albuquerque, NM, may include the cost of spaying or neutering the animal and any necessary medical treatments and microchipping. Some shelters offer reduced fees for certain groups, such as senior citizens or military personnel, and may also have discounted prices for senior pets, pets who have been at the shelter for an extended period, or for adopting multiple pets at once.
The adoption fees at Albuquerque animal shelters can vary, so it is important to check with the specific shelter you are interested in to get the most accurate pricing information. Keep in mind that it is always a good idea to inquire about adoption fees before falling in love with a particular pet.
Animal Humane New Mexico
Puppies and adult dogs
- Puppies 6 months or younger = $120
- Adult dogs 6 months to 6 years = $100
- Adult dogs 6 years and older = $35
- All purebreds and highly adoptable dogs = $150+
Kittens and adult cats
- Kittens 6 months or younger = $75
- Adult cats 6 months to 6 years = $30
- Adult cats 6 years and older = $15
- All purebreds and highly adoptable cats = $100+
Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center
Puppies and adult dogs
- Large breed puppies (2-3 months) = $275
- Large breed puppies (3-6 months) = $225
- Small breed puppies (2-3 months) = $325 - $375
- Small breed puppies (3-6 months) = $275
- Large breed dogs (6 months - 2 years) = $175
- Small breed dogs (6 months - 2 years) = $200
- Large breed dogs (2-5 years) = $150
- Small breed dogs (2-5 years) = $170
- All dogs over 5 years = $95
- Long-term dogs (at WMR 1+ years) = $50
*A.K.C. Registered Dogs Additional $125-200
*Purebred Dogs (No Papers) additional $100-150
Where is the Best Place to Adopt a Pet in Albuquerque, NM?
There are several places in Albuquerque where you can adopt a pet from an animal shelter. You'll find humane societies, government-funded organizations, animal shelters, and animal rescues. Below are some of the most popular, reputable places to adopt a pet in Albuquerque, NM. No matter which place you choose, many loving dogs, cats, and more are ready for their new forever home.
Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department
The Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department operates the city's animal shelter with the mission of promoting the welfare of animals in Albuquerque. The shelter has a variety of adoptable pets, including dogs, cats, and other small pets. The shelter also offers reduced fees for senior citizens and military personnel and discounted prices for senior pets and pets who have been at the shelter for an extended period.
The Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department's vision is to create a community where all pets are valued, loved, and cared for. And this shelter works to achieve that vision by offering adoption services, promoting spay and neuter programs, and educating the public about responsible pet ownership.
Animal Humane New Mexico
Animal Humane New Mexico is a non-profit animal welfare organization that annually serves more than 10,000 homeless and at-risk cats and dogs. Their mission is to improve the lives of animals in New Mexico through rescue, rehabilitation, and education.
This shelter's vision is to create a world where every animal is treated with compassion and respect. To achieve this vision, the organization operates an animal shelter and adoption center, offers spay and neuter services, and provides education and outreach programs to the community.
Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center
The Watermelon Mountain Ranch Animal Center is an animal rescue organization in Albuquerque with the mission of rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals in need. The organization's vision is to create a world where all animals are treated with kindness and respect and have the opportunity to live happy healthy lives. To achieve this vision, the organization operates a rescue center for dogs, cats, and horses. It offers adoption services, spay and neuter services, and education and outreach programs to the community.
Desert Paws NM Animal Rescue
Desert Paws Animal Rescue of New Mexico is a non-profit organization that specializes in rescuing and rehabilitating animals from rural areas around Albuquerque. They are unique in their dedication to helping animals in underserved communities, often working in partnership with local Pueblos and reservations. They provide medical care, foster homes, and adoption services, with a particular focus on dogs and cats. Their tireless efforts have saved countless lives and brought joy to many families.
Bernalillo County Animal Care Services
Bernalillo County Animal Care Services operates an animal shelter in Albuquerque with the mission of promoting the welfare of animals in Bernalillo County. The shelter's vision is to create a community where all pets are valued, loved, and cared for. And they work to achieve this vision by adopting pets into loving homes, promoting spay and neuter programs, reuniting lost pets with their owners, and educating the public about responsible pet ownership.
New Mexico Pets Alive Coalition
The New Mexico Pets Alive Coalition is the oldest no-kill animal shelter in New Mexico. They are a non-profit animal rescue organization focusing on rescuing abandoned and abused dogs and cats. They provide additional services while these animals are in their care, like spay and neuter surgeries, medical care, and any other significant surgeries required.
Their foster care program places animals in home environments. This allows the New Mexico Pets Alive Coalition the opportunity to assess each pet's personality and specific needs. Which then helps them to find the perfect fit for a new home.
New Mexico Animal Friends
New Mexico Animal Friends is a volunteer-based organization that has been serving the Albuquerque area for over 30 years. They specialize in rescuing, fostering, and finding homes for cats and dogs. Their uniqueness lies in their commitment to reducing pet overpopulation through their spay/neuter programs. They also provide medical care for sick and injured animals, and they work tirelessly to find loving homes for all the animals in their care.
PetFinder.com & Adopt-a-Pet.com
In addition to these shelters, you can also find pets for adoption through online resources such as Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet.com. You can view pictures of cats, dogs, and other small pets from numerous animal shelters and rescues nearby. And you can filter through the available pets to find what you're looking for based on species, gender, breed, size, age, and whether or not they are good with children and other pets.
Adopt a Pet in Albuquerque, NM, today!
Now that you've seen just how many places there are to adopt a pet in Albuquerque and know the potential fees and requirements for adoption, it's time to start searching for your new fur baby!
At Local Pet Care, we're here to help you not only find the best places to adopt but also the best dog-friendly restaurants and the best dog parks in Albuquerque. Plus, we'll help you find the best local pet care professionals right near your home. With these resources, you will be set up for pet-parenting success!
For more great articles about dog-friendly activities and pet-parenting advice, check out the Blog at LocalPetCare.com.
