Sandoval County waives pet adoption fees through end of August

In the dog days of summer, two guests at the Aug. 14 Sandoval County Commission meeting were more than welcome.

Daisy and Mr. Biggie, two dogs who are currently housed at the Sandoval County Animal Shelter, were greeted with pets, smiles and applause as they joined the commission in recognizing August as “National Dog Month.”

District 1 Commissioner Katherine Bruch, who fostered and adopted her dog, Chief, in 2021, read the proclamation, which touched on some of the many important things that dogs do for us.

“National Dog Month breaks to the forefront all the dog breeds, mixed and purebreds, and serves to help remind the public about the number of dogs needing to be rescued each year from public shelters and rescues,” Bruch said. “This special month also acknowledges working dogs that help protect our freedom and provide safety by putting themselves in harm's way every day as they assist law enforcement and fire and rescue agencies by performing tasks that humans aren’t able to do, such as sniffing out drugs and bombs, helping with recovery efforts and disaster events. We give thanks to the dogs that are service and therapy animals; we are also grateful for the dogs that help to detect seizures and cancer in home and medical environments. National Dog Month celebrates our dogs because we know that they improve our lives and make us happy.”

To celebrate National Dog Month, Sandoval County, which is facing an overcrowding issue with animals in its possession, is waiving all adoption through the end of August.

Sandoval County Community Services Director Jayme Espinzoa joined Daisy, Mr. Biggie and the three county Animal Services employees at the meeting to emphasize the need for more adoptions to alleviate the overcrowding at the shelter, which has only 20 kennels and 60 animals.

“We have just three employees working in our animal Animal Services Department, but we also have tons of volunteers. We also get lots of help from the Sheriff's Department. So we do appreciate that,” Espinzoa said. “This month we have waived adoption fees. So anybody interested, tell your friends, tell your family, tell your neighbors to come out and adopt a dog or three.”

Sandoval County Animal Services is always looking for volunteers, donations and, most importantly, people to adopt pets. Many of those pets will be available to adopt at events throughout the county, including Mayor's Sunday is Funday this weekend and the Pooch Plunge on Sept. 7.