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Animal Protection’s CARE program urges $350,000 annual funding to help domestic‑violence survivors keep companion animals
Summary
Animal Protection New Mexico described the CARE helpline and co‑sheltering initiative that helps domestic‑violence survivors place or co‑shelter animals; presenters said FY25 funding shortfalls forced service limits and requested a $350,000 annual contract to sustain statewide helpline, boarding and vet support.
Animal Protection New Mexico representatives told the Legislative Health & Human Services Committee that their Companion Animal Rescue Effort (CARE) helps domestic-violence survivors keep companion animals during sheltering and recovery and that the program needs sustained funding to continue expanding co‑sheltering and boarding services.
"We have a 100% confidential helpline ... CARE assisted 122 callers, served 95 individuals and families and 137 animals in fiscal year 2025," said Stacy Sutton Kirby, chief of government affairs for Animal Protection New Mexico. She said calls to the helpline have risen about 190% since 2022.
CARE provides a statewide helpline, coordinates boarding with about 24 boarding facilities and works with 21 veterinary clinics. The program also supports domestic-violence shelters to become animal-inclusive by doing site assessments, training staff and helping shelters meet infrastructure needs so survivors can keep animals on campus.
Presenters said the existing state contract and Grow funding covered most operations in FY25 but did not meet full-year demand; they estimated CARE needs approximately $350,000 per year to operate at scale — covering helpline staffing, boarding, veterinary care and co-sheltering technical assistance.
Committee members asked about outreach to unhoused populations, boarding logistics for multiple animals, capital-outlay options for shelters to add animal-inclusive infrastructure and whether CARE has had to relinquish animals; presenters said they work with broad rescue and boarding networks, rarely need to relinquish animals and will explore capital-outlay pathways with shelters.
Ending: Committee members expressed support and suggested possible capital-outlay and philanthropic partners; presenters said the contract is currently funded through FY26 and sought sustained funding for FY27 and FY28.
