Humane Society reports declining intake but overcrowding; advocates microchipping and ordinance review

Heidi Olivas of the High Desert Humane Society presented the shelter’s 2025 statistics and raised concerns about the county’s animal-licensing program. Olivas reported intake and licensing numbers for Grant County in 2025, including combined dog and cat intakes and an adoption total reflective of ongoing demand. She said the shelter issued 1,204 spay-and-neuter coupons and adopted out 268 animals to county residents from intake totals reported.

Olivas said 13.2% of adoptable animals were euthanized due to overcrowding and questioned whether the current licensing program is the most effective owner-identification mechanism. She noted other New Mexico jurisdictions have moved toward mandatory microchipping with an option to buy a more expensive license, and she proposed the county consider a microchipping model that could be made affordable through bulk purchasing: "If the money that we put into all of this licensing could be used to purchase the microchips, we could probably do it for $10," she said.

Commissioners asked how the county could support the shelter’s work, including public outreach about spay-and-neuter resources, advertising adoptable animals and reviewing the ordinance. Olivas offered to serve on a committee to revise the ordinance and to work with city partners and animal-control staff on feasibility and potential costs.

Next steps: Olivas and county staff discussed forming a working group to explore microchipping, mandatory spay/neuter options and ways the county can help reduce shelter returns and long-term holds from court cases.