REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM >>LORENE: HELLO, I AM LORENE MILLS AND WELCOME TO REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

OUR GUESTS TODAY ARE BOBBI HELLER WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FELINES AND FRIENDS NEW MEXICO AND ALSO YOU ARE GOING TO TELL US ABOUT A PROJECT IN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SANTA FE CATS, WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

AND HER RESCUE PARTNER IS MURAD KIRDAR OF THE SANTA FE NEW MEXICO ANIMAL SHELTER, AND YOU ARE THE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND BUSINESS RELATIONS DIRECTOR, SO THANK YOU BOTH FOR COMING.

I HAVE INVITED YOU HERE BECAUSE YOU DO SO MANY WONDERFUL THINGS FOR ALL THESE ANIMALS, AND I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

SO IF ONE OF YOU WOULD START ABOUT HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS EXCESS OF ANIMALS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE, HOW WE CAN HELP?

>>BOBBI: I BELIEVE THAT PART OF THE CAUSE OF THE ABUNDANCE THAT WE HAVE OF CATS AND DOGS NOW IS LACK OF SPAY AND NEUTER ACCESSIBILITY.

LAST YEAR DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN THE SURGERIES WERE NOT DEEMED AS ESSENTIAL AND THAT DID CHANGE, BUT THE DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE WHERE THERE WE MANY, MANY LITTERS AND THOSE LITTERS STARTED HAVING LITTERS BECAUSE THEY CAN HAVE TWO AND THREE A YEAR.

SO WE ARE NOW PLAYING CATCH UP, HERE WE ARE IN 2021 AND WE ARE STILL PLAYING CATCH UP FOR ALL OF THOSE BIRTHS FROM LAST YEAR.

>>MURAD: I WILL AGREE WITH THAT, I MEAN IT IS UNPRECEDENTED HOW MANY ANIMALS WE HAVE AT THE SHELTER RIGHT NOW THAT ARE UNDER THE AGE OF TWO YEARS OLD.

>>BOBBI: RIGHT.

>>MURAD: THE MAJORITY OF THEM AROUND A YEAR TO A YEAR AND A HALF AND IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF THE SPAY AND NEUTER.

WE COULDN'T OFFER SPAY AND NEUTER TO PEOPLE WHO HAD PUPPIES AND KITTENS, BECAUSE IT WASN'T ESSENTIAL.

SO NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH CATCH UP AND ALL OF THESE ANIMALS ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING BABIES AND MORE AND MORE PUPPIES AND MORE AND MORE KITTENS AND THIS SUMMER WE WERE AT CAPACITY PRETTY MUCH FROM JUNE UNTIL TODAY.

WE ARE STILL AT CAPACITY AND WE HAVE DONE FEE-WAVED ADOPTIONS, WE ARE TRYING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIND HOMES FOR THESE ANIMALS BECAUSE THERE ARE JUST SO MANY RIGHT NOW.

>>LORENE: I KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU AND THE SHELTER ARE DOING IS YOU ARE OFFERING LIKE YOU SAY, FEE WAIVERS AND FOR KITTENS AND PUPPIES IT IS $25 FEE, BUT THESE ANIMALS HAVE HAD ALL THEIR SHOTS, THEY ARE ALREADY SPAYED AND NEUTERED, YOU GIVE THEM A LITTLE GOODY BAG.

I MEAN HOW ENTICING CAN YOU BE, PLUS THEY ARE THESE DARLING PUPPIES AND KITTENS.

>>MURAD: RIGHT.

WE ARE TRYING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ENTICE YOU.

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN ANIMAL, HOW ABOUT TWO, HOW ABOUT THREE, I HAVE FOUR.

SO, YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE MORE AND I ALWAYS SAY, "IF YOU CAN'T ADOPT, FOSTER."

EVERY SHELTER ACROSS THIS STATE, SHELTERS, RESCUES, THEY ARE FULL AND IF PEOPLE CAN FOSTER FOR TWO WEEKS OR A MONTH, IT IS GOING TO JUST EASE THE BURDEN THE SHELTER OR THE RESCUE SO MUCH.

>>BOBBI: ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, WE RIGHT NOW HAVE A NURSING MOMMA THAT WE TOOK FROM A SHELTER IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO AND HER KITTENS ARE COMING OF AGE PROBABLY NEXT MONTH FOR ADOPTION.

AND WE JUST TOOK IN ANOTHER MOTHER THAT IS IF SHE DOESN'T HAVE HER KITTENS TONIGHT, I WILL BE AMAZED.

AND SO, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE CHRISTMAS KITTENS AND I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO BE IN THE SAME BOAT AS WELL.

>>MURAD: YEAH, YEAH.

>>BOBBI: SO PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WANTING THEM BUT, YES, WE WOULD LOVE THEM TO HAVE MORE ANIMALS BUT IF THE HUMANS ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING PLACES TO LIVE, AND SO MANY RENTALS ARE NOT ALLOWING ANY PETS, WE ARE NOW RUNNING INTO THAT AS AN ISSUE.

SO AS MUCH AS THEY WANT TO ADOPT, THEY CAN'T BECAUSE OF THOSE LIMITATIONS.

>>LORENE: AND THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SPURRED ME TO DO THIS PROGRAM SOONER RATHER THAN LATER BECAUSE AT ONE POINT THE EVICTION MORATORIUM WHERE LANDLORDS HAD TO KEEP THEIR RENTERS, AND EVERYBODY GOT COMPENSATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

BUT ONCE THAT MORATORIUM IS GONE, I AM SURE THAT THERE WILL BE LANDLORDS WHO ARE GOING TO RAISE RENTS SO THEIR OLD TENANTS CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY THERE.

>>BOBBI: IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING, YES.

>>LORENE: FINALLY GETTING RID OF TENANTS THEY HAVE WANTED TO GET RID OF FOR A LONG TIME AND THESE TENANTS WHO ARE BEING EVICTED CAN'T FIND A PLACE THAT WILL TAKE FIDO OR FLUFFY.

AND IT IS JUST REALLY POIGNANT TO ME THE PEOPLE ARE FORCED TO SEPARATE FROM THEIR BELOVED ANIMALS AND THEIR CHILD'S PET, THAT STUFF IS REALLY HARD.

>>MURAD: IT'S ONE OF THE MOST HEARTBREAKING THING TO SEE IS WHEN A FAMILY COMES INTO A SHELTER OR RESCUE TO SURRENDER AN ANIMAL AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE KIDS INVOLVED AND YOU ARE SEEING THE KID HANDING OVER THEIR PUPPY OR KITTEN AND IT'S JUST SO HEARTBREAKING.

THERE ARE NOT EVEN WORDS TO DESCRIBE IT, BUT I WISH THERE WERE SOMETHING MORE THAT WE COULD DO.

I KNOW AT SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER AND I MEAN SHELTERS AND RESCUES, WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE CAN USUALLY TO HELP AND KEEP THE ANIMAL IN THE HOME.

>>BOBBI: YES.

>>MURAD: THE BEST PLACE FOR AN ANIMAL IS IN A HOME, NOT A SHELTER, NOT A RESCUE.

>>BOBBI: RIGHT.

>>MURAD: NOT IN SOME KENNELS, THEY NEED TO BE IN YOUR HOME.

SO I KNOW AT THE SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER, FELINES AND FRIENDS, WE OFFER SO MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS TO THE PUBLIC WHERE WE CAN HELP THE PEOPLE KEEP THAT ANIMAL IN THE HOME.

IF YOU GUYS NEED FOOD, IF YOUR PAYCHECK ISN'T COMING, WE CAN HELP YOU WITH THE FOOD, WE CAN HELP WITH MEDICATIONS FOR THE ANIMALS, WE CAN HELP WITH TRAINING.

IF THE DOG IS JUMPING OVER THE FENCE TOO MANY TIMES AND THE CAT IS GETTING OUT TOO MANY TIMES, WE CAN HELP WITH THAT.

WE HAVE RESOURCES, WE HAVE TRAININGS.

SO, REACH OUT TO YOUR LOCAL SHELTER, REACH OUT TO RESCUES AND TALK TO THEM BEFORE SURRENDERING.

SURRENDERING SHOULD BE YOUR VERY LAST OPTION.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>BOBBI: AND I THINK AS MUCH AS IT IS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE THE PUPPIES AND THE KITTENS BEING TURNED OVER, IT IS WORSE WHEN THE ANIMAL HAS BEEN WITH THAT FAMILY SINCE IT WAS A PUPPY OR A KITTEN AND NOW IT IS MIDDLE AGED OR A SENIOR AND NOW THEY END UP IN A FACILITY INSTEAD OF THE HOME, THE ONLY HOME THEY HAVE EVER KNOWN, BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, NOTHING THEY DID.

AND WE EVEN TRY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO SAY, "OH, YOU KNOW THE CAT'S TOO OLD TO MOVE ACROSS COUNTRY."

NO, IT IS NOT, IT'S TOO OLD TO HAVE TO ADJUST TO BEING IN A CAGE.

AND IT IS A MUCH EASIER PROCESS TO TAKE IT IN A CARRIER UNDER YOUR SEAT OR DRIVE IT WITH YOUR BELONGINGS AND TAKE IT WITH YOU THAN TO LEAVE BEHIND AT A SHELTER OR AND WE GET THE CALLS WITH THE SHELTER SAYING, "THERE'S AN 18-YEAR-OLD CAT THAT JUST GOT SURRENDERED, CAN YOU TAKE IT BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT IS NOT GOING TO DO WELL EMOTIONALLY.

AND I TRY TO TELL PEOPLE, THAT 18-YEAR-OLD CAT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EVEN IF IT IS A TWO-DAY DRIVE, WILL DO FAR BETTER DOING THAT DRIVE WITH ITS FAMILY THAN BEING SURRENDERED AT THAT AGE.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>MURAD: SO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT, IT'S LIKE LET ME JUST SURRENDER IT BECAUSE WE ARE MOVING ACROSS COUNTRY AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT.

BUT AN ANIMAL SHUTS DOWN, AN ANIMAL GETS DEPRESSED, AND AN ANIMAL WILL SIT LONGER AND LONGER AND LONGER AT SHELTERS OR RESCUES BECAUSE THEY ARE SHUT DOWN.

THEIR PERSONALITY DOES NOT COME OUT ANYMORE BECAUSE THEIR WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN IN A LIVING ROOM, THEIR WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN IN A HOME.

>>BOBBI: RIGHT.

>>MURAD: AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEIR FAMILY LEFT THEM.

I MEAN THINK ABOUT, I ALWAYS TRY TO TELL PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE ANIMAL AS YOU AND WOULD YOU WANT TO BE JUST DROPPED OFF AND LEFT AT A SHELTER AND SAY, "OKAY BYE, BYE, WE ARE LEAVING.

WE ARE MOVING ACROSS COUNTRY NOW, WE ARE GOING ON VACATION AND WE CAN'T TAKE YOU."

>>LORENE: WELL THAT IS ONE ASPECT, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER ONE, THE LOYALTY OF A DOG.

FOR EXAMPLE, SOME DOGS ARE JUST PUSHED OUT IN THE WOODS AND THEY STAY EXACTLY WHERE THEY WERE PUT THINKING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO COME BACK AND THERE IS A FAMOUS MOVIE AND A STATUE IN EDINBURGH FOR GREYFRIARS BOBBY, WHO CAME BACK TO WHERE HIS MASTER WAS LAST SEEN EVERY DAY FOR TWENTY YEARS.

AND SO THAT KIND OF LOYALTY IS TO BE REWARDED, NOT JUST SURRENDERED.

>>MURAD: RIGHT, YOU KNOW AT OUR SHELTER WE ACTUALLY GOT RID OF THE TERM "OWNER" AND WE USE "GUARDIAN".

BECAUSE WHEN YOU OWN SOMETHING, IT IS MUCH EASIER TO GET RID OF IT, BUT WHEN YOU ARE A GUARDIAN OF A PET, WHEN YOU ARE A GUARDIAN OF A CAT OR A DOG, YOU THINK TWICE.

>>LORENE: THAT'S VERY WISE.

>>BOBBI: AND WE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO CORRECT PEOPLE THAT COME INTO ADOPTION, SAY "HOW MANY DID YOU GET RID OF TODAY?"

AND I WILL SAY, "WE DON'T GET RID OF PETS, WE GET RID OF TRASH.

WE ARE WORKING TO PLACE EVERY ONE OF THESE CATS."

SO, IT IS THE SAME CONCEPT AS YES, A GUARDIAN VERSUS OWNER, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT BECAUSE OF THAT MENTALITY THAT THERE IS A DISCONNECT OF THE COMMITMENT AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR IS COMMITMENT.

>>LORENE: YES AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO AVOID RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ACT.

>>BOBBI: RIGHT.

>>LORENE: TELL ME A LITTLE, YOU JUST HAD A CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE YOUR FACILITIES.

YOU ARE TAKING OVER SOMETHING THAT WAS CALLED SANTA FE CATS, SO TELL ME ABOUT THAT CAMPAIGN AND TELL ME HOW MANY CATS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF.

>>BOBBI: AT THE RISK OF GETTING IN TROUBLE, SO YES, WE HAD BEEN RENTING, SANTA FE CATS WAS A HOMEBASED BUSINESS THAT WAS BUILT IN 1982 UP ON TANO ROAD AND WE AT FELINES AND FRIENDS HAD BEEN MANAGING IT FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AND PAYING THE THIRD OWNER'S RENT.

WE DID A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR AND PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WERE CRAZY THAT IN THE MIDDLE OF COVID THAT WE WOULD LAUNCH A MAJOR CAMPAIGN, BUT WE DID AND WE RAISED THE MONEY TO BUY THE FACILITY OUTRIGHT.

AND SO WHAT IT DOES IS WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE BOARDING SERVICES, THAT REVENUE SUPPORTS PAYING FOR THE STAFF AND WE HAVE SHELTER SPACE.

AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE A LOT OF CATS AND KITTENS LAST YEAR AND CONTINUE THIS YEAR, WE CAN HOUSE THEM THERE AS WELL IN A SHELTER SECTION AND IT JUST INCREASED THE OVERALL ABILITY THAN BEING 100 PERCENT FOSTER CARE BASED.

BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE FACILITY OBVIOUSLY, THAT SANTA FE IS, BUT WHEN WE GET A CALL FROM RESCUE PARTNERS LIKE SANTA FE WE CAN TAKE THEM AND THEY DO BETTER.

>>LORENE: SO YOU MIGHT HAVE A CAT WITH A DIABETES?

>>BOBBI: YES.

>>LORENE: OR YOU MIGHT HAVE YOU KNOW A TRAUMATIZED CAT, WHERE YOU CAN GIVE SPECIAL CARE WHEREAS, YES, I THINK THAT'S WONDERFUL WHAT YOU'RE DOING, THANK YOU.

>>BOBBI: WE ACTUALLY HAVE, STILL, A COUPLE OF THEM THAT WE TOOK THAT WERE DIABETIC FROM SANTA FE AND THEY LIKE LIVING IN OUR RECEPTION ROOM.

THEY HAVE GOT A SOFA AND THEY HAVE GOT A CAT TREE BY THE WINDOW AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE NOT IN CAGES AND EVERYBODY CHECKS THEIR GLUCOSE AND WE TAKE CARE OF THEM AND WE HAD ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS SHUT DOWN AND WAS LIVING IN JENNIFER STEKETEE'S OFFICE.

AND HE CAME TO US AND OVER TIME DEVELOPED BETTER PERSONALITY BECAUSE HE WAS NOW FREE ROAMING AND HAD OTHER CATS AND WE PUT HIM INTO A PERMANENT FOSTER HOME WITH A LOVELY OLDER GENTLEMAN WHOSE OTHER COMPANION CAT HAD PASSED AND THE GIRL CAT THAT WAS LEFT BEHIND WAS LONELY.

SO, HE IS LIVING WITH THAT GENTLEMAN NOW AND IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL BECAUSE SANTA FE SHELTER HAD A PLACE TO CALL TO SAY, "LISTEN, THESE GUYS ARE NOT DOING WELL UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES AND, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDABLY SO."

BUT WE COULD GIVE THEM SOMETHING ELSE AND THAT IS WHAT HAVING OUR FACILITY ALLOWS US TO DO, BECAUSE IT IS NOT SET UP LIKE A REGULAR SHELTER.

>>MURAD: IT IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP, IT REALLY IS, BETWEEN US, SHE CAN TAKE SOME MEDICAL ANIMALS THAT WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME OR WE DON'T HAVE THE FACILITIES TO DO IT.

THEY CAN TURN THAT CAT AROUND AND IT'S JUST LIKE SHE SAID, WE CAN PUT CATS IN AN OFFICE AND LET THEM RUN AROUND THE OFFICE, BUT IT IS STILL NOT A HOME.

>>LORENE: YEAH.

>>BOBBI: RIGHT.

>>MURAD: AND SO IF YOU GO FROM KENNEL TO OFFICE AND THEN IF THEY CAN'T MANAGE IN THERE THEN WE PUT THE CALL OUT.

>>BOBBI: YES.

>>MURAD: IT IS A TRUE PARTNERSHIP.

>>LORENE: IT IS, I JUST WANT TO REMIND OUR AUDIENCE WE ARE SPEAKING TODAY WITH MY FAVORITE RESCUE PARTNERS, MURAD KIRDAR AND BOBBI HELLER, THESE TWO HAVE DONE SO MUCH.

I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND FROM THIS THAT ALTHOUGH YOU WERE BASED IN SANTA FE, YOU HAVE HUGE NETWORKS THAT REACH TO EVERY SHELTER, EVERY AREA OF THE STATE.

AND I WANT YOU, MURAD, TO TELL US ABOUT THE "DRIVING CHANGE TO SAVE LIVES" PROGRAM AND THEN IN A MOMENT, WE WILL LOOK AT A LITTLE FILM CLIP ABOUT IT.

BUT WOULD YOU SET US UP AND TELL US WHAT YOU DO, HOW MANY SHELTERS, WHAT PART OF THE STATE ARE ALL THESE SHELTERS IN?

>>MURAD: WELL, WHEN A SHELTER IS OVERWHELMED, WHAT SHOULD THEY DO WITH ALL THE ANIMALS THAT THEY HAVE WHILE MORE ARE STILL COMING IN EVERY SINGLE DAY.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY SHELTERS AND RESCUES ACROSS OUR STATE THAT A LOT OF THE ANIMALS ARE ON A TIME CLOCK, SO BECAUSE WE ARE A PRIVATELY RUN SHELTER, AND WE ARE NO KILL, WE CAN BRING IN ANIMALS FROM THESE OTHER SHELTERS AND OTHER RESCUES, HELP THEM OUT ON THEIR SPACE, BRING THE ANIMALS HERE, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THEM ADOPTED HERE AND THEN THEY CAN FOCUS ON WHAT THEY NEED TO FOCUS ON THE ANIMALS COMING IN TO THEM THAT DAY.

SO, WE ARE HELPING PRETTY MUCH RESCUES ALL ACROSS THE STATE ABOUT 40 OF THEM RIGHT NOW I BELIEVE.

>>LORENE: FORTY COMMUNITY ANIMAL SHELTERS.

>>MURAD: YEAH, IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS FROM FARMINGTON, DEMING, ESPANOLA, LAS CRUCES, EVEN ALBUQUERQUE.

I MEAN EVERYWHERE AND EVERYONE IS JUST SO PACKED RIGHT NOW WITH ANIMALS THAT ANY RELIEF, ONE DOG, FIVE DOGS, FIVE CATS, WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING.

WE ARE TRANSFERRING OUR GOAL, ULTIMATELY IS TO MAKE NEW MEXICO A NO-KILL STATE, WE ARE NOT THERE YET BUT WE ARE GETTING THERE.

AND I THINK IT STARTS GOING BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED ABOUT IS SPAY AND NEUTER, SPAY AND NEUTER.

>>BOBBI: YES.

>>MURAD: SPAY AND NEUTER, SPAY AND NEUTER.

I CAN SAY THAT A THOUSAND TIMES PEOPLE, YOU HAVE GOT TO SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR ANIMALS.

AND THEN WE WILL JUST MAKE THIS STATE A NO-KILL STATE AND EVERY ANIMAL WILL HAVE A FIGHTING CHANCE.

>>LORENE: WELL, LET'S LOOK AT THIS VIDEO CLIP.

THE TITLE IS "DRIVING CHANGE TO SAVE LIVES."

>>MURAD: YUP.

>>LORENE: WELL LET'S JUST HEY EVERYONE, IT'S MURAD FROM THE SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER.

WE ARE HERE IN A VERY SPECIAL PLACE, THE GARAGE OF THE SHELTER.

THIS IS WHERE ALL THE ANIMALS FROM ALL ACROSS NEW MEXICO BEGIN JUST LAST YEAR 610 ANIMALS FROM PARTNER SHELTERS LIKE LAS CRUCES, FARMINGTON, ESPANOLA AND LAS VEGAS, SENT US AT RISK ANIMALS TO GIVE THEM A BETTER SHOT AT FINDING THAT ONE SPECIAL FAMILY WITH US HERE IN SANTA FE.

YOU MIGHT BE ASKING US WHY WE ARE TAKING IN ANIMALS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE AND SIMPLY PUT IT'S BECAUSE IT SAVES LIVES.

OUR SHARING OF RESOURCES MEANS AN OVERALL BETTER PLACE FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEN WE TAKE IN ANIMALS, IT DECREASES THE EUTHANASIA RATE STATE WIDE AND IT FREES UP PRECIOUS LIMITED RESOURCES SO THAT OTHER SHELTERS CAN CONTINUE TO HELP ANIMALS IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

>>AMBER: OUR NUMBER ONE LIFE SAVING TOOL THAT WE USE HERE IS OUR TRANSFER PROGRAM.

WE STILL GET FULL AT TIMES, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMERTIME WHEN WE GET SO MANY KITTENS AND PUPPIES AND ADULT ANIMALS IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE AN >>MURAD: WHEN SHELTERS ARE TAKING IN MORE ANIMALS THAN THEY CAN ADOPT OUT, THERE IS NO SPACE FOR THE NEW HEALTHY ADOPTABLE ANIMALS THAT ARE STILL GOING TO BE COMING IN, SO BY TRANSFERRING ANIMALS OUT, THEY HAVE MORE SPACE TO HELP MORE ANIMALS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND IT IS JUST NOT AN OVER POPULATION THAT IS AN ISSUE, IN MANY SMALL TOWNS ACROSS THE STATE THERE IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ADOPT, LIKE IN LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO.

>>ELENA: I STILL MEET PEOPLE EVERY DAY THAT DON'T EVEN REALIZE THAT THERE IS AN ANIMAL SHELTER IN LAS VEGAS.

SO, THERE IS NOT PEOPLE COMING TO ADOPT AND WE ALWAYS HAVE MORE ANIMALS THAN WE HAVE SPACE FOR ON A CONTINUAL BASIS.

>>MURAD: LUCKILY, WE ARE ABLE TO HELP.

WE HAVE REDUCED ANIMAL HOMELESSNESS IN SANTA FE COUNTY BY 50 PERCENT OVER THE LAST DECADE.

SO, AFTER WE HAVE FIRST SERVED OUR OWN COMMUNITY, WE CAN THEN EXTEND OUR RESOURCES TO THE REST OF THE STATE WHEN WE HAVE SPACE AVAILABLE, RECENTLY WE ACCEPTED SOME VERY >>DR. JENSEN: SO IN THIS LITTER WE HAD FUJI, KILIMANJARO, GLACIER, SUGARLOAF, ANDES, SANDIA, AND EVEREST, ALL NAMED FOR MOUNTAINS.

>>ELENA: ONE OF THE KITTENS THAT WE TRANSFERRED TODAY HAS A CONGENITAL DEFORMITY AND CAN'T REALLY JUMP, SO THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE FUNDS FOR TO GET THE MEDICAL CARE APPROPRIATE FOR THAT CAT.

>>DR. JENSEN: WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HELP SOME OF THE OTHER SHELTERS AND THAT IS WHY THESE KITTENS CAME UP FROM VEGAS.

WE HAD THE ROOM, WE HAD FOSTER PARENTS WAITING, AND WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE THESE KITTENS OFF THEIR HANDS WHERE OTHERWISE THEY MAY NOT HAVE HAD AS GOOD AS AN OUTCOME.

WE THINK THE STATE AS A WHOLE BENEFITS FROM US DOING THIS AND WHEN WE TAKE A LITTER SUCH AS THIS THAT NEEDS ALL THIS EXTRA CARE, WITH POTENTIALLY THIS SPECIAL SURGERY, IT FREES THE VEGAS SHELTER UP TO THEN HELP THEIR >>LORENE: WHAT A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.

I AM JUST CHARMED AND OF COURSE THIS PROGRAM NEEDED KITTENS AND PUPPIES TO LOOK AT AND ENJOY.

>>MURAD: YES AND FOR ALL YOUR VIEWERS, ALL THOSE KITTENS, INCLUDING FUJI, ALL GOT ADOPTED AND AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, THEY ALL CAME FROM LAS VEGAS AREA, FROM THE LAS VEGAS SHELTER.

SO, THEY DEPEND ON US SO MUCH BECAUSE WE HAVE THE MEDICAL FACILITIES TO HELP THEM, SO THEY SENT THE ANIMALS TO US, WE HELPED THEM MEDICALLY, AND THEN WE GET THEM HOMES AND ALL THOSE CATS FOUND HOMES AND I DID FIND A STAT FOR YOU.

OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, THE SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER HAS PARTNERED WITH OVER 40 OF NEW MEXICO'S SHELTERS AND RESCUES TO TRANSPORT OVER 3,500 ANIMALS.

>>LORENE: WOW!

>>MURAD: SO IT WORKS AND JUST LIKE THE TITLE SAYS, "DRIVING CHANGE TO SAVE LIVES."

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING, WE ARE SAVING LIVES.

>>LORENE: YES, ALSO YOU HAVE A CLINIC, RODDEY'S REHAB CENTER?

>>MURAD: YEAH.

>>LORENE: DO ANY OTHER ANIMAL SHELTERS HAVE A CLINIC LIKE THIS, TELL ME WHAT CRITTERS QUALIFY FOR THIS REHAB.

>>MURAD: SO THE RODDEY REHAB CENTER WAS BUILT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO FOR A PLACE WHERE DOGS THAT HAVE BEEN ABUSED, NEGLECTED, CHAINED UP OUTSIDE, THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN INSIDE OF A BUILDING.

WE HAVE DOGS THAT WILL COME TO US EITHER FROM ANIMAL SERVICES OR PEOPLE SURRENDERING THEM AND THE DOGS ARE SO SCARED TO WALK INSIDE THE SHELTER AND IT IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN OUTSIDE CHAINED UP THEIR WHOLE LIVES.

SO RODDEY'S REHAB CENTER WAS BUILT WHERE A DOG AND SOME CATS, WE'VE GOT CATS THERE, TOO, WHERE THEY CAN LEARN TO BE AN ANIMAL AGAIN.

WE CALL IT THE SECRETS HOURS BECAUSE SO MUCH TIME FROM STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS ARE SPENT THERE WHERE NOBODY REALLY SEES WHAT IS GOING ON AND THEY ARE HAND FEEDING THESE DOGS, HAND FEEDING THESE CATS.

>>LORENE: RIGHT.

>>MURAD: LEARNING TO BUILD THE TRUST AGAIN, BECAUSE IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THE CONFIDENCE OF THOSE ANIMALS TO TRUST A HUMAN AGAIN AFTER WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH.

AND IF WE CAN BUILD THAT AND ACCOMPLISH THAT, THEN THEY CAN BE ADOPTABLE AGAIN AND THAT IS WHAT RODDEY'S REHAB CENTER IS ALL ABOUT.

THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT FOR AN ANIMAL THERE, SO THEY CAN BE THERE FOR ONE MONTH, THEY CAN BE THERE FOR SIX MONTHS.

WE HAVE HAD A DOG UP THERE FOR TWO YEARS ONCE AND NOW THAT DOG IS AN OFFICE DOG HERE IN SANTA FE AND GOES TO AN OFFICE EVERY DAY.

SO WHEN HE CAME TO US TWO YEARS AGO HE WOULDN'T EVEN WALK INSIDE THE BUILDING AND GROWLED AT EVERYONE AND NOW HE IS SITTING IN AN OFFICE EVERY DAY.

SO IT WORKS, REHABILITATION WORKS, BUT AS EVERYTHING, IT COSTS MONEY.

>>LORENE: YEAH, YEAH.

WELL IN THAT VIDEO CLIP, THAT LITTLE KITTEN WITH THE DEFORMED LEG, I MEAN WHAT IMMENSE COMPASSION TO SAVE THAT LITTLE KITTEN AND TO GIVE IT A WONDERFUL LIFE.

>>BOBBI: WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO THAT WE JUST TOOK FROM ABOVE TAOS AND THEY HAVE BIRTH DEFECTS, THEY BOTH HAVE GOT A LITTLE GIMPY LEG THAT NEEDS TO BE AMPUTATED BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO BALANCE ON IT AND THEY ARE GOING TO DO DAMAGE.

SO, AT THAT YOUNG AGE, THEY ARE ONLY ABOUT THREE AND A HALF MONTH'S OLD, WE HAVE HAD THEM FIXED BUT NOW WE HAVE GOT THEM INLINE TO GET AMPUTATIONS SO THAT THEY WILL ADJUST THEIR BALANCE, THEIR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AS YOUNG ANIMALS, AND THEY DO INCREDIBLY WELL AND NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THAT AND THEY WERE GOING TO POTENTIALLY BE EUTHANIZED AT ANOTHER SHELTER BECAUSE THEY SAID WE CAN'T TAKE CARE OF LIKE DEFORMED ANIMALS.

>>MURAD: RIGHT.

>>BOBBI: WE PLACED NO-EYED, ONE-EYED, THREE-LEGGED, WE HAVE DONE ALL OF THOSE AND IT IS AMAZING AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY, THEY LOVED THE STORIES, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GIVE THE BACKGROUND OF HOW THIS CAT CAME TO BE IN THE POSITION IT IS IN AND WHAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR IT, IT IS ALMOST LIKE THE ANIMALS KNOW THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SAVED WE LOVE SEEING THAT.

>>MURAD: I TRULY BELIEVE THAT.

IN THE EIGHT YEARS I HAVE BEEN DOING ANIMAL WELFARE TO SEE AN ANIMAL COME IN SO DAMAGED AND SO BROKEN AND TO SEE THEM FINALLY WALK OUT THAT DOOR, IT IS SUCH A GREAT RELIEF AND IT IS SO REWARDING.

BECAUSE THESE ANIMALS, WE HAD AN ANIMAL, A DOG CAME TO US SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, PICKED UP BY ANIMAL SERVICES IN THE COUNTY OF SANTA FE AND FOR SOME REASON HE HAD RUBBER BANDS TIED AROUND HIS LEG, THE LEG WAS BLACK PRETTY MUCH.

SO WE HAD TO AMPUTATE IT AND WE ARE LIKE THIS DOG MIGHT BE AGGRESSIVE.

THE MINUTE HE WOKE UP FROM THAT ANESTHESIA, HE WAS THE HAPPIEST DOG, HE WAS THE HAPPIEST DOG AND I GO IN HIS KENNEL EVERYDAY NOW AND HE JUST LICKS MY FACE, THEY KNOW.

THEY KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN SAVED AND RESCUED FROM SOME KIND OF SITUATION.

>>LORENE: I THINK MOST OF OUR AUDIENCE KNOWS THE REWARD, THAT NOT ONLY THE ANIMAL FEELS, BUT THE PEOPLE FEEL IN ORDER TO HELP.

SO CAN YOU TELL US WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO HELP?

>>BOBBI: APART FROM SPAY AND NEUTER, I THINK WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT.

WE ALL NEED FOSTER HOMES BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY TIMES WE ARE PUTTING AN ANIMAL THAT NEEDS TO CROSS THAT THRESHOLD OF FEAR AND AGGRESSION SOMETIMES.

IF THEY ARE IN A HOME WITH SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE PATIENCE THEY WILL THRIVE, AND IT IS AMAZING FOR US.

WE DO A LOT OF FERAL KITTENS, WE ARE WORKING WITH THE SHELTER AT THE GATOS PROGRAM AND THE ADULTS GET PUT BACK OUT FIXED BECAUSE THERE'S A HOLE, THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER TOPIC ABOUT YOU NEED TO DO THAT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CREATE A VACUUM.

BUT WE TAKE AS MANY TEENS AND AS MANY ADULT TEENS AND WE TAKE THE KITTENS.

WE START OFF WITH A LITTLE KITTEN THAT IS ABOUT THIS BIG THAT'S HISSING, RIGHT?

WE CALL IT THE EXPLODING KITTEN BECAUSE HE JUST GET ALL FUZZIES UP AND HE THINKS HE IS SO TOUGH.

YOU PUT THEM INTO A FOSTER HOME, AND THEY HOLD THEM AND THEY WORK WITH THEM EVERY SINGLE DAY AND THE SHEER JOY OF WHEN THAT LITTLE SPITBALL SUDDENLY STARTS PURRING, YOU HAVE CROSSED OVER THAT THRESHOLD.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE GOT PURRING AND MEWING, I JUST TOUCHED MY MICROPHONE, SORRY ABOUT THAT, AND IT IS JUST AMAZING TO SEE THAT, THAT TRANSITION AND I AM SURE IT'S THE SAME WITH PUPPIES THAT ARE FEARFUL TOO.

>>LORENE: WE ONLY HAVE A MINUTE LEFT, PLEASE TELL US WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO.

>>MURAD: DONATE.

ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DONATION BASED, WE DON'T GET ANY FUNDING FROM THE CITY OR THE STATE, SO, YEAH, DONATE, DONATE, DONATE.

IF YOU CAN'T DONATE, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WHEREVER YOU ARE HEARING THIS, VOLUNTEER.

>>BOBBI: YES.

>>MURAD: VOLUNTEER AT OUR SHELTER, AT FELINES AND FRIENDS, ANY SHELTER.

IT IS THE BEST GIVE BACK THAT YOU CAN GIVE AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER FOR WHEREVER YOU ARE AND TO WALK INTO AN ANIMAL SHELTER OR A RESCUE, TO WALK A DOG, TO CUDDLE WITH A KITTEN, IT MEANS SO MUCH TO THOSE ANIMALS FOR THE FEW MINUTES THAT YOU ARE THERE.

SO VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME, GIVE A COUPLE OF HOURS A WEEK TO YOUR COMMUNITY BY VOLUNTEERING.

>>LORENE: AND FOSTERING.

>>MURAD: AND FOSTERING.

AND SPAY AND NEUTER.

>>LORENE: WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR GUESTS TODAY.

BOBBI HELLER, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SANTA FE FELINE AND FRIENDS NEW MEXICO AND MURAD KIRDAR, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND BUSINESS RELATIONS AT THE SANTA FE ANIMAL SHELTER.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THESE CREATURES AND THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>>MURAD: THANK YOU.

>>BOBBI: THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>>LORENE: AND I AM LORENE MILLS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING WITH US TODAY ON REPORT FROM SANTA FE .

REPORT FROM SANTA FE IS MADE POSSIBLE, IN PART, BY GRANTS FROM THE NEW MEXICO MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, A BETTER NEW MEXICO THROUGH BETTER CITIES AND FROM