On a cold day, Saturday, December 30, 2023, a good citizen found nine puppies abandoned in a Bernalillo County dumpster, left to die in the dead of winter. The City’s Animal Welfare Department (AWD) took the puppies in as an emergency case to help save their lives. Mayor Keller expressed, “It’s inspiring to see where these puppies are today considering the incredibly rough start they emerged from. No pet should ever be abandoned."
The puppies, frail, malnourished, and dehydrated, weighing an average of 3 pounds, were nursed back to health by AWD. Carolyn Ortega, Director of Animal Welfare Department, remarked, “It’s just awesome to see how resilient animals are. When you love them, care for them, they will thrive.”
After receiving necessary care, the puppies were microchipped, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. On January 4th, 2024, they were brought to an adoption event at City Hall, where 7 of the puppies found loving homes with people who work at City Hall, while the remaining 2 were adopted by families through Lucky Paws.
Anitra Jex, who works at the City’s Parking Division, shared her experience, saying, “I knew when I saw Rocky he was mine. Are there challenges with a puppy? Yes, but I wouldn’t change it for the world!”
Despite one of the puppies not making it to the reunion, the rest are now thriving, healthy, and enriching the lives of their new families. The reunion at City Hall was a heartwarming event, with lots of tail wagging and joyful reunions among the siblings.
Carolyn Ortega encouraged anyone facing challenges in caring for their pets to seek resources in the community, such as shelters and animal societies. Mayor Keller also highlighted the importance of supporting AWD through volunteering, fostering, adopting, or donating, emphasizing the crucial role each person plays in the lives of shelter pets in need.
The successful adoption and reunion of these once-abandoned pups serve as a reminder of the resilience and joy that animals bring into our lives.
