Desert Haven Animal Refuge opened its doors in December 2001 to homeless, neglected, handicapped and unwanted domestic animals of Sierra County, New Mexico. All animals who arrive at Desert Haven can be guaranteed a new home or a good life at the no-kill facility, where they will never again be alone, hungry or afraid. Except in extreme circumstances, when the animal is a danger to himself or to others, or has lost the quality of life, all animals who are taken in live at the no-kill facility until they are adopted out or to the end of their natural life.
Desert Haven is operated by The Sierra County Humane Society, a non-profit 501-C-3 corporation dedicated to the welfare of animals and governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. Eliana Aubin co-founded the Sierra County Humane Society in 1989 and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors.
Eliana Aubin with Annie
OUR MISSION: The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Relief of Animal Suffering, Extension of Humane Education.
Lucky - the first canine resident of Desert Haven TRIBUTE TO LUCKY
OUR CURRENT ADOPTION FEES ARE $65.00 for either a cat or a dog, regardless of size. (We do not adopt out birds or other animals.) Each pet is vet-checked, spayed or neutered, and brought up-to-date on shots.
If you adopt another pet at the same time, the adoption fee is only $50.00 for the second one because we believe "Life is better with a buddy!" We are careful to whom we adopt our companion animals. Questionnaires are required.
NOT PHYSICALLY ABLE TO ADOPT a companion animal but willing to make a difference in his/her life? Your generous contribution will give a homeless pet another "leash on life" at Desert Haven Animal Refuge. You may donate on-line using PayPal's secure server (even if you don't have a PayPal account) by clicking this button.
THE SIERRA COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY raises funds for several comprehensive programs that provide long-term benefits for the companion animals of Sierra County.
1) THE SIERRA COUNTY SPAY-NEUTER PROGRAM is one of the most effective. We assist every local resident of Sierra County who applies for financial help. If you need help to have your dog or cat sterilized, send an email to our webmaster and request the spay/neuter application form. You can also pick-up am application at Paws & Claws Thrift Shop, El Rancho Poodles or the local police station. You will receive a rebate certificate of $40 for each female,and $30 for each male, sterilized under the program. You will also be eligible to receive another $5 to $15; this information will be sent to you with the Sierra County Humane Society rebate certificate. The SCHS pet sterilization program has a yearly budget of $2,000 to $5,500. It is funded, in part, by Paws & Claws Thrift Shop.
2) THE SPAY-A-STRAY PROGRAM covers the entire costs of sterilizing five or more stray or feral cats each month, using the Trap-Neuter-Return (T-N-R) method pioneered by Alley Cat Allies. Cats sterilized under this program must have a safe environment to return to after sterilization. Currently, the Society is in the process of sterilizing entire colonies of stray cats in several areas within the community, including some outlying towns within the County of Sierra, NM. For example, over 180 feral cats roam freely throughout the little town of Hillsboro, New Mexico, a community of less than 200 residents. Several years ago, none of those cats were sterilized. To date, just about all of the 180+ stray cats have been sterilized, thanks to the on-going efforts of the Sierra County Humane Society. It is through contributions earmarked for this gigantic effort that the Society is able to keep this most important program financially stable.
3) THE ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM PROGRAM was introduced over 10 years ago. From 10 to 32 elementary classrooms voluntarily participate each year. This program comes to our Society from the National Association of Humane and Environmental Education (NAHEE). Each student receive KIND NEWS, a newspaper published by the NAHEE and geared to each classroom's level of comprehension. Humane Society volunteers make regular visits to elementary classrooms, often with a pet from Desert Haven Animal Refuge. Video tapes on animal care, on cruelty to animals, or on the need for spaying or neutering a pet, are made available throughout the school year to interested teachers. Pet care packages, literature and pet coloring books are distributed on a first-come first-serve basis, as long as adequate funding is raised each year. We also provide books and magazine subscriptions for our local high school and public libraries.
HOW DO WE COVER THE GROWING COSTS OF DESERT HAVEN ANIMAL REFUGE and our other programs? It costs an average of $140.00 to ready each animal for adoption, sometimes much more for animals needing special medical attention. We receive no financial help from government entities, local or otherwise. All our funding comes from personal and corporate contributions. We hold a number of fund raising events each year to keep our non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization financially stable.
3) YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS, small or large, allow us to keep our 200+ animals and birds healthy and happy in a home-like environment. You may donate on-line using PayPal's secure server (even if you don't have a PayPal account) by clicking the DONATE VISA/MC button below.
$ 9 will buy a bale of alfalfa for our rabbits and guinea pigs $15 will feed the residents of Birdland & Animal House for one week $25 will cover the major vaccinations of one rescued dog or cat $25 will feed all the residents of the Cool Cat Neighborhood for one week $50 will feed the dogs of Dog Town for one week $50 will cover the sterilization costs of one rescued cat or dog
4) USE GOODSEARCH.COM EVERY TIME YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET! Goodsearch.com is a new search engine that donates over half its revenue, about a penny per search, to charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo! so you get great results. Just click the link below and be sure that the Sierra County Humane Society is selected as the charity that you wish to support. Just 500 of us searching four times a day will raise about $7300 in a year without anyone spending a dime. And, be sure to spread the word!
5) OTHER SOURCES: Very modest membership fees, tax exempt contributions from private parties, and local fraternal and service organizations under our 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Support is also raised through activities such as garage sales, pancake breakfasts, crafts and art shows, silent auctions, bake sales, Pennies for Pets, an aluminum cans recycling program, Doggie Banks located at several businesses throughout town, and the always-popular annual Have-a-Heart dinner dance.
Contact Freddie at 575-894-2778 or email Eliana Aubin to ask about adopting a pet or for more information on any of the programs of the Sierra County Humane Society or Desert haven Animal Refuge.