Sandia staff collected donations for four local rescue groups that provide shelter and fostering for dogs and cats in need as part of the Homeward Bound Drive, supported by Community Involvement. The outreach group, Advancing the Next Generation of Leadership Excellence, collected consumables and encouraged Albuquerque non-profit rescue organizations to promote their work during the drive.

Caroline Winters of ANGLE identified animal rescue organizations as a community that Sandians were interested in and organized the event to help find homes for animals in need.

“I adopted my dog Arthur when I first moved to Albuquerque, and it struck me that I could not have found him without help from volunteers,” said Caroline, a postdoc in plasma science. “After talking with them, I see their mission as twofold: taking care of adoptable animals every day and performing outreach such as open vet clinics, behavior training and pet retention programs.”

ANGLE collected grain-free wet and dry pet food, collars and leashes at several locations around the Labs and hosted representatives from the four rescues at the Thunderbird Café. Two organizations, June’s Senior Cat Rescue and Lap Dog Rescue of New Mexico were founded by Sandia employees.

ANGLE also hosted High Desert Cat Rescue and Animal Humane of New Mexico.

June’s Senior Cat Rescue

Sandian Janet Philippsen, a training designer, founded June’s Senior Cat Rescue in 2013 after her mother June passed away, leaving behind her senior cat Ninety Nine.

“I knew Ninety Nine would be euthanized at the shelter. So I drove to California to bring her home. On the long drive home, I decided that I was going to do something to help the senior cats who are displaced when their owner dies. That was when June’s Senior Cat Rescue was born,” Janet says.

Janet says though June’s does find homes for some cats, many will stay with the rescue for the rest of their lives. “In fact, some owners ask us not to adopt them out so that they don’t have to go through another big change in their life, since cats aren’t big on change,” she adds. 

Lap Dog Rescue of New Mexico

Sandia retiree C. Marie Steele co-founded Lap Dog Rescue in 2001 after many years helping small dogs in Albuquerque shelters find homes. Since those informal beginnings, the rescue has grown, placing about 700 dogs last year.

Lap Dog Rescue takes in animals for foster homes from local rescues, rural shelters and partner rescues in Juarez, Mexico.

High Desert Cat Rescue

High Desert Cat Rescue & Adoption was founded in 2007 by Pam Russell and a group of experienced volunteers from other local rescue groups.

Current HDCRA President Brad Stebleton said that the founding group felt that cat rescue did not receive the same amount of attention as dog rescue, and that a group solely focused on the unique needs of cats was needed.

Animal Humane New Mexico

Animal Humane New Mexico is the state’s leading private animal welfare organization serving cats, dogs and their families. Animal Humane partners with shelters across the state to rescue homeless pets and improves the lives of New Mexico’s cats and dogs through adoptions, humane education and veterinary services.

“Animal Humane is a great place to add an adoptable cat or dog to your family, and it’s also a place to turn to for pet resources,” said Leah Remkes. “Animal Humane operates a pet food bank, a behavior helpline, and holds positive training classes for all ages to strengthen the bond between pets and their people.”

All four rescues always seek volunteers with extra space in their homes and their hearts to help down-on-their luck dogs and cats find their way home.