New owners return gift pets to shelter

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Employees at Animal Humane of New Mexico returned to the office Monday morning to a not-so-welcome-greeting. Ten pets were returned--a total of 35 just this month.

"This morning we had seven messages of people who may have received pets over the weekend for Christmas that weren't really ready for the commitment," Animal Humane Marketing Director Dawn Glass said.

Glass said the days following Christmas are typically the busiest days of the year for pet returns.

"Before getting someone a pet as a gift, be sure you're on the same page and they're ready to commit to taking care of a pet, which is a wonderful thing to do, but the responsibility is large," said Glass.

Despite the returns, 2010 is shaping up to be a banner year for Animal Humane. More than 4,500 cats and dogs have been adopted setting a record for its 45-year history.

"We opened two new locations and our community has really shown an outpouring of support for those locations," Glass said.

Animal Humane's goal for the month of December was to adopt 455 pets. They're 90 animals shy of reaching that goal.

"That's an average of 22 pets a day for the next four days," Glass said.

Glass said this year several owners have surrendered their pets because they can no longer afford to take care of them. Animal Humane has several resources in place, like a pet food bank and a low-cost vet clinic, to help owners cover the costs.