About

The AWC is a nonprofit that was created in 2008 by local citizens compelled to address the cruelty and neglect of cats and dogs in and around Las Vegas, New Mexico. We are volunteers who gained our community’s trust by helping our community with pet food, providing low-cost spay and neuter services, and rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding forever homes for the sick, the injured, and the forgotten. As a result of the AWC’s good work, the City of Las Vegas invited them to take over operation of the city animal shelter from 2013-June 30, 2022. 

During their tenure the AWC raised the level of care routinely given to each animal that entered the shelter–for example: vaccinating every animal upon intake and requiring sterilization for every animal that was adopted. They staffed the shelter with passionate, dedicated, experienced members from rescue teams who had been doing this kind of work as volunteers for years. We  also added a knowledgeable group of volunteers to provide socialization and one-on-one care for the animals in order to greatly reduce the depression and stress of being a shelter animal. Happier animals are more adoptable animals, which translates into fewer abandoned strays and a greatly reduced euthanasia rate. In fact, while the AWC managed the shelter the average live release rate was 92%!

Currently we no longer rescue or board animals and as of April 2023 we have completed restructuring. In that process we identified one of the biggest animal welfare needs in our community is inexpensive spay/neuter services. Follow us on Facebook for information on upcoming low cost / free spay/neuter clinics among other important events.

The Animal Welfare Coalition can be reached at (505) 426-6715. You can also follow us on FaceBook. 

AWC board members, passionate volunteers, & the exceptional and dedicated Animal Balance staff who have assisted AWC with spaying & neutering 550 dogs & cats over a period of a year and a half for the local community of San Miguel County.
Photographed Fall of 2023.