Humane Society to open Cibola County office

By Mike Marino
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Cibola County is home to many pet lovers, and they all agree that family pets need good homes.

Now, six months after its formation, the Cibola County Humane Society has found a home of its own. The group of volunteers who were initially working and coordinating efforts from their homes were not centralized. Now that has changed. The Humane Society is getting ready for their open house to celebrate their new office at 411 Santa Fe Ave., across the street from the Mission Gallery.

The office space was very important to the Humane Society and its work.

"It gives us legitimacy, of course, and that we are serious about our work, and they will have one place to visit for help or get answers to questions regarding their pets. And of course, we will have one centralized phone number to help us be much more efficient," Humane Society Director Denise Marinelli said.

The small, two-room office is a work in progress. Supplies are needed in the form of donations of such items as a copy machine, fax machine, desks, chairs, etc. Funding at this point is strictly out of the pockets of the various volunteers and board members. The workers buy the paint out of their pockets and then roll up their sleeves and put a fresh face and coat of paint on the walls. Unlike most office walls with dull white or beige color schemes, the fact that volunteers are bringing their own paints makes for an interesting decor scheme with brighter and more artistic colors that lend a warm, friendly feeling as you enter the office.

The group also wants to include works of art, especially of an animal theme so they are looking for art donations as well.

"This space came to us very unexpectedly from a local businessperson and animal lover, so it was perfect," Marinelli said.

The office will be staffed by three to four volunteers initially, and because they serve all of Cibola County, they are always looking for volunteers.

In the future, the Humane Society office hopes to be able to sell pet products not otherwise be able to be found in Grants, in order to cut down on trips to Albuquerque.

"We may start at first with simple things, like collars and leashes as money starts to come in, but eventually we hope to be able to carry specialized foods, vitamins, and other things that are hard to find here," Marinelli said.

Even if some of the items were available elsewhere pet lovers will take note that the proceeds from the sales from the Humane Society office will stay in the Humane Society to help expand their programs.

The Humane Society also offers dog training classes and that program has also been expanding. Currently the classes are held once a week, at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. If that class is full they will hold a morning class at 9:30. As more people get involved they will expand the training program to include more days of the week for the community's convenience.

As for the date of the open house Marinelli said, "I was hoping for a week, but with the painting it may take just a little longer. Definitely within the next two weeks. The board is getting together to share ideas as to what we should do for the open house, but we just want to make it's fun, so that everybody wants to come in to see what we have here. Our ultimate goal is to not just have a great Humane Society, but one that can be the model for others in the country. We want to be the best."

Once the doors are officially open, the Human Society will be open five days a week. To volunteer your time, money or equipmen,t or to get more information on their services, call the Humane Society at (505) 285-5050.