Kitty City near La Luz provides haven for felines facing euthan...

Great thing for the cats to bad there isn't something like this for dogs.

There are in El Paso and Las Cruces...and there are lots of individuals here in town that work at the problem of throw away pets.
Ask Animal Rescue Mission what is going on with the 'shelter' they have. The shelter was going to be open "when a caretaker was found", then "in the Spring",then "in the Fall"for the 7 or so years I have been here, and I have been told it has been a 'dream' for years before that. Of course it only has 6 pens/runs,etc. The $ raised at the Thrift Store is for the 'she;ter'....hummmmm?

It would be nice to have a TNR program in place for feral cats in town. And a low-cost spay/neuter clinic....WHAT THE HELL DOES THE ARM AND HUMANE SOCIETY OF OTERO COUNTY DO EXACTLY??

I heard that the care takers that were hired for ARM are no longer their and while they were there (one year) the shelter never opened. What's up with that? My understanding is that the land was donated where the shelter sits and has been there for years. Is ARM just a front for someone to make some money tax free?

Skuttlebutt wrote:

I heard that the care takers that were hired for ARM are no longer their and while they were there (one year) the shelter never opened. What's up with that? My understanding is that the land was donated where the shelter sits and has been there for years. Is ARM just a front for someone to make some money tax free?

ARM has had the land for years. And for many years they actually did make an effort to help animals. I haven't seen or heard of Jean doing anything lately.

I know a lot of people applied for the caretaker position but Jean refused them all. She supposedly had someone, but no one I know of ever met them, saw them. I often wonder if they ever existed to begin with.

Wonderful article on KittyCity. Congratulations on your front page news and I wish you all continued success with your heartfelt hard work for rescued cats! You have a heart as big as Texas. Love it!

Thanks to all involved with Kitty City for everything you do. Adult cats are the most difficult to find homes for, and you have saved many lives!

JessikaC wrote:

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ARM has had the land for years. And for many years they actually did make an effort to help animals. I haven't seen or heard of Jean doing anything lately.
I know a lot of people applied for the caretaker position but Jean refused them all. She supposedly had someone, but no one I know of ever met them, saw them. I often wonder if they ever existed to begin with.

It is a shame to see this facility with its potential for growth go to waste as it has. I met a couple who were supposed to be the new caretakers, but was later told that they had health issues that prevented them from doing the job adequately. Have also heard that there are strict rules against smoking and having children living there, etc. etc., which could possibly eliminate many possible qualified candidates for the position.

Here is a very simple question. Why does there have to be a person living on site? It would be nice to have but I don't see it as an absolute necessity. What a waste of a facility. Maybe ARM and the Otero Humane society should get together and do something since the humane society doesn't have any facility.

Kathie M wrote:

<quoted text>
It is a shame to see this facility with its potential for growth go to waste as it has. I met a couple who were supposed to be the new caretakers, but was later told that they had health issues that prevented them from doing the job adequately. Have also heard that there are strict rules against smoking and having children living there, etc. etc., which could possibly eliminate many possible qualified candidates for the position.

As far as I know, the no smoking/no kids rule was in place because of insurance. Apparently it would make the insurance rates go through the roof. I don't know much about insurance so I don't know how much of a difference it would make.

The facility is nice, I saw it a few years ago... not at all appropriate for what they want it for, but I'd kill for it for just a small scale rescue facility. It's got nice space, 6 indoor/outdoor runs, the outside runs are enclosed by another fence so there's no risk of real escape. There's an office, and a kitchen. An amazing tub to bathe dogs and a grooming area, and laundry area.

It's really a nice place, it just... it's not good for what they want. If it was 4x that size, it'd be more realistic. But then, I'm not a fan of no kill shelters anyway.

Skuttlebutt wrote:

Here is a very simple question. Why does there have to be a person living on site? It would be nice to have but I don't see it as an absolute necessity. What a waste of a facility. Maybe ARM and the Otero Humane society should get together and do something since the humane society doesn't have any facility.

It's not absolutely necessary, but it's convenient and a good idea.

Last I knew, Jean had somewhat planned to have the sanctuary as a place for pets whose owners have passed away... so there was no worry about them being put down or going to the pound. It was a safe haven for those dealt a bad hand.

In cases like that, I'm sure you'd see a lot of old or special needs pets, who do need round the clock care. Plus if there was an emergency of some sort, someone is just a few feet away, not across town.

Skuttlebutt wrote:

Here is a very simple question. Why does there have to be a person living on site? It would be nice to have but I don't see it as an absolute necessity. What a waste of a facility. Maybe ARM and the Otero Humane society should get together and do something since the humane society doesn't have any facility.

The Humane Society of Otero County use to run the animal control center. They are suppose to provide low-cost spay/neuter clinics with the donations they receive but I don't think they are doing anything anymore since people are still callling my house when trying to reach the humane society.

Also, their aluminum can drop cage on 1st St is beyond full. I just hope no one dropped a homeless critter in there thinking that the humane society would take care of it. That cage hasn't been emptied in months, maybe up to a year.

BarbMoore wrote:

<quoted text>
The Humane Society of Otero County use to run the animal control center. They are suppose to provide low-cost spay/neuter clinics with the donations they receive but I don't think they are doing anything anymore since people are still callling my house when trying to reach the humane society.
Also, their aluminum can drop cage on 1st St is beyond full. I just hope no one dropped a homeless critter in there thinking that the humane society would take care of it. That cage hasn't been emptied in months, maybe up to a year.

They donate a whole $20 to help spay/neuter the Pet of the Week.

I'm sorry, but that's pathetic. If they have no real facility, where are all their donations going? You can't tell me they can only afford $80 a month... or $160 if they do dogs and cats(I can't remember).

I wonder the same stuff about ARM. They have all these donations, but the money is doing NOTHING.

JessikaC wrote:

<quoted text>
It's not absolutely necessary, but it's convenient and a good idea.
Last I knew, Jean had somewhat planned to have the sanctuary as a place for pets whose owners have passed away... so there was no worry about them being put down or going to the pound. It was a safe haven for those dealt a bad hand.
In cases like that, I'm sure you'd see a lot of old or special needs pets, who do need round the clock care. Plus if there was an emergency of some sort, someone is just a few feet away, not across town.

Guess I'd better take better care of myself - I'd have it overflowing!

There is room for expansion and there were plans for an exercise yard, etc. Have often dreamed of winning the lottery and buying it up and expanding it.

Guess I'd have to buy a lottery ticket first, though!

And unfortunately, politics and jealousies between groups and some of the individuals in them being what it is, I don't see any groups getting together to open and run it. But it sure would be nice.

JessikaC wrote:

<quoted text>
They donate a whole $20 to help spay/neuter the Pet of the Week.
I'm sorry, but that's pathetic. If they have no real facility, where are all their donations going? You can't tell me they can only afford $80 a month... or $160 if they do dogs and cats(I can't remember).
I wonder the same stuff about ARM. They have all these donations, but the money is doing NOTHING.

The humane society use to have the funds to spay/neuter 5 animals a month; about $300-$500 each. Makes you wonder what kind of scam they are running now.

Kathie M wrote:

<quoted text>
Guess I'd better take better care of myself - I'd have it overflowing!
There is room for expansion and there were plans for an exercise yard, etc. Have often dreamed of winning the lottery and buying it up and expanding it.
Guess I'd have to buy a lottery ticket first, though!
And unfortunately, politics and jealousies between groups and some of the individuals in them being what it is, I don't see any groups getting together to open and run it. But it sure would be nice.

From what I heard, which might be super secret up until I type it haha, They had plans for a large dog pen and a small dog pen, with double fencing. Home Depot was planning to discount the supplies or donate them(not sure on that), but Jean wanted totally off the wall measurements and fence types. So it never happened.

JessikaC wrote:

<quoted text>
From what I heard, which might be super secret up until I type it haha, They had plans for a large dog pen and a small dog pen, with double fencing. Home Depot was planning to discount the supplies or donate them(not sure on that), but Jean wanted totally off the wall measurements and fence types. So it never happened.

I heard something similar a while ago. There are donations for things that have been offered and weren't taken advantage of because they weren't exactly to "specifications" or some such nonsense. There are a myriad of grants available with little or no "strings" attached, but there appears to be a sense of control issue (IMHO and that of several others). So it's the animals that lose out.

Too bad we can't put the animals in charge!

My Dude could be the resident nursemaid/nanny/caregiver.

Kathie M wrote:

<quoted text>
It is a shame to see this facility with its potential for growth go to waste as it has. I met a couple who were supposed to be the new caretakers, but was later told that they had health issues that prevented them from doing the job adequately. Have also heard that there are strict rules against smoking and having children living there, etc. etc., which could possibly eliminate many possible qualified candidates for the position.

You are partly right...children are not allowed on the grounds even now when no animals are there...insurance issue?
You are right about the smoking,tho...A friend offered to help repair something for nothing but have to bring her daughter and was told NO!!! and no critters are there!!!
Of course it is aimed at long term care of pets who's owners have 'bought' a place for them before the owners death...
My spoiled pets would not like living in a kennel forever when they are used to sofas, beds, etc

Kathie M wrote:

<quoted text>
I heard something similar a while ago. There are donations for things that have been offered and weren't taken advantage of because they weren't exactly to "specifications" or some such nonsense. There are a myriad of grants available with little or no "strings" attached, but there appears to be a sense of control issue (IMHO and that of several others). So it's the animals that lose out.
Too bad we can't put the animals in charge!
My Dude could be the resident nursemaid/nanny/caregiver.

You are right!
The exercise yard (as proposed by Jean) whould have been more secure than Ft Knox...and it was a play yard not a place bored dogs would excape from when left for days at a time! And that was just one of the problems.
Still donations are being made and the store still open (sort of) but what to show for it????

Mr. and Mrs. Denton...JOB WELL DONE!