Raton Animal Shelter

Operating Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-4:30pm.
Saturday and Sunday from around 9:00am-1:00pm.

If during normal business hours and Animal Control Officer (ACO) is not at the shelter contact the Raton Police Department to dispatch.
575-445-2704

If all else fails and is during reasonable hours. NOT after 9:00pm or before 8:00am. Contact the President of the Humane Society. 575-447-9328

How to Build Community Cat Winter Shelters

Profile of the Raton Animal Shelter

Posted September 1, 2024 Written by Faith Howard

The Raton Humane Society located here in Raton New Mexico is one of the many civic organizations that we have in our city. The volunteers work with local animal control officers to provide care and treatment for animals that are in the local shelter until they are adopted. The facility has been no-kill since 2017, meaning that even if an animal isn’t immediately adopted, it will still find a home eventually through the efforts of the volunteers who work with other shelters and organizations to find forever homes. The animals have space to run around, and the kennels let them go either indoors or outdoors. The shelter can comfortably hold up to 24 pets in their facility. However, they do have an emergency overflow, so in the case of natural disasters during which pets and their owners need to evacuate, animals can be brought in on a temporary basis. In addition, the Raton Humane Society runs an emergency food bank for animals, where pet owners can obtain free food once a month for their dog or cat if needed. During the winter months, the organization also provides hay for outdoor animals to ensure their warmth. Donations of dog or cat food to the shelter are always welcomed.

One thing that is unique about this shelter is its association with a Colorado prison. Certain dogs will be sent over to stay in cells with inmates to be trained. The training is very effective because of an aspect called Alpha Manship, letting the dog know that the human is the Alpha. The three main concepts to this are controlling what food the dog eats, where it sleeps, and what games it plays. This program has a very high success rate, providing families with well-behaved dogs. When this process is over, and the adoption is complete, the inmate who was taking care of the dog will give the family who is adopting it, a log of the animal’s behavior. The log details mannerisms and preferences of the dog.

The shelter has come a long way since 1982 when it was first opened. The shelter was in disrepair in its early days, but through the endless hard work and dedication of Barb Bonahoom, President of the Raton Humane Society, the many volunteers, and the community, the shelter has been transformed into what it is today.

For those who would like to help support this cause, volunteers are always welcome. Volunteers typically do activities such as walking dogs, socializing with the dogs and cats, and clearing out weeds around the premises. In addition to this, monetary donations are always appreciated.

Those who donate $500 or more will receive their name on a plaque that is displayed in the shelter in their honor as a thank you. Plaques can also feature names of individuals or pets that the donor would like to memorialize. Many plaques recognizing previous donors are on display in the shelter with the large plaque in the middle of the wall donated by the Rotary club. Anthony’s Jewelers donated the plaques themselves that designate each donor. All contribution helps fund essential services for animals in need and help make a positive impact on our community.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Preventing and Recognizing Symptoms of Parvovirus
Feral Cat Clinic Held at Raton Veterinary Hospital
New Mural Painted by Nine-Year-Old at Raton Animal Shelter
Raton Animal Shelter Dogs in Prison Training Program
Update on Ashley – A Success Story
Sasha a Success Story
Two Dogs Accepted into Department of Corrections Training Program

Preventing and Recognizing Symptoms of Parvovirus

Posted October 18, 2024

Has your dog received the Parvovirus vaccine? Do you know what signs and symptoms are associated with it? Please read this article by the AVMA. If we all take a little time to educate ourselves as well as make sure our dogs are protected, we can save the lives of our precious pets!

Feral Cat Clinic Held at Raton Veterinary Hospital

Posted August 3, 2024

Money from a local Foundation and the Raton Humane Society provided funding for the feral cat clinics during which feral cats, that are captured in traps provided by the Humane Society. are taken to the Raton Veterinary Clinic to be spayed or neutered.

At the feral cat clinic held in July, 11 females and 5 males were “fixed.” Two kittens that were too little to be fixed were taken in to be tamed and adopted out. There have been 66 cats fixed so far this year thanks to the grant money, our hardworking staff & dedicated trappers.

Watch for information about the next feral cat clinic that will be available.

New Mural Painted by Nine-Year-Old at Raton Animal Shelter

Posted July 24, 2024. Nine-year-old Fiona Forns started painting the mural on the Raton Animal Shelter on Monday, July 8 2024, and finished two days later. The old mural panel was removed, and the new mural by Fiona was attached to the building. Great job, Fiona!

Photos courtesy of Raton Humane Society President Barb Bonahoom.

Fiona Forns with new mural — Fiona finishes mural

old mural being removed — Fiona finishes mural

Raton Humane Society Members Visit Colorado Prison K9 Training Companion Program

June 28, 2024 – Photo and Article Provided by Barbara Bonahom with photo permission from the Handlers

Five members of the Raton Humane Society, Leslie Fernandez, Donna Klassen, Susan Hronich, Jackie Hall (representative of the Carroll Petrie Foundation out of Santa Fe), and Barb Bonahoom visited the Colorado Prison K9 Training Companion Program in Canon City. All of the dogs in the picture, except the one on the extreme left as you look at the picture are Raton Animal Shelter dogs.

Shelter dogs are in the training program for 8 weeks, in which they live with their handler 24/7. The Raton Humane Society members visited the cell block where the K9’s and their handlers are housed. Each cell is 10’x8’, there is a bunk bed, a desk, and a kennel for the K9. Each cell has two inmates; the one on the lower bunk is the handler, and the one on the top bunk has a different job, but must be an animal lover. At the foot end of each bunk is a small TV attached to the foot rail. In the community room in the center of the cell block are lounge chairs and a large TV mounted on the wall. Off the community room is a room special for the bathing/grooming of the K9’s.

During their visit the group watched the handlers and their dogs, then were permitted to visit with each handler regarding their training of the K9’s. This was such a heartwarming experience. As one of the group described the day, “ we had an awesome tour and an educational day. The handlers were knowledgeable, pleasant, and enthusiastic in telling us about the program and the dogs. Just a fabulous day.” Another group member said “thank you for providing me an opportunity to watch abandoned dogs being trained by men who at some point in their life may have felt they were also abandoned. Both trainers and canines were connected in a way that brought out the best in both.”

Sasha – A Success Story

Posted June 14, 2024

We love success stories. Sasha went to the Colorado Department of Corrections Inmate Canine Training program for Humane Society RatonNM. After the inmate training, Sasha was recently adopted and the Humane Society got this update from the adopter (through the program director at the prison):

Just wanted to take a minute to update you on Sasha. We have had her now about 6 weeks.

She seems to love her new humans and we love her. She absolutely loves riding in the car and going to the mountains. She still gets her training but minds very well off of the leash. She enjoys going to places like Big R and Tractor supply and all of the people in the store love and pets her. Then I tell them about the Prison K-9 Program and what a Great job all of the handlers do for these dogs. Thank you all.

Two Dogs from Raton Shelter Accepted Into Colorado Department of Corrections Training Program

Ozzie and Ashley. What amazing news we got this week from the Colorado Department of Corrections Inmate Training program. They accepted BOTH these dogs – hard to place from our Shelter – and BOTH have now been successfully adopted through their adoption program. Ashley came to us in June 2022, and stayed with a local foster (and kick ass dog woman) for a year and a half before going to prison. Black dogs – much less dogs with a little less ‘cuteness’ than some others – are HARD to adopt out. Ashley has proved that to be hogwash! We LOVE our connection with this program – and we thank them SO much for taking some of our dogs into their program. And we thank our Director for honing this relationship into the great thing it is for our Shelter.

Update on Ashley

Posted June 28, 2024

My family adopted Ashley at the end of December, 2023. It was love at first sight! Somehow we’ve managed to fall more and more in love with her every day. She is truly an amazing dog.

Ashley is a 60 pound cuddle bug. She loves to snuggle, loves belly rubs, and loves being around people. I bring her to work with me every day and she loves going up to all my colleagues to get attention and/or treats.

This is possible only because she is so well trained. The inmate responsible for training Ashley did a fantastic job. She walks calmly on or off a leash. If given the command to “sit” or “come”, she immediately complies. I’m not sure I’ve ever met a dog that was so obedient.

The funniest thing about Ashley is that she snorts like a pig when she gets excited. My kids especially like playing games with her just to get her excited so that she will start snorting. Ashley is really good with kids, too. My 8 year old had a slumber party last month and Ashley slept snuggled up with 5 girls.

I am so grateful to the prison-trained k9 program for bringing Ashley into our lives. I feel like we won the dog lottery. Hopefully Ashley feels the same way!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Amanda DeWick

ADOPTIONS AVAILABLE

Posted June 16, 2024

Female chi and male pibble (short for pit bull) are available for adoption at the Raton Animal Shelter. These were abandoned by their owner and need new homes. They will be spayed and neutered in the upcoming week and ready for adoption. Go to the shelter and check them out!! $50 adoption fee includes spay, neuter, microchip, vetted for negative heartworm and city tags through December 31. We think the male is about 5 years young and the chi is younger than the pibble. Should know more once they are looked at by Raton Veterinary Hospital this week!

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

Book Proceeds Benefit Raton Humane Society

Sales continue. Get your copy of a great kids (AND adult!) book about caring for EVERY animal. This tells the story of our Director’s beloved Kenny – in conjunction with author Pat Veltri and illustrator Susan Norris. It doesn’t get any better than this.

Oh, wait, IT DOES! All proceeds go to Raton Humane Society. $20 for a great gift or a keepsake for yourself. Believe us – it’s a great book and a wonderful story.

If you’d like a copy, call Barbara at 575.447.9328 and she will hook you up!

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