For 25 years, CARE has been answering calls for help and saving lives—human and animal alike. 

CARE (the Companion Animal Rescue Effort, operated by Animal Protection New Mexico) has helped thousands of survivors of domestic violence in New Mexico—including children—escape abuse with their beloved family animals by their side.

It all started with a direct service model: urgently getting animals into temporary boarding and basic veterinary care, and then celebrating when the family is reunited with their pets. Knowing that many survivors delay leaving an abusive situation because they refuse to leave their animal behind, this is an enormous gap in services that CARE has been proud to fill.

And in recent years, CARE expanded into working directly with the domestic violence crisis shelters to accommodate “co-sheltering,” so that the humans can stay with their animal companions while in shelter. Because of CARE services, now nearly 1 in 3 shelters in New Mexico offer some level of co-sheltering, ahead of the national average of 17%.

For years, the State of New Mexico has believed and invested in CARE services. Right now, CARE is serving a state contract to provide its services, which runs until June 2028.

But here’s the dire news: Unless the State Legislature provides more money in the 2026 legislative session, the current CARE contract won’t be funded. And the entire initiative and services will be put at risk.

We know that the bond between humans and animals is special—and even more critical for a young child healing from trauma and abuse.

TAKE ACTION: Please urge your State Representative and State Senator to care about this important cause, and to fight for $300,000 CARE funding in the 2026 legislative session. Use the form to send a message, and then visit www.nmlegis.gov to find your legislators phone number and follow up with a phone call.