Organization aims to expand free straw program to keep pets warm

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Organization aims to expand free straw program to keep pets warm

Sometimes, posts warnings, and education aren't enough to get through to some pet owners in New Mexico as rescuers say they find unsheltered pets outside every winter.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Sometimes, posts warnings, and education aren’t enough to get through to some pet owners in New Mexico as rescuers say they find unsheltered pets outside every winter.

Now, one Albuquerque-based organization is trying to expand a program to save some of their lives – like Nola.

Nola hasn’t always known the feeling of a warm bubble. Albuquerque-based NMDOG rescued her from an emergency situation a couple of weeks ago.

“She was chained up in Colfax County and padlocked to her post with no shelter whatsoever,” said Angela Stell, the founder of NMDOG. “She was coated in ice and unresponsive when the neighbor went over and helped her.”

You can still see signs of frostbite on her ears and nose. Stell says that could’ve been avoided with a simple resource – straw.

“You want to just have the bedding straw, because it is hollow in the middle and acts like an insulator,” Stell said.

NMDOG started a free straw program 13 years ago. They will work with local feed stores anywhere in the state. They will set up an account for an agency or municipality and foot the bill when they need to restock.

“It arrives at their facility in bales like this. They get their volunteers together, get some trash bags like this and then they start breaking up the bales. And they’ll create an individual serving in each bag,” Stell said.

NMDOG already partners with 17 municipalities across New Mexico and is looking for more.

“I would love to see this in every jurisdiction across the state,” Stell said.

Even when families can’t – or won’t – make room inside, they want to ensure dogs survive.

“We don’t care about the reasons, we’re here to just help dogs live through the winter,” Stell said.

NMDOG spent $7,000 on straw last winter for agencies from Taos County to Las Cruces.

If you want to partner with NMDOG to get free straw in your city or county, contact Angela Stell at info@nmdog.org. These municipalities currently partner with NMDOG for free straw:

  • Gallup/McKinley County
  • Valencia County
  • Rio Rancho
  • Torrance County
  • Quay County
  • Espanola
  • Rio Arriba County
  • Raton
  • Santa Rosa
  • Moriarty
  • Lordsburg
  • Las Cruces
  • Village of Taos
  • Taos County
  • Belen
  • Farmington
  • Edgewood
  • Roswell