ASPCA Assists Farmington Regional Animal Shelter with San Juan County Flood Relief

FARMINGTON, N.M. — At the urgent request of Farmington Regional Animal Shelter (FRAS), the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) mobilized its disaster response team to provide much-needed sheltering support and pet food and supply distribution for dozens of owned and homeless animals affected by the devastating flooding in San Juan County, New Mexico.

ASPCA personnel have been on the ground since earlier this month assisting with the daily care of more than 60 displaced dogs at an emergency shelter currently operating at McGee Park in San Juan County, as well as assisting shelter animals at FRAS. The emergency shelter, operated by FRAS with support from nearly a dozen ASPCA responders, is helping alleviate the strain on pet owners who lost their homes or were forced to evacuate from their properties due to flooding.

In addition to sheltering support, the ASPCA is providing much-needed pet food and supplies for FRAS, as well as impacted pet owners and their animals. This includes delivering critical supplies to the Shiprock community while continuing to assess unmet needs for pets within the Navajo Nation.

On Wednesday, the ASPCA will transport up to 20 homeless animals — all unowned and at FRAS before the flooding — to shelter partners outside of the disaster zone to free up space and local resources for displaced pets in need of continued emergency boarding. Additional transports will be coordinated as needed.

“People and animals alike are experiencing the devastating impact of severe flooding across northern New Mexico, forcing residents from their homes and significantly straining their ability to care for their pets,” said Tim Rickey, vice president of ASPCA National Field & Disaster Response. “The ASPCA is grateful we’re able to work alongside the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter to ensure both impacted pets and shelter animals receive urgent and ongoing care as the community recovers.”

Residents are urged to contact FRAS if they need assistance or temporary boarding for their pet, to report a missing or found animal, or to coordinate reunification with boarded pets.

FedEx is assisting the ASPCA’s efforts by providing in-kind shipping of supplies to support emergency sheltering operations for displaced pets. The ASPCA has responded to over 80 disasters and assisted more than 188,000 animals in crisis. Beyond providing direct assistance during disasters, the ASPCA collaborates with local agencies nationwide to enhance their animal response capabilities through grants and training opportunities.