About Us

Our mission is to help Dona Ana County reach our No Kill goal to eliminate the unnecessary killing of companion animals via progressive & friendly animal-welfare programs and services.  Our vision is that our efforts will help transform our community to improve the quality of life for companion animals and greatly reduce the number of abandoned and homeless animals impounded and killed at our municipal shelter.

We provide services and support to existing pet guardians who are suffering financial hardship via our pet food bank program and holding many low-cost vaccination clinics throughout the year.  We also assist our clients with spay/neuter and veterinary care when funding allows.

We run a Second Chance Dogs program, which takes in former abuse-case dogs, many of which are pit bull-type dogs, and helps find these dogs homes vs. the alternative—going to the municipal shelter to be automatically put down.  APA recognizes many of these dogs need extra support to acclimate to life in a new home, so post-adoption training and support is provided to families willing to give these special dogs a home where they will never have to suffer neglect or abuse again.

• Rescue and re-homing of at-risk shelter animals as well as abuse-case dogs so they don't end up at the shelter
• Positive humane outreach, education, & No Kill advocacy
• Assistance for pets and their guardians in times of need
• Programs that target the most urgent animal-welfare challenges in our community
• Services & support that make it easier for pet guardians to do the right thing

Learn more about No KILL

APA is based on the modern and progressive animal-welfare philosophy and approaches called No Kill. To learn more, visit the national No Kill Advocacy Center's site: Click here.

APA's Board of Directors & Officers

Michel Meunier, Founder &
President/Executive Director

Jean Gilbert, Founding Board Director &
Vice President

Valina Hamilton, Director

Amy Jo Gonzalez, Director

Chris Hamilton, Director

Seeking Professionals who care about SAVING LIVES for our Board of Directors

APA's philosophical approach to animal welfare in our community is modern and progressive. We are part of the No Kill movement as definted and advanced by the No Kill Advocacy Center (www.nokilladvocacycenter.org), which is helping many communities achieve No Kill goals nationwide and worldwide. We strongly support reform of Animal Control departments and animal shelters to drastically reduce our community's homeless animal kill rate and improve the lives of animals and people.

If you are a No Kill advocate, someone who wants to help save more feral cats' lives, someone who is partial to the plight of pit bulls in our community, or someone willing and able to learn more about progressive approaches to animal welfare and help us grow quickly to reach our goals, we'd love for you to join our board of directors and help us step up our advocacy work in the community. Please contact us at 575-644-0505 or via e-mail at actionprogramsforanimals@yahoo.com.  

Contact us to find out more information about our pet food ban, Dona Ana County Pets Alive! campaign, or for any other questions or comments.

By phone:
575-644-0505

By e-mail:
actionprogramsforanimals@yahoo.com

By mail:
ACTion Programs for Animals (APA)
P.O. Box 125
Las Cruces, NM 88004

Pet food bank location: 901 Pinon St., Las Cruces, NM, 88001

Or use our ONLINE contact form below...