August may be the month when couples are urged to rekindle their romances, but this month Albuquerque Animal Welfare is asking you to fall in love all over again with a pet. So many dogs and cats are waiting at Animal Welfare to make your home complete that low-cost adoption fees begun this summer are being extended into August; fees that make it cheaper than ever before to adopt loving pets from the Eastside and Westside shelters, Lucky Paws retail store in Coronado Center and Mobile Lucky Paws adoption van.

Puppies and dogs less than 3 years of age will still only cost adopters $40, a savings of nearly $20 from the old, reduced fees. For Senor Citizens (which according to AARP, starts at age 50), the adoption fee is further reduced to only $30 for these dogs. And all dogs 3 years or older can now be adopted for only a $20 fee. That includes your pet’s spaying or neutering, all vaccinations including Rabies, City license for a year, microchipping and a free, initial veterinarian’s exam from a participating clinic.
Finding permanent, loving homes for these dogs is a priority because only 25% of all stray dogs in Albuquerque are ever reclaimed by their owners.

Also continued through August are special fees to make it easier to adopt kittens and older cats, especially for Senior Citizen adopters. The adoption fee for kittens and cats under 3 years old is still only $30. That’s a savings from the already-reduced fee of $39. It includes the cost of your kitten or cat’s spaying or neutering, microchipping, all vaccinations such as Rabies, a feline leukemia test, City license for one year and a free initial veterinarian’s exam from a participating clinic. For Senor Citizens, the adoption fee is further reduced to $20. In addition, the fee for all cats over 3 years old is still only $10.

This summer, Animal Welfare is still allowing cat owners to reclaim their lost cats for free, regardless of the sterilization status of their pet. The city will no longer charge for a lost cat’s room and board, spay/neuter surgery, or reclaim fee. The only charge will be for those cats needing a microchip ($9.00), and for the City license ($6.00).

“We’re trying to make it more affordable for everyone to experience the gift of love this month” says Jeanine L. Patterson, MS, RN, COHN-S and Director of Animal Welfare. “But however low the fees are we want to stress the importance of follow up and continuining veterinary care for your pet.”