Gateway Center Hosts Free Pet Care Event for Residents and Their Animals
Free vaccines, microchips, pet food, and more were available on site
On Thursday, September 17, Gateway Center residents brought their pets in for something they might not have been able to access otherwise: free veterinary care, right where they live. Animal Humane New Mexico, Paws on the Ground Pet Resource Center, and Community Bridges Inc. partnered with the City’s Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness to host the first-ever on-site free pet care event at Gateway Center – offering free vaccinations, microchipping, flea and tick prevention, pet food and supplies, veterinary care referrals, basic pet wellness resources, and vouchers for free spay/neuter services. 15 residents and their 16 animals were served from 1 to 3 p.m.
Gateway Center has always welcomed residents’ pets, because the City understands that for many people experiencing homelessness, their animal is their family, their comfort, and their constant companion. Asking someone to give up their pet in exchange for shelter is a barrier that many people won’t cross, and that’s a barrier the Gateway System of Care was built to remove. Thursday’s event took that commitment a step further, giving the animals who keep residents company through their hardest chapter the vaccines, wellness care, and support they need to stay healthy.
“A pet isn’t a luxury,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “For a lot of people, that animal is who gets them through the day. Bringing free vaccines, microchips, and wellness resources directly to residents ensures they don’t have to choose between their own needs and their pet’s health.”
“The bond between a person and their pet is one of the most powerful connections there is. For someone navigating housing instability, that bond can be a lifeline,” said Sarah Sena, Community Initiatives Specialist, Animal Humane New Mexico. “We’re proud to be part of keeping these families together.”
“Our residents care deeply about their animals, and their animals care deeply about them,” said Jennifer McDonald, Gateway Operations Officer, Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness. “Having this kind of care come directly to them, at no cost, in their own space, is a big deal.”
Animal Humane New Mexico is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in the state, dedicated to saving and improving the lives of animals through adoption, education, and community outreach. Paws on the Ground Pet Resource Center connects people and their pets with the veterinary care and resources they need to stay together. Community Bridges Inc. operates the Men’s Housing and Treatment Navigation Center at Gateway Center and serves as a key operational partner in the City’s Gateway System of Care.
Gateway Center operates 24 hours a day at 5400 Gibson SE as the hub of the City’s Gateway System of Care, offering shelter, medical sobering, medical respite, housing navigation, and a growing network of on-site services. The facility’s pet-welcoming policy reflects a core principle of the Gateway model: that dignity means meeting people – and their families, of all kinds – exactly as they are.
For more information about Gateway Center and the Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness, visit cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness or call 311. For more information about Animal Humane New Mexico, visit animalhumanenm.org.