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New Mexico lawmakers are considering legislation that would preserve the state’s Affordable Spay/Neuter Law and extend funding for low-cost sterilization services for dogs and cats. Senate Bill 38 , introduced Jan. 21, 2026, removes a sunset clause that would otherwise end funding for the spay-neuter program on July 1, 2026. The Affordable Spay/Neuter Law was established in 2020 through Senate Bill 57 to address companion-animal overpopulation. The law requires companies that manufacture or distribute pet food to register each product label sold in New Mexico and pay an annual fee. Those fees support grants for veterinary clinics, shelters and nonprofit groups that offer low-cost or free spay and neuter surgeries. Two puppies wait to be adopted. New Mexico lawmakers are considering legislation that would extend funding for low-cost spay and neuter services statewide. Photo: Vicky ( @potatonorim ) / Unsplash Since 2020, the program has generated more than $5 million in funds for spay and neuter services from pet food registration fees. In late 2025, clinics and animal welfare groups received about $1 million in grants . During the 2026 New Mexico legislative session, SB 38 passed the Senate and went to the House for consideration. Supporters say the program helps reduce the number of animals entering shelters and eases pressure on local facilities. New Mexico shelters take in more than 135,000 animals each year, one of the highest per capita intake rates in the United States. If enacted, SB 38 would allow the program to continue, generating about $1.3 million annually for spay and neuter services across New Mexico. State animal welfare groups, including the Spay-Neuter Coalition of New Mexico , say research on spay and neuter programs shows that consistent access to sterilization services reduces stray animal populations and improves outcomes for shelter animals.

Waiting until six months to spay or neuter a cat can increase the risk of unintended pregnancy. Feline Fix by Five is a national campaign observed each February during National Spay/Neuter Awareness Month that urges cat owners to sterilize their cats by five months of age. Esther Mechler  launched the campaign in 2016 through her nonprofit, Marian’s Dream , after witnessing a steady stream of young, pregnant cats entering shelters year after year. Current veterinary research supports early spaying and neutering as a standard of care. A group of young kittens rests closely together. Veterinary organizations promote early spaying and neutering to help prevent unintended litters and reduce shelter overcrowding. Photo: Cüneyt Yardımcı via Unsplash Female cats spayed before their first heat cycle have a significantly lower risk of mammary cancer as compared to intact cats and cannot develop Pyometra , a life-threatening uterine infection. In male cats, early neutering reduces roaming and fighting, behaviors associated with free-roaming cat populations that experience high rates of injury and premature mortality . Although eight weeks may sound young, pediatric spay and neuter procedures have been performed safely for decades when kittens weigh at least two pounds and proper veterinary protocols are followed. This approach is supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association , the American Animal Hospital Association , and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association . Early sterilization also helps address shelter overcrowding during kitten season. Spaying or neutering cats before they reproduce reduces intake pressure on animal shelters by preventing the birth of entire litters. Cat owners can support #FelineFixByFive  by sharing their experiences and choosing early sterilization. Low-cost services can be found through the United Spay Alliance’s Spay/Neuter Referral Directory , which allows pet owners to search for state and local programs offering affordable spay and neuter care. In addition to its U.S. directory, the United Spay Alliance’s International Spay/Neuter Directory  features low-cost and specialized veterinary clinics worldwide. Cat owners outside the United States can use the International Directory to find trusted spay and neuter providers in Mexico, Canada, South America, Europe, and other regions worldwide.

Week after week, potential adopters scroll past the rescue brown and black dogs posted online. At the shelter, visitors walk past kennels with no kennel cards displaying engaging photos that would make them stop and take a second look. Moments like this are why National Brown Dog Day exists. Inspired by such overlooked moments, Debra Loveless Williams founded National Brown Dog Day in 2021. Every February 2, the day draws attention to a daily reality for shelter workers: people often overlook brown and darker-coated dogs, not because of their behavior or health, but because they blend in more easily. A 2011 ASPCA study  of nearly 1,500 adopters found that more than 27 percent of dog adopters cited appearance as the single most important factor in their decision. The way people first encounter dogs can shape adoption outcomes. As many adopters now browse online listings before visiting a shelter, photo quality has become especially important. Rosie, a brown rescue dog, rides in the back seat wearing a heart-print bandana. Taken in natural light at eye level, the photo captures her bright, attentive eyes and shows how thoughtful photography can help darker-coated dogs stand out in shelters and online listings. Photo by Wendy Kaplar Darker fur coats absorb light. Fluorescent kennel lighting flattens facial features. Quick photos taken in dim spaces reduce a dog to a dark shape and overlook expression or eye contact. Despite their visual challenges in photos, darker-coated dogs are no less suitable as pets. They are simply harder to see. Fortunately, simple changes can make a measurable difference. Taking shelter dogs outside into natural light, for example, and photographing them at eye level brings out their facial details and expressions. Even basic reflectors, such as white poster boards, can bounce light onto dark fur. Modern phone cameras work well if the lighting is adequate. Animal welfare research  supports the importance of presentation. A peer-reviewed study of online adoption listings found that higher photo quality, including clear lighting, proper framing, and visible eye contact, was associated with faster adoptions. Next time you're at a shelter or scrolling online, make a point to notice the brown and darker-coated dogs. Share their photos with friends, volunteer to help with photography, or advocate for them in your community. How to Help Brown Dogs Get Seen Photograph in natural light whenever possible.  Outdoor shade or spots near large doors and windows work best. Fluorescent lighting tends to flatten darker coats and obscure facial detail. Shoot at the dog's eye level.  Kneeling or sitting helps capture expression and creates a stronger emotional connection. Use simple reflectors when needed.  A white poster board or any light-colored surface can bounce light back onto the face, bringing out features. Focus on one distinctive photo.  A clear, well-lit image makes a brown or dark-coated dog more likely to be noticed, not lost in a string of indistinct pictures.

Australian Shepherds did not originate in Australia. The breed was shaped in the American West by ranchers who needed dogs that could handle long days, rough terrain, and large flocks. In the nineteenth century, ranchers imported sheep from Australia, and the dogs that came with those flocks may have influenced the name. The herding dogs bred on American soil proved themselves in the field and gradually became known as Australian Shepherds. These dogs wake up ready for action, always looking for a task, a puzzle, or a new way to play. Without purposeful activity, their creativity finds its own outlets, and not always in ways you’d prefer. An Australian Shepherd flashes a bright, alert expression, a glimpse of the breed’s intelligence, high energy, and strong connection to people. Photo: Melissa Whitecross / Unsplash Aussies thrive on work that uses both their bodies and their brains. Give them daily exercise and a task to solve, and you will see the best of the breed. Without routine and a real outlet, that same energy can build into stress. Barking, chewing, digging, and escape attempts usually point to boredom rather than disobedience. A working mind without direction will find its own outlets. Give your Aussie a job to do, and you’ll see a difference. Fast-paced obstacle courses and short chasing games build coordination and focus. Hide-and-seek scent games and more advanced training lessons give them the mental workout that helps them settle. People are surprised to learn how often Aussies end up in rescue. Sadly, this occurs because families underestimate the exercise and attention these energetic, intelligent dogs need. Rescue groups such as Aussie Rescue, Placement Helpline , and Australian Shepherds Furever focus on understanding these dogs and finding them homes with people who can give them the activity and engagement they need.

Every winter, birdwatchers across North America take part in the Christmas Bird Count , a community science event that began in 1900. Today, volunteers continue to count winter birds and share their findings with the National Audubon Society . In 2019, Science  reported that North America lost almost 3 billion birds since 1970 . Many habitats and once-common species have also declined. Because of these losses, it’s more important than ever to connect with local birds and join community science efforts. Scientists use long-term birdwatching data to see how bird populations shift as climate and habitat conditions change. A male northern cardinal perches on bare winter branches. Common backyard birds like cardinals are easy to spot and can be recorded for community science projects such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch , or eBird . Photo: Christina Brinza / Unsplash Winter is a good time to start watching birds. You can do it from a window, a park bench, or a snowy trail. The Merlin Bird ID app makes it easy to figure out what you're looking at by using pictures, sound, or a few simple questions. For kids, families, or anyone curious, it’s an easy way to get outside and learn something new. With fewer birds around and bare branches instead of leafy trees, it’s often easier for kids to spot what’s moving. Watching birds at a feeder on a winter's walk helps them notice patterns, track changes, and start to pay closer attention to details. For families who want to dig deeper, Cornell’s eBird Explorers program links local sightings to national bird data, turning casual observations into real science. The advantages of winter birdwatching extend to teens as well. Being in nature can help teens lower stress, improve focus, and feel better overall. Time outdoors has been linked to better mood and attention, and it can support emotional balance. Watching birds in winter encourages teens to get outside and take breaks from screens. Apps like eBird  let them record what they see and notice seasonal changes. Adults can often fit winter birdwatching into their busy winter routines. Noticing birds during a morning commute, a lunch break, or a short walk after dinner helps build awareness of seasonal changes, such as bird migration. The BirdCast Migration Dashboard  provides near-real-time updates on nocturnal bird migration, using radar data to show how many birds are flying, which way they are heading, and how high they are flying. For older adults or anyone with limited mobility, winter birdwatching is still accessible. A feeder near a window can turn cold days into active observation opportunities. Winter birds like chickadees and finches often visit feeders. Project FeederWatch  makes it easy to record and contribute bird sightings. These sightings can also spark conversation with neighbors, caregivers, or family members, especially when outdoor access is limited. Cities can host more birds than many expect, especially during spring and fall migration when exhausted migratory birds drop into parks and tree-lined streets to rest and feed. Even small pockets of habitat matter, and street trees and a healthy canopy  help create safer places for migrant birds to pause and forage. Individuals and communities can play a role in protecting and supporting these urban visitors. To support birds through winter and every season that follows, here are five simple ways to make your yard and neighborhood safer. Make Windows Safer Glass can pose a serious hazard for birds, who often mistake reflections or clear surfaces for open sky. At home, make windows safer by adding exterior patterns so birds recognize glass as a barrier. Closely spaced markings, cords, screens, or film all help.  The American Bird Conservancy’s guide  lists proven options, including Acopian BirdSavers  and Feather Friendly . Keep Cats Indoors Free-roaming cats in the United States kill an estimated 1.3 to 4.0 billion birds each year, making them a leading human-related cause of bird deaths. Keeping cats indoors protects birds and helps keep them safer from cars, disease, predators, and fights. Avoid Pesticides Many birds, especially during nesting season, depend on insects. Yard pesticides reduce insect numbers just when adult birds need them most to feed their chicks. Limiting chemical use helps bring insects back, along with the birds that rely on them. Plant Native Vegetation Native plants support more native insects than ornamental plants, and those insects are vital food for backyard birds. Even a few native shrubs can provide shelter, nesting cover, and food. Audubon’s native plants tool  suggests options for your ZIP code. Lights Out Artificial light at night can confuse migrating birds and raise their risk of collision, especially with glass and bright fixtures. Motion sensors, shielded lights, closing blinds, and turning off unnecessary lights all help. The Lights Out  movement has shown that simple nighttime changes can reduce harm to migrating birds.

In a proactive move, Madison, Wisconsin, has enacted a ban prohibiting the sale of cats and dogs in all retail pet stores. The ordinance bars pet stores from selling, offering for sale, or delivering dogs or cats within city limits. Violations are subject to civil penalties. Motivated by concerns about shelter overpopulation and the welfare of animals from commercial breeders or puppy mills , city leaders acted before any stores began sales. Best of all, the ban blocks retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats sourced from commercial breeders, including large-scale puppy mills. A Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever sits in tall grass. Madison’s ordinance bans retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats, including animals marketed as purebreds. The ban applies only to retail pet stores. Animal shelters and rescue groups can continue operating without change, and residents can still adopt pets through those organizations. City officials discussed including other animals, such as rabbits and guinea pigs, but the final ordinance covers only dogs and cats. While many cities moved to regulate pet sales after stores were already operating, Madison acted sooner. The ordinance leaves the city’s pet economy largely intact, but it removes incentives for retail breeding , keeps adoption central, and treats prevention as a policy decision rather than a reaction. Animal shelters across the United States continue to take in millions of cats and dogs each year. Many are adopted, while others remain in care for extended periods. For dogs and cats, the policy reduces retail breeding and increases the likelihood that shelter animals find homes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is ending all research that uses monkeys. The CDC’s decision brings an end to its primate program, leaving the agency’s colony in limbo. The group includes about 200 macaques, many of whom have known only a life in the laboratory. CDC researchers were told the shutdown must be finished by the end of the year. A macaque looks ahead in warm natural light. The image represents primates affected by the CDC’s decision to end its research program. Photo: Viswaprem Anbarasapandian / Unsplash Macaques in CDC programs have historically been used in studies on HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases, undergoing frequent blood testing, infection trials, periods of restraint, and extended time in rooms with limited enrichment. The CDC has not formally stated where the monkeys will go or how they will be supported once the research ends. Setting primates up for life outside a lab usually takes researchers and caregivers who know how to work with them, veterinarians who understand their health needs, and space where the animals can act naturally and form social bonds again. The Primate Rescue Center explains how primates rescued from research labs, the pet trade, or the animal entertainment industry often have medical or behavioral issues that require time and care to address. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has urged the CDC to partner with accredited sanctuaries for placement.

The door clicks shut, and the sound tightens every muscle in the room. Fear arrives before the veterinarian. The air hums with the scent of disinfectant and tension. Fear crouches in carriers, slides under tables, and trembles on cold steel. A happy dog leaning into its vet captures what fear-free care looks like when pets feel safe. Image: Shutterstock In a  2019 study of over 26,000 dogs , more than half exhibited fear during veterinary visits. One in seven shook in terror. Cats fare even worse;  three out of four display stress behaviors ,  such as crouching or striking, when handled. A calm cat in a vet nurse’s arms illustrates how fear-free care can help the three out of four cats who typically show stress during vet visits. Image: Shutterstock Fear floods the bloodstream with cortisol, distorts heart rates, and clouds diagnostic readings. Many animals remember each visit, and their anxiety grows until owners, unable to bear the distress, stop coming. What begins as simple avoidance can grow into a crisis of preventable illness. In 2016, veterinarian Marty Becker launched  Fear Free , a program built on the belief that veterinary visits should not cause suffering. This model of animal care emphasizes both comfort and effective handling. Exam rooms are designed to meet the needs of each animal. The space stays quiet as the lights soften and the floors provide paws with solid footing. The Fear Free care approach also leads to more accurate exams.  Cats given gabapentin before exams  arrive calmer and more cooperative, while  dogs guided with low-stress handling  show lower cortisol and steadier heart rates. Controlled sound, serene lighting, and careful handling help lower stress and support more accurate readings. As a result, calm animals allow examinations to proceed smoothly, giving veterinarians more reliable data and safer conditions. Fear Free certification requires hours of coursework and course fees that can be burdensome for small practices. Some veterinary programs still emphasize restraint techniques before introducing low-stress methods. Renovating rooms with softer light and quieter acoustics demands resources that some clinics lack.  Sign the petition and help make fear-free care the expectation, not the exception. Image: Shutterstock The American Veterinary Medical Association can lead the way in promoting Fear Free care. Good medicine makes room for comfort and leaves no space for fear. Until low-stress care becomes standard, veterinary visits will still involve stress. Sign the petition  and be part of making fear-free veterinary care the standard nationwide!

The moon rises high this Halloween night, casting expansive obsidian shadows across the Earth. A black cat slips past unseen, its coat devouring the darkness, while its eyes gleam like embers in the glow of jack-o'-lanterns. Step back in time to ancient Egypt, where black cats were revered as sacred companions. Cats received their nourishment in golden bowls. When a cat passed away, it was wrapped in fine linen, preserved with resin, and lovingly buried alongside offerings of milk and incense . Celtic lands held similar reverence for the black cat. Scottish folklore tells of the Cat Sìth , a fairy creature as dark as night, with a white patch on its chest. On Samhain , bowls of milk were left on doorsteps to win the spirit's favor. Go north to the frozen lands where Norse people told stories of Freyja, the goddess of love and war , who rode across the sky in a chariot pulled by two massive black cats. Farmers left gifts of milk and bread to be blessed with fertility and abundant harvests. Moving east to Japan, the land of the rising sun, homes displayed white and calico Maneki-neko as symbols of good fortune. White beckoned purity and happiness, while calico was treasured for prosperity and exceptional luck. The black Maneki-neko stood watch, warding off spirits and misfortune. Then came the dark times. In 1233, Pope Gregory IX issued Vox in Rama, a decree that would link cat imagery to darker forces and sow seeds of suspicion. Black cats became associated with malevolent magic . Women who fed stray cats were often accused of being witches , while the cats themselves were labeled as demons and slaughtered by the thousands. Persecution of black cats has taken many forms throughout history. During medieval festivals across Europe, cats were often hurled from church towers or burned in wicker cages as part of religious celebrations . French builders would entomb cats within the walls of new structures as grim sacrifices meant to bring good fortune. European superstitions crossed the Atlantic to colonial America. Puritan judges viewed women with black cats as followers of the devil. During the Salem witch trials, wild testimonies claimed that cats could speak in human voices. Fear took root in the New World. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, black cats were sometimes killed on sight in rural communities , shot by farmers who believed the animals brought disease to livestock or stole the breath from sleeping babies. Sailors have woven black cats into maritime lore, viewing them as bringers of good fortune at sea. Japanese sailors believed that cats could sense approaching storms, although they preferred tortoiseshell-coated cats over black ones. British sailors viewed black cats as omens of luck and often welcomed them aboard their ships. The U.S. Navy carried cats aboard ship for practical and mystical reasons. Today, the superstition persists in forms that remain damaging. Black cats are adopted from shelters at significantly lower rates than other cats. Dark fur makes black cats nearly invisible in photographs, and in the age of social media, an unphotogenic animal becomes an overlooked one. Walk through any shelter and you will see cats with orange stripes, calico patches, and white paws chosen first, while black cats press against cage bars, waiting. Weeks turn to months. Some shelters completely stop allowing the adoption of black cats before Halloween due to safety concerns. Each year, there are reports of black cats being harmed or killed as a result of harmful misconceptions, cruel religious or cultural practices, and outdated biases. This Halloween, should a black cat cross your path, look closer. Perhaps it is not the cat that embodies the darkness, but the weight of history that shadows its steps. The black cat is a sentient soul that has witnessed humanity at its most devoted and its most cruel.

When the ASPCA pulled several dogs from an apartment in New York City, Tiki was among them. Tiki was believed to be around five years old and arrived deeply fearful. He would lay in his crate without moving, avoided eye contact, and sometimes soiled himself out of fear. Recognizing that Tiki’s needs would go beyond physical medical treatment, the ASPCA focused on providing an environment to support his emotional recovery. The ASPCA partnered with  Muddy Paws Rescue  to move Tiki out of the stressful shelter environment. Enter Isabel Klee, who would work to guide Tiki from a broken soul into an internet sensation. Fear immobilized Tiki when Isabel began working with him. He refused to step out of his crate and was averse to being touched, but gradually, Tiki began to trust her. It wasn't long before Tiki was sitting on Isabel's lap. Isabel shared Tiki's progress on her Instagram account , where her regular updates drew millions of viewers. After about a month, Tiki was ready for adoption. Tiki, once scared to look at anyone, sits calmly and at ease. Photo: Muddy Paws Rescue  via Instagram In his new home with Aubrie and Vince, Tiki initially spent his first few days tucked  under a bed , maintaining his distance. Now he spends his time with his dog siblings, Meyer and Gaia , exploring around the house and out to the backyard . Aubrie and Vince often share moments from life with Tiki on Instagram , encouraging others to open their homes to animals in need. Every rescue begins with a choice. One person adopts and gives a pet a home. Another decides to foster and provides an anxious dog the stability and compassion to heal. These choices are what the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect  campaign celebrates, because together they create lasting change for animals everywhere. Tiki’s story is one of many waiting to be written. By taking the “ Give More Animals Like Tiki a Chance ” pledge through the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect campaign, you can help make those stories possible. Volunteer, foster, or adopt to give more animals the chance to heal and begin again.

A gray wolf, with its thick coat and watchful eyes, rests in the forest as a Montana judge vacates a federal decision denying Endangered Species Act protections in the West. (Source: Unsplash/Timothy Brown) A federal judge has vacated a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision denying Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the West, ruling the agency failed to use the best available science. U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy issued the ruling Aug. 5, finding the service relied on “numerous unfounded assumptions,” failed to analyze wolves across a significant portion of their range, and did not adequately address weak state and federal rules. The judge sent the matter back to the agency for reconsideration. The Center for Biological Diversity, Western Watersheds Project, and other groups filed the lawsuits . Attorneys from the Western Environmental Law Center argued the case, warning that state hunting and trapping programs threaten to roll back decades of wolf recovery. Matthew Bishop , a senior attorney with the law center, said the ruling showed the Endangered Species Act’s best-available-science standard “ won the day .” The Fish and Wildlife Service has 60 days to decide whether it will appeal. Bishop added, “ Wolves have yet to recover across the West. Allowing a few states to push aggressive killing programs violates the law .”

And they lived happily ever after... During their stay at the Sevier County Humane Society , two Tennessee-based visually impaired kittens named Radar and Hawkeye developed a close friendship. Both kittens had serious eye injuries when they arrived at the shelter at just ten weeks old. Sadly, Hawkeye lost partial eyesight in one eye, while Radar lost both eyes. Radar and Hawkeyes' Facebook pictures were seen by a Georgia woman who just happened to have experience caring for blind cats. She was so moved by the photos that she immediately called the shelter to set up an adoption appointment. In fact, she was so determined to adopt the pair that she refused to allow the incoming severe weather to stop her from reaching the shelter. The adorable kittens, now called Winks and Binks , are doing well in their new home and have rapidly adjusted to their environment. Spending time at the scratching post, where they play with the attached toys, is the duo's favorite pastime.  To help the Sevier County Humane Society rescue more animals like Winks and Binks, visit: https://sevierhumane.org/donate/