For The Animals! was started as a resource to provide public education, facilitate pressure on our elected leaders in San Miguel and Mora Counties, and to help coordinate public involvement in the animal advocacy efforts underway in our community. 

My name is Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, and I set up this site. I grew up in northern NM and after many years away I recently moved back to be closer to my family. I love everything about living in Las Vegas except the horrible situation with animal neglect and mistreatment here.

My background is community organizing, public education and community empowerment and I love animals, so shortly after moving here in December 2022 I volunteered to help foster kittens through our shelter, to coordinate weekly dog adoption events, and started organizing TNR (trap, neuter, release) efforts for feral cats in our community. 

It is clear that there are many people in our community who are tireless advocates for the animals already, and that good work is happening every day to improve the lives of animals here. These people are pouring their time and personal funds into trying to save unwanted, neglected and abused animals.

And it is also clear that there are many more people who would like to help but they don't know how, and don't have the support needed to get involved. 

My goal with this website is to help amplify the work already being done by dedicated volunteers and to help facilitate better coordination amongst animal welfare advocates.

I also think it is critical to hold our elected officials accountable for their lack of responsibility in addressing the animal welfare crisis -- why aren't our city councilmembers and county commissioners the ones I see out there picking up stray or lost dogs, volunteering at adoption events, fostering animals in their homes, or making donations to our local animal welfare organizations??

I know this isn't their official responsibility as elected officials, but the fact that these "leaders" are no where near the frontlines of dealing with this crisis is very telling to me.

If political leaders continue to fail to make ending the animal welfare crisis one of their top priorities then our community will not get the resources we need.

We need them to secure state funding to support our shelter, spay/neuter programs, and public education. We need better legislation and enforcement of the laws we already have. And we need leaders who will either step up to lead or step down and get out of the way, because our animals and our citizens deserve better than the situation we have now. 

If you would like to get involved, please check out the Resources page to see the groups already working hard in our community or sign up to Get Involved through For The Animals! (and I will connect you with efforts already underway that need volunteer assistance).

If you have ideas or suggestions for this website please contact me.

Thank you for your support For The Animals!

-Kaitlin

PLEASE NOTE: The views expressed on this website are mine alone. While I am a volunteer for a number of local organizations (so far the Las Vegas Animal Care Center, Animal Welfare Coalition, and formerly Animal Advocates of Northern New Mexico), the views on the For The Animals! website do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of any of these organization's board members, staff or other volunteers.

I do not speak for these organizations and they are not necessarily aware of what I am posting on this site.