The Sierra County Humane Society wishes to thank everyone who has supported its non-profit store since it opened its doors in February of 1997.
The President of the animal welfare organization Eliana and Charter member Josephine decided at the time that if the new organization was going to be successful, it would have to find an on-going and stable source of income to support the crucial community-oriented programs it was creating to make a difference in the life of companion animals in our area.  Eliana’s and Josephine’s vision and, as important, their hard work and dedication, made Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe a reality. Soon, the success of the new non-profit business ensured the success of the organization. Since 1997, Paws & Claws has kept its doors open through our country’s financial crises and the last recessions, also other hurdles that many small, local shops go through over the years – forcing some to close in the process.

Since 1997, Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe has served our local community as well as tourists and vacationers from out-of-town. Our area of the Desert Southwest indeed has so much to offer, from its gorgeous sceneries to the mineral Hot Springs and Elephant Butte lake, the largest body of water in NM. Tourists from all over the world have shopped at our store as they traveled through our American Southwest. Along the way, many have become Facebook friends and supporters of our organization. Our thrift shop has also had to deal with all the expenses and complications that come with running any small business. We responsibly operated in accordance with the legal obligations to local and state governments. We also suffered months of forced closures and sales losses resulting from the Covid-19 Epidemic of 2020 – 2021.

Despite the many challenges, we must honestly say that running the Paws & Claws Thrift Shoppe for all these years has been an absolute labor of love. Because of Paws & Claws’ success over the years, the Sierra County Humane Society was able to help Desert Haven Animal Refuge become a reality.

Weak economic recovery from the CV-19 shutdowns and insufficient dedicated volunteer staffing are making it all but impossible for us to continue to operate our store. Before Paws & Claws closes its doors permanently, we want to express our sincerest gratitude to all the wonderful people who have found what they needed at our store and especially to those who stopped to thank us for our on-wavering dedication to companion animals and the community.

Please continue to support the local animal welfare programs offered by the Sierra County Humane Society. For information on how to make donations of animal care items and/or financial contributions to SCHS, call us at 575-894-1694 or 894-2639,  email us at weR4pets@gmail.com, or  visit us at  www.sierracountyhumanesociety.com, to click on our donate button if you plan to make a contribution via Paypal. Together, we make a difference.