veterinary technician

animal caretaker

animal technician

behavioral specialist

adoption manager

Animal Humane New Mexico

At first glance, Animal Humane seems like a dream job. Helping people and pets, and changing lives in real time both in the shelter and in the community. There truly is nothing like it. Unfortunately, it is not the job that's the issue, its the place. Over the years Animal Humane has become something else entirely from the mission they proudly put out. Leadership fails often and when it is brought to HR or the Executive Director, it is met with excuses and no real change. This makes the organization not only unsustainable for the employees, but unsafe for them and the pets relying on them. Which is extremely disappointing as this was not how it was years ago when I first started here. Back then, it still had its issues (as all places do) but it was still worth it knowing that the work was making a difference. But after a new director was moved to adoptions due to a different sect of the organization closing while under his management, many departments noticed a shift from normal work place issues, to toxicity. Favoritism, incompetence, and a lack of work ethic (and lack of ethics in general) took over. I personally went to HR numerous times, with verifiable and tracked proof of the issues that I would bring up, as did many many other employees, but the only change was that people who would bring light to this were met with being let go if they did not make the decision to leave first. Management avoids accountability and would often be the ones exemplifying the lack of work ethic (and again lack of ethics in general), yet were still praised when the job was done, despite management having little to nothing to do with it. The lack of training, and lack of accountability was not only noticed by the employees, but the volunteers as well. There were numerous times that volunteers who have been there for years as well would ask what was happening, or why things were changing and not for the better. The unfortunate answer is that unless there are major changes within HR and management, Animal Humane will never be what it was meant to be.  And until that happens, there will never be more long term employees due to the burnout of the few that actually do the work to make Animal Humane run. It will never be sustainable for the people who actually have a passion for the job. And again, unless there are major changes, that will always be the worst part about it. The fact that anyone who actually cares can't work here because of how poorly it is ran.

f you’re considering working at Animal Humane, be prepared for an environment where the mission to help animals is often overshadowed by management’s obsession with metrics and control. While the animals themselves are the best and most rewarding part of the job, the same can’t be said for the leadership team.

Management—especially the directors and HR—consistently fails to communicate effectively with staff. Important updates are often unclear or withheld, creating confusion and a lack of trust across departments. There’s a noticeable disconnect between those making decisions and those doing the real, hands-on work with the animals.

Unfortunately, leadership does not foster a healthy work culture. Speaking up or offering a different perspective is often met with retaliation or passive-aggressive pushback. Rather than welcoming diverse viewpoints, there’s a pattern of manipulation and defensiveness from upper management. This creates a toxic environment where many employees feel silenced and undervalued.

Effort and dedication are not rewarded here. Hardworking staff members are frequently overlooked while unmotivated or disengaged employees are enabled and, at times, even favored. This not only demoralizes the team but also directly impacts the quality of care the animals receive.

It’s heartbreaking to see how far removed the organization has become from its stated mission. While Animal Humane promotes compassion, empathy, and care for pets, those same values are rarely extended to the people working tirelessly behind the scenes. It's disillusioning to realize that data and appearances often take precedence over true advocacy and emotional integrity.

Bottom line: The animals deserve better—and so do the staff.



Working as a Director at Animal Humane New Mexico has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my professional career. Every day presents the opportunity to make a real, tangible impact on the lives of animals and the people who love them.

This is not just a job—it's a mission. Animal Humane is deeply committed to its values of compassion, respect, accountability, stewardship, safety, and quality. As a leader, I’ve felt empowered to bring big ideas to the table and actually see them come to life. The Executive Team is collaborative, supportive, and passionate about doing what's best for both pets and people.

What makes Animal Humane stand out is its holistic approach—addressing the needs of animals through sheltering, veterinary care, behavior programs, community outreach, adoptions, and humane education. As a Director, I was able to work cross-functionally with a truly dedicated staff and volunteers who go above and beyond every day. There is a culture of kindness, and hard work, which makes even the hardest days rewarding.

The organization also supports professional growth. I had access to continued learning opportunities, strategic planning involvement, and mentorship that sharpened both my leadership and nonprofit management skills. It’s clear that the Board and Executive Director value innovation and sustainability, while never losing sight of the heart of our work—helping animals and supporting the community.

If you’re a mission-minded leader who thrives in a dynamic, compassionate environment—and if you believe every life matters—this is a place where your work will have purpose and your heart will feel at home.

Working for Animal Humane New Mexico has been one of the most meaningful and fulfilling experiences of my career. From day one, it’s clear that everyone here is deeply committed to the mission of improving the lives of companion animals through sheltering, adoptions, humane education, and veterinary services.

The organization fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where collaboration is valued and every voice matters. Whether you're on the frontlines caring for pets or behind the scenes supporting operations, your work feels purposeful and appreciated. Leadership is approachable, compassionate, and genuinely invested in both animal and employee well-being.

Professional development is encouraged, with opportunities to grow your skills, take on new challenges, and explore different departments. The culture is one of continuous improvement and heartfelt dedication, where innovation and empathy go hand in hand.

What sets Animal Humane NM apart is the sense of community and shared purpose. You’re not just working a job—you’re part of a team that is changing lives every single day. If you’re passionate about animal welfare and want to be part of an organization that values integrity, compassion, and excellence, this is the place for you

Animal Humane is a leader in next-generation animal shelters. The commitment and dedication that they give to improving and enriching the lives of shelter animals puts them ahead if the competition in first class shelter environments. All employees incredibly effectively as a team, supporting each other in individual job causes, as well as working together to create an environment in which trust, loyalty, and friendship abound. They are dedicated to helping people connect with a lifelong companion animal, and working with them to keep that relationship balanced and happy through great customer service representatives, and dedicated animal behaviorists.

If you love animals and AHNM's mission, it is most definitely a a fulfilling place to work. The pets were always the best part of being there. The fulfillment you get from this job will always be unmatched which is so unfortunate that it felt as though the animals were not the upmost priority- and it sucks  to see what an incredible workplace it could be if management and HR weren't so terrible. You are more than likely to experience burnout from the people rather than the animals.

They seem to be abandoning their core values and their mission and are more concerned about making money oddly enough as a non-profit while abandoning the wellbeing of their employees along the way. HR is extremely manipulative and upper & mid-management is grossly toxic.

Although it has its good sides consisting of socializing the pets and seeing people meet their new best friends, there a e some less desirable aspects of the job. This consists of little support from those in management and little chance to go up in the company. As much as they express moving up in the company, many of us have had an extremely difficult time going up the ladder here. As lovely as it is to feel like you're making a difference and helping homeless pets find a home, the work environment fabricated by the management we have is lack luster and unwelcoming.


Not the best place to work. Constantly was asking for help but never getting any. Management was very unhelpful and piles so many tasks onto you, you'll feel like you're drowning. No overtime pay, often had to work through my unpaid lunches. Always on-call, though no additional pay was offered for being on call. Not to mention the loss of pets is heartbreaking and there was never support when it would happen. I spent most days crying when I got home. If you can deal with minimal support from Management and coworkers you might survive being here. Good luck!

The mission for Animal humane is amazing. I loved my job and helping the pets. But upper management is awful. They treat employees poorly and they male us feel like we're not appreciated. Employees that have been working for 5+ years are not shown the respect that they deserve. It's heartbreaking because all the lower level non salary employees genuinely love thier job and are being treated awful. The pay for what we do is not at all worth it. No one can live off of the pay.

AHNM needs to be audited and cleaned up. There is an abundance of wasteful management and email jockeys making 6-figure salaries, in so far that they created a position for the retiring executive "for ease on our friends transition". There is an unacceptable abuse of power unbecoming of a state sponsored non profit and they're running this company into the ground. 



Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Veterinary technician 7 salaries reported	$19.64 per hour
Animal caretaker 7 salaries reported	$17.00 per hour
Animal technician 4 salaries reported	$17.00 per hour
Behavioral specialist 2 salaries reported	$18.00 per hour
Adoption manager 1 salary reported	$20.00 per hour

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