New Mexico's Largest No-Kill Animal Shelter
Established 1996
OUR MISSION
All who enter will find love...
Watermelon Mountain Ranch was founded in 1996 by Lee and Sophia DiClemente whose love for animals continues to flow through the day-to-day operations at the Ranch. What began as a grassroots effort with a small dedicated group of volunteers has grown into New Mexico's Largest No Kill Animal Shelter, encompassing a 10 acre main campus facility, two resale stores, offsite adoption centers and various humane programs serving the community.
These programs include our Canine/Feline Foster Care, Humane Education, Volunteers, on- site Vet Clinic, Lee's Retirement Village (for senior dogs), Don's Angel Fund (for injured animals), and our most successful program, Molly's Mercy Missions (saving animals facing euthanasia in shelters across the Southwest and Juarez Mexico). Since the inception of Watermelon Mountain Ranch, we have helped to save the lives of over 200,000 animals, placing them in loving homes.
THE NEED
A No-Kill animal facility in New Mexico was the dream of Sophia and Lee DiClemente in early 1996, shortly after they moved to the area. There were thousands of lost, abandoned, and stray animals being euthanized every year in New Mexico. Together with a group of like-minded volunteers, WMR began to rescue and find homes for animals in Sandoval County and Albuquerque.
COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT
WMR has worked hard to involve the local community and youth organizations in an effort to reduce pet overpopulation through education. We have created programs targeted towards children and teens to gets them involved in working with the animals and volunteering at our facility and adoption sites. Through these programs, we have been able to creating a lasting impression on their lives.