New Mexico's Largest
No-Kill Animal Shelter
Established 1996
Modified Ranch Hours:
Due to a recent influx of animal intake, our Ranch hours have been modified. Please visit us at the Ranch in northern Rio Rancho Thursday - Sunday, 11am-3pm.
Click here to see our other adoption centers and resale shops, locations and hours.
The 1st Paw Up Program
Your gift of $75 can provide a microchip and all vaccinations for one dog or cat. Can you give them their First Paw Up to adoption? Or mail your donation to 1380 Rio Rancho Blvd., Ste 374, Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Molly's Mercy Missions
The story that started Watermelon Mountain Ranch
Molly was a tiny Schnauzer-mix puppy that was thrown from a moving car on April 18, 1997. Lee DiClemente, Co-Founder of Watermelon Mountain Ranch, was heading to his birthday celebration with his wife, Sophia when he witnessed the horrific event and immediately pulled over. Rescued and loved, Molly thrived for the next 15 years as Watermelon Mountain Ranch's Ambassador Dog, attending events, protecting her loved ones and welcoming animals and people alike to the Ranch.
WMR continues Molly's legacy with the Molly's Mercy Missions program, the Ranch's most successful program that rescues the neediest animals at high-risk shelters in New Mexico, the southwest and northern Mexico. The missions are typically last-minute emergency rescues that result in the saving of highly adoptable puppies, kittens, dogs and cats. Thank you Molly, for inspiring us and saving thousands of precious animals like yourself. And thank you to all who support this very important program.