Run Around Dog Town Rescue is run by Sharon Borges and Chris Williams out of Costilla, NM, and represents a unique mix of an animal sanctuary, dog rescue, and a true labor of love.

Starting about nine years ago, Chris and Sharon, who at the time had just moved from Denver to Costilla, noticed all the stray dogs roaming around town. “Within three days, our first dog found us,” says Chris. “We didn’t plan to start off as an animal rescue, but the stray dogs were everywhere.” That very first stray was named Rogue, who defied the odds and eventually was trained as a PTSD service dog.

To give his full time and energy over to the rescue, Chris left his job as a radio technician. Sharon still holds a full-time position working for Ancianos, devoting every bit of her remaining free time to the animals.

Building the rescue required guidance, and Chris is quick to credit the local mentors who taught them the ropes. Specifically, he highlights Holly Howard, as well as Gayle and Joe Cisneros of the Northern New Mexico Friends of Animals out of Questa, as the mentors who taught them all they needed to know about rural rescue work.

As an animal rescue, some of their immediate equipment needs include heavy-duty kennels used to safely trap feral female dogs so they can be spayed. “We recently held a fundraiser at the Fishing Derby that has allowed us to purchase one heavy-duty kennel,” Chris noted.

Currently housing several dogs at their property, they service areas north of Taos. Because of the sheer volume of local animals, many of their puppy litters are transferred to the Denver metro area to be adopted into forever homes, though Chris and Sharon capacity-wise cannot take on more adult dogs at the moment. Run Around Dog Town stays active on Facebook and has a website that will soon be up and running. Occasionally, they even help place cats.

Aside from their own rescue, Chris and Sharon want to stress the importance of the community utilizing the free Spay and Neuter clinic in Taos to help control the local population.

Their dedication to the community doesn’t stop at animal welfare, either. Both Sharon and Chris are volunteer firefighters, heavily active in local engagement, and involved with the annual Revive the Ride motorcycle rally—a project they are incredibly proud to support.

With several dogs currently in their care and operations funded largely out-of-pocket, community support is vital for the Costilla sanctuary. Here are a few ways you can help:

• Follow & Share: Keep up with real-time rescue stories and adoption updates on Facebook by searching for Run Around Dog Town.
• Immediate Material Needs: Donations of high-quality dog and puppy food, heavy-duty crates, and clean blankets are always welcome.
• Foster or Donate: With the facility currently at maximum capacity for adult dogs, the team is actively looking for local foster homes, as well as monetary donations to help cover emergency veterinary and medical bills.