Friends of Roswell Animals

Friends of Roswell Animals, known as FORA, is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) rescue organization founded in Roswell in 2015 with a mission to save dogs and cats in southeastern New Mexico through direct rescue, foster placement, and advocacy. Unlike a brick-and-mortar shelter, FORA operates through a network of foster families who provide temporary homes for animals rescued from the Roswell area while the organization works to find permanent placements.

FORA works alongside and in partnership with the municipal animal shelter in Roswell, pulling animals that are at risk and placing them into foster care where they receive individualized attention, medical support, and socialization. This model allows FORA to take in animals that might not thrive in a shelter environment, including those who need medical treatment, behavioral support, or simply a quieter home setting before adoption.

The organization coordinates transport to other regions when local adoption demand is insufficient, connecting Roswell-area animals with adopters in larger markets who are actively seeking pets. This transport network is a common strategy for rescue groups in rural areas with high intake and relatively small local populations.

FORA relies entirely on volunteers and community fundraising to sustain its work. Donations fund veterinary care, transport costs, and supplies for foster families. Founded less than a decade ago, the organization has become an important complement to the Roswell Humane Society, adding capacity and flexibility to the regional animal welfare system through its foster-based model. FORA's work reflects a growing model of volunteer-driven rescue that has expanded animal welfare capacity in communities across the country.