Sherry Mangold, an award-winning retired New Mexico school teacher, created The Animal Connection in 2011. Following six years of staffing APNM’s Animal Cruelty Helpline, Sherry began developing a program addressing the very issues that many callers in New Mexico face.  

In New Mexico, not all counties and communities have animal welfare departments—some have no animal ordinances. APNM’s mission statement became a key that unlocked Sherry’s teaching vision: “[APNM] advocate[s] the right of animals by effecting systemic change, resulting in the humane treatment of all animals.”

There’s no better way to effect systemic change than through education for New Mexico’s children.

From the first pilot program in Valencia County in 2011, The Animal Connection’s in-class lessons grew to reach thousands of children in seven public school districts and learners of all ages in community centers, correctional facilities, and other venues statewide.  

In this first iteration of APNM’s humane education program, Sherry and her team of therapy dogs, a partnership with Southwest Canine Corps of Volunteers, presented lessons and special presentations that focused on care and responsibility towards companion animals, the importance of spay and neutering and animal overpopulation, as well as presenting bite prevention techniques and understanding dog behavior when in encountering a loose dog.  

The Covid-19 pandemic prompted APNM to create a humane education curriculum that teachers could access online. With original videos produced by Antigravity Films in Albuquerque, the online Animal Connection courses cover the same content as the in-person lessons presented by Sherry and her therapy dog team.

Now, educators across New Mexico can share the life-changing lessons of compassion for animals with their students.