If Lenor Teague comes back in a second life, she wants to be a cat.
"I just want to be loved, lay around and just be at peace," Teague said. "Just be pretty and be a thing to be petted on."
Originally from Roswell, New Mexico, Teague is used to having unique thoughts and experiences, such as the time she was driving from Hondo to Ruidoso.
"When you're in the valley -- you know, the mountains -- you feel like you're that big," she said, using her fingers to make a small gap.
During the trip, Teague said she saw a pink beam of light that appeared to be flying.
"It wasn't on the ground where I was," Teague said.
According to Teague, the unidentified object landed in Corona, New Mexico, which is about 90 miles from Roswell.
"There was a military base (in Roswell), and that's how the UFO ended up there because they went and picked it up," Teague said.
While Roswell is known for its extraterrestrial visitors, Teague knows it more for where she met her first feline friend, a white tabby.
"I was probably 3 years old when I had my first cat," Teague said. "His name was Dos Veinte, which means 220 in English. Why? I don't know, but that was this guy's name."
Teague attributes her love of animals to her upbringing and the sense of security that animals bring.
"We loved each other," Teague said of Dos Veinte. "He was always excited for me to come home from school. We had him for a long time."
Teague's love of animals isn't just extended to cats. It also reaches to dogs and birds. Teague, executive director of the Animal Care and Adoption Center, said she moved her birds to her office so she could spend more time with them.
"Ten dogs, two cats," Teague said of her critters at home. "They're just part of our family. About a quarter mile from the pavement up to our home, I can pull up and they know I'm home. They start chirping, hollering and talking. The cats start moving around, and it's all crazy."
Teague has been married to Darryl since 2005.
"I met him through his daughter, who is now my stepdaughter," Teague said. "His daughter was working for me, and we just started hanging out. He always made me laugh and that was something way different from what I had before (in my previous marriage.)"
Teague and Darryl together have three sons, two daughters and 17 grandchildren.
"We lost our daughter (Valerie) suddenly in March. This will be two years," Teague said. "Holidays are worse. We have had great things come out of our marriage and our children, unfortunately we've had that struggle too. But we do have her children to see her through."
Teague said her children think she does an awesome job but that she also has been accused of being a perfectionist.
"I just want things done right," Teague said. "You know, and doing it in a good, timely manner, and to have pride in what you do."
Teague was hired as the executive director of the animal center in February and has a clear plan for the future.
"The goals are to add more kennels so we can utilize some of the space that's wide-open space that's mainly out here in the new building," Teague said. "That's a goal for here, and of course, to try to become a no-kill shelter."
Teague said her primary objective is to encourage greater responsibility for pets, including having them spayed or neutered.
"I think we've made great accomplishments here," Teague said. "My staff is so loyal to me. Without them, I couldn't have done it alone. ... We just want to continue to adopt these animals out."