The new Bernalillo County Animal Care and Resource Center held its grand opening at a ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon.
This new animal care and resource center, at 3001 Second St. SW, is a little over 17,000 square feet and includes space for approximately 117 to 150 dogs and approximately 80-100 cats.
Since many parts of the county are in rural areas, this new shelter will also provide more adequate housing for horses, cows, sheep and other livestock.
Click here for more information on how to adopt animals through Bernalillo County.
The former animal care facility was located at 1136 Gatewood SW, which used to be an old county fire station.
Bernalillo County had a long-time contract with the City of Albuquerque Animal Care Department and other shelters in the state to house the animals the county picked up. There was not enough room at the former location to keep very many animals for more than a day or two.
Funding for the $7.8 million facility came from the county’s general operating budget and public safety general obligation bonds.
Some of the exciting new programs and services will include many types of volunteer and recreational opportunities, educational and training classes for people and animals, camp programs, spay and neuter, microchipping and vaccination clinics, foster care, and much more.
Bernalillo County Animal Care Services will continue its enforcement function to ensure the health and safety of both people and animals within the community.
“I would like to thank all of the community members, animal lovers, and county staff who have been such an important part of leading Bernalillo County to this new era of care, treatment, and sheltering of the animals in our community,” says County Commission Chair Maggie Hart Stebbins.
For the immediate future, hours of operation will continue to be Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with animal viewing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.