An effort is underway to build an expansion to an animal shelter in Bernalillo County that is just a little over two years old.
Located at 3001 Second Street SW, nearly three miles to the south of downtown Albuquerque, the shelter, designed to house roughly 2,500 animals, took in around 3,880 animals last year.
Altogether, since its opening in January of 2019, it has housed up to 9,500 animals.
In response to pleas from shelter officials who say more space is needed, some $500,000 in county funds is being drawn upon for a study looking at how additional shelter space would work.
That study will also explore the design and space needs of a shelter expansion, as well as contemplating the construction of a separate satellite facility elsewhere.
Funding for the expansion of the existing shelter or the construction of a new facility may not be secured until the passage of the next round of county general obligation bonds in 2022.
Construction of the current $7.5 million shelter, which was paid out of revenue from an earlier general obligation bond, launched in the summer of 2017.
Following the national industry standards, the shelter has veterinary care spaces, and both animal recreation and isolation areas.
By Garry Boulard
