STATE
New Mexico animal shelters receive $2 million in state funding
17 shelters receive state funding for renovations and construction
Animal shelters across New Mexico are receiving a combined $2 million to improve facilities.
The Department of Finance and Administration has allocated $2 million to renovation and construction projects across the state through the New Mexico Animal Welfare Program. The funding was split across 17 shelters in various cities, towns and counties.
鈥淭he New Mexico Animal Welfare Program reflects the state's commitment to supporting local communities in various ways,鈥� said Henry Valdez, director of legislative and local government affairs. 鈥淭hese awards will help shelters statewide meet basic needs and improve conditions for the cats and dogs in their care.鈥�
Project sizes and funding amounts vary from $15,000 for a play yard, fencing and drainage improvements in Moriarty to $290,600 for kennel construction, HVAC, drainage and storage upgrades in Bayard.
In Edgewood, $40,000 has been allocated to build a quarantine and isolation facility for the shelter.
鈥淲e desperately need it,鈥� said Christine Romero, the animal shelter manager for the town of Edgewood. 鈥淲hen we have a stray come in, we don鈥檛 have anywhere to put them besides with the rest of the animals.鈥�
With the new quarantine facility, the shelter will have a place to keep newly rescued animals until their stray hold is up. The facility will also provide a place for sick animals to receive care without risking the health of the other animals in the shelter.
鈥淲e had an outbreak of distemper a few years ago,鈥� said Romero. 鈥淏eing a rural shelter we don鈥檛 receive a lot of funding. We鈥檙e really grateful that the state decided to fund us.鈥�
According to a Department of Finance and Administration news release, many shelters find themselves in similar situations to the Edgewood鈥檚 shelter, and this funding aims to fill some of those gaps.
鈥淩enovations like these, kennel upgrades, HVAC systems, quarantine spaces, are often difficult for local governments to fund on their own, and this program helps make that work possible,鈥� said Valdez.
