CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — The City of Grants Animal Care Center is temporarily closed to the public while staff work to reduce overcrowding, city officials said this week.
The city-run facility—widely regarded as the county’s primary full-service shelter—will continue adoptions and owner reclaims by appointment and respond to emergencies.
The temporary closure was announced in an Oct. 6 news release from Grants Police Chief Maxine Monte, who oversees the shelter. The notice states that adoptions and reclaims remain available by appointment at 505-285-4012, and staff will continue to respond to urgent situations involving injured animals, aggressive dogs, and dog-bite incidents.
The closure follows rising concern among some residents and volunteers, who organized a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to discuss conditions and policy at the shelter. Several volunteers told the have struggled to get responses from City Manager Andrew Valencia and say they have been unable to address City Council about bedding, laundry, and food issues. They also say a draft animal-welfare ordinance has not been taken up by city or county officials.
Chief Monte categorically rejected a central allegation circulating on social media—that dogs are being euthanized due to lack of space.
“Absolutely 100 percent false. We have not euthanized any dogs. We are working with Best Friends Animal Society to get these animals ready for transport,” Monte said in a phone interview Tuesday. “The City of Grants has no ordinance to do anything like that and, on my watch, there have been no euthanasians due to space.” She added that any euthanasia is documented and “no pets have been put down due to space.”
Monte said the shelter currently houses about 100 animals and the near-term goal is to reduce that number to 65 by coordinating out-ofarea placements with Best Friends Animal Society. “This will make our animal care center stronger,” she said.
As of press time Tuesday, attempts to reach City Manager Andrew Valencia and Cibola County leadership for comment were unsuccessful.