GRANTS, N.M. — At a recent Grants City Council regular meeting, a controversial decision was made regarding City Manager Vanessa Chavez. In a 3-1 vote, Councilmen Fred Rodarte, Rick Lucero, and Fred Padilla voted to end the city’s contract with Chavez, while Councilor Erik Garcia voted against the motion. That decision would soon bring about some unintended consequences; one in particular involving the Grants Animal Care Center.
As of lately, the Grants Animal Care Center has been full to the brim with animals. At times, the care center has even had to give shelter to abandoned animals in the front lobby/reception area of the building, located at 722 Sakelares Boulevard, due to the rest of the shelter being completely at capacity. The situation has only been growing worse, with 70 dogs currently at the shelter, while wandering pets continue to roam the streets of Grants and Cibola County.
However, a light of hope appeared nearly two weeks ago when local community member and Papa’s Pawn business owner Diane Rowe discovered an animal rescue organization from the state of Texas called Elite Pet Rescue. When the rescue came to the Grants Animal Care Center a couple weeks ago to take a few of the shelter’s animals, the rescue told the shelter that if they could arrange to have all of the animals spayed, neutered, and receive their rabies, parvo, and distemper shots by January, that they would take them all, rescuing the entire animal shelter. Carolyn Newton, head of the Animal Care Board and Reruns business owner, said she has only seen this kind of full rescue done once in her ten years of being involved with the animal shelter.
According to Newton, this rescue would be a big deal in helping the animal shelter out during these tough times. The only major factor to consider is financing the rescue. To meet all of the requirements of the pet rescue, the care center is going to have to spend about $3,500. After receiving this information, Newton immediately reached out to Manager Chavez, who Newton said has been involved with the animal shelter for years and continued her involvement even as she started her role as city manager. Chavez told Newton that she would look into funds that might be available through the city to help the shelter pull off the rescue. Chavez even said that if that avenue of possible funding did not work out, that she would help Newton and the animal shelter to arrange some sort of fundraising.
Newton said that she went into the Nov. 18 regular city council meeting excited to inform the council about the good news but was discouraged as she watched the events of the meeting unfold, knowing that Chavez was closely involved and familiar with the shelter’s situation and willing to help. Instead of delivering the news in the way she had hoped, Newton told Councilmen Lucero, Rodarte, and Padilla that she hoped they were ready and willing to help make a plan for how to fund the rescue. Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks and Councilor Erik Garcia assured Newton the city would try to help.
As of Sunday, November 21, Newton said neither Councilor Lucero, Padilla, nor Rodarte had reached out to Newton or accepted her calls to discuss the situation and make a game plan. However, in a recent turn of events, Chavez’s role as city manager was reportedly in the process of being temporarily reappoint, as of Monday, Nov. 22. Mayor Hicks unofficially announced this reappointment on Friday, Nov. 19, and Councilor Garcia confirmed that the mayor would officially reappoint Chavez as manager Monday afternoon, Nov. 22. Whether the councilors who voted to end her contract will take steps to fight this action is unknown at the moment.
Nonetheless, Newton said she hopes Manager Chavez’s position stays intact long enough for the animal shelter to be able to accomplish their goals to make the Elite Pet Rescue happen. Newton said the shelter hopes to meet all of the requirements for every animal by Christmas at the latest. Currently, Airport Animal Clinic Veterinarian Gordon Merayo assists the shelter with these procedures, but in order to meet their goal by Christmas, the shelter needs to secure an other vet to help, which they have already been in contact for.
Newton said that she understands that the holiday/winter season is tough financially for many people, but that community members can help by sponsoring an animal to Texas if they are able. The total cost for each animal to meet the requirements to be rescued will be about $50. Community members who are able to help in this way can do so by reaching out to the Airport Animal Clinic (505-287-2763), Reruns (505-285-8887), Papa’s Pawn (505-287-7296), or the Grants Animal Care Center (505-285-4012).
As for the ongoing situation with city leadership, Newton said she hopes that the situation is resolved because, although she knows Vanessa Chavez as a community member will continue to assist and be involved with the animal shelter no matter what, Newton knows how beneficial it is for someone who is involved, participates in fundraisers, visits the animal shelter, and cares about the struggles of the shelter to be in a government position such as city manager, so that they can offer resources, contacts, and assistance in a different way. Newton hopes that progress for the shelter is not stunted due to disagreements among city leadership.