Starting June 9, Albuquerque’s Westside animal shelter will open seven days a week to ease overcrowding and make pet adoptions and services more accessible during the busy summer season.
The City of Albuquerque’s Animal Welfare Department is expanding its Westside shelter hours to match its Eastside location, now open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Officials say the move is urgently needed as stray intakes surge each summer, straining shelter capacity.
“Opening the Westside shelter seven days a week is a big step toward helping our city’s most vulnerable animals,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “With both shelters now open every day, we’re making it easier for families to find their new best friend and give more pets a second chance.”
With free microchipping, no adoption or reclaim fees and a push for more foster homes and volunteers, the city is urging residents to step up and help give shelter pets a second chance.
The city’s animal shelter will keep offering free microchipping and pet tags through July 3 as part of its push for responsible pet ownership. Microchip info can be updated year-round for free to help furry friends get home faster.
“This expansion is about giving every pet in our care the best chance at a loving home,” said Animal Welfare Director Carolyn Ortega. “Being open seven days a week at both locations allows us to better serve our community and meet the increased needs of the summer season. We’re calling on Albuquerque residents to step up — adopt, foster, volunteer, and help us save lives.”
To help get lost pets home faster, the city’s animal shelter has waived reclaim fees. All animals must be sterilized before release, so unaltered pets will stay for surgery on the next available date.
The shelter’s admissions and reclaim desk is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. to make it easier for people to find and pick up their lost pets.
Adoption fees are waived for all pets in the shelter and foster care, though standard steps like background checks still apply.
The animal shelter is always looking for foster homes for pets that need extra care, recovery or a break from the shelter. Fostering helps the shelter serve more homeless pets.
Get Involved
Visit cabq.gov/pets to see pets available for adoption. To foster, email AWDFoster@cabq.gov.
The East and West shelters are open daily with these hours:
- Admissions and reclaims: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Adoptions: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Other services like microchipping and permits: 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Check the Lost & Found Pets page for info on reclaiming your pet.
For details on donating toys, towels and milk bones or volunteering at either shelter, visit the Volunteer, Foster or Donate page.