Las Cruces could propose funding new animal shelter as part of August bond

The Las Cruces City Council could soon propose building a new animal shelter and renovating the former shelter into a medical and quarantine space for animals.

“There’s been a long-term need,” said David Dollohan, the assistant city manager.

The two buildings would be side-by-side at the existing location on Bataan Memorial and Rinconada Boulevard, Dollohan said.

“It would help us save on the construction of a new shelter and not have to build as big a building,” Dollohan said.

The city is considering funding the project as part of a $35 million general obligation bond, which the public will vote on in August. Before that, the city council must finalize the bond items in June.

“We haven’t expanded the shelter, the current shelter, from its original construction in the 1980s,” Dollohan said. “We’ve done additions by adding on storage buildings and the like, but there’s been no serious addition to the shelter.”

If the public passes the bond, the new shelter is estimated to cost between $6 and $8 million, according to the city’s website.