FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — The city of Farmington now has a new and bigger shelter to house dogs and cats in need of homes.
The Daily Times reports Mayor Tommy Roberts officially opened the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter in a ribbon ceremony.
Roberts told a crowd of about 40 people on Friday that the building would help transition Farmington from being an animal control community to an animal welfare community.
Shelter workers say the 14,542-square-foot space will be able to hold 358 animals.
They say the old shelter could only house 146 but was sometimes packed with nearly 200 animals.
Local animal advocates say they have been trying to raise money for the past five years for a new shelter.