ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Bernalillo County’s limited space at its animal shelter will be even more scarce for the foreseeable future. The county is down about two dozen kennels after a mold outbreak in late 2024. 

KOB 4 shares details on the partnership giving dogs new temporary homes. 

“When we built the facility, it was built for 2,500 animals. We are bringing in 5,500 to 6,000 or more animals a year,” said Misha Goodman, director of Bernalillo County Animal Care Services. 

That means workers have been using a lot more chemicals and water to clean up after them since the shelter opened six years ago. That lead to a mold outbreak late 2024.  

“Mold spreads once it’s on a surface, it just spreads. And so, you know, it was spreading behind the walls, which we didn’t realize until we tore those walls out,” said Goodman. 

The outbreak affected 23 kennels and 30 animals staying in them at the time. The shelter worked with Expo New Mexico to get them a new temporary home in one of Expo’s livestock buildings. 

“This was a great opportunity for this building. It’s perfectly suited for what they do. So it was a natural, let’s get it done,” said Dan Mourning, a general manager of Expo New Mexico. 

Goodman says they plan to bring more shy dogs to Expo in the future for more training and attention. Construction at the shelter could take at least a year. 

Come June, when state fair preparations start, trouble might return. 

“Once we hit springtime, it will become an issue. Definitely. Our population goes way up,” said Mourning. “We’re also still considering an off-site adoption center facility that would take a number of animals out of the facility into another location somewhere around town.”

A temporary home until their forever one comes through. 

“New Mexicans are amazing. When people are in crisis, we come to the rescue to each other,” said Mourning.