Sandoval County Animal Services Guide Covers Adoptions, Lost Pets, and Volunteer Programs

Sandoval County's long-awaited Animal Resource Center broke ground near Interstate 25 and Highway 550 in Bernalillo in February 2026, capping years of effort to replace an overwhelmed temporary operation. But even as the new facility takes shape, the county's existing animal care programs are actively placing pets in homes, enforcing animal welfare laws, and welcoming volunteers from Algodones to Placitas. Here is what every Sandoval County resident needs to know.

A National No-Kill Record Worth Knowing

Before diving into procedures, it helps to understand what kind of agency you are dealing with. Sandoval County Animal Services has earned national recognition as a Best Friends 2024 No-Kill Shelter, meaning animals entering the county system have a 90% chance of finding homes rather than being euthanized for space. The achievement places Sandoval County among an elite group of animal shelters nationwide that have reached the 90% save-rate benchmark established by Best Friends Animal Society.

Animal Services is contained within the county's Community Services Department, operating in partnership with the Sheriff's Office. That partnership shapes everything from how impounded animals are handled to how ordinance violations are enforced across the county's vast rural territory.

How Adoptions Work

Dogs impounded by Sandoval County are initially taken to a climate-controlled kennel facility located on the Administrative Campus at 1500 Idalia Road in Bernalillo, while cats are placed in feline-specific safe environments. Most pets impounded by the county are either returned to their owner or transferred to an area agency for adoption, though in some cases homeless pets are adopted out directly through the Community Services Department.

The adoption process involves multiple checkpoints designed to protect both the animal and the adopter. After applying, the county screens all adopters through an application, phone interview, and meet-and-greet. Once those steps are complete, a home visit is scheduled, and if everything goes well, the adopter may "foster" the pet for up to two weeks before making a final decision.

To browse available pets before applying, the county uses PetFinder and Adopt-a-Pet to post animals presently ready for adoption. For cats and kittens specifically, interested adopters or fosters must complete an application and return it to sandovalpets@sandovalcountynm.gov.

Foster Care: Short-Term Commitment, Real Impact

The Community Services Department is always seeking compassionate hearts and competent hands to help care for the county's homeless pets. In all cases where appropriate, the preference is to place impounded pets in temporary foster homes rather than a facility environment.

The Animal Ambassador Program provides people the opportunity to help homeless pets through foster, adoption, or other volunteer opportunities. Fostering is especially valuable for animals that need a calm home environment to recover or simply to show their best personality to a prospective adopter.

Lost Pets: What to Do

If a pet goes missing anywhere in the county's unincorporated areas, the first call should go to Animal Services. For general questions or to inquire about lost or adoptable pets, call (505) 867-7642. The county's website also maintains a dedicated lost-pet reporting tool accessible through its main portal.

For animal control issues, contact the Sheriff's Dispatch at 505-898-7585, keeping in mind that Sandoval County Animal Control only responds to calls in the rural, unincorporated areas of the county. Residents in incorporated cities such as Rio Rancho or Bernalillo should contact their respective municipal animal control offices for in-city incidents.

Re-Homing a Pet You Can No Longer Keep

Surrendering a pet to a shelter is not the only option. The county partners with Home to Home, which aids community members in finding another home for their pet rather than placing the animal in a shelter, which is usually over capacity. This peer-to-peer re-homing approach keeps animals out of the kennel system and is worth exploring before initiating a formal surrender.

Animal Control Ordinance: Know the Rules

In 2002, the Sandoval County Commission enacted Ordinance 02-02-21.B, the Sandoval County Animal Control Ordinance. The Sheriff's Office continuously educates residents about the ordinance and New Mexico State Law, and violations can result in the impound of animals, a misdemeanor citation, or even arrest with fines up to $300.

The ordinance applies specifically to unincorporated Sandoval County, which includes communities ranging from Placitas and Corrales to Cuba, Ponderosa, and portions of 12 Indian Pueblos and Tribal Nations. Copies of the Animal Control Ordinance may be obtained at the Sheriff's Office.

Key provisions worth understanding:

• Animals found running at large ("estrays") can be impounded.
• It is unlawful to keep or harbor a vicious animal in the county.
• If any animal kills or injures livestock or protected wildlife, the owner is liable for all damages and must surrender the animal to animal control.

Volunteering: Walking Dogs, Working Events, and More

Those interested in volunteering can complete the general volunteer form and submit it to sandovalpets@sandovalcountynm.gov. Roles range from hands-on animal care to community outreach.

Volunteers help get animals ready for adoption through walks, leash training, or simply spending time with them. Volunteers with availability on weekends are especially encouraged to attend adoption events, where they help staff interact with the public and assist in placing dogs with new families.

Supporting the Medical Fund

Far too frequently, homeless pets arrive with complex medical conditions, and the costs of pet health care are high. Donations to the Medical Fund help cover essential care for homeless pets and directly help save lives. Those who wish to contribute can drop a check or money order off with the Finance Department made payable to Sandoval County Animal Services with "Medical Fund" in the note.

The New Animal Resource Center: What's Coming

The most significant change to animal services in Sandoval County's history is now under construction. The new facility, valued at $8.7 million, is expected to open in early 2027 and will be able to house 50 to 60 dogs and 12 to 20 cats at a time, along with kennels, offices, play space, and a dog park for residents and visitors.

County Manager Wayne Johnson explained that the new center is situated on a five-acre parcel within the Sandoval County Government campus off South Hill Road in Bernalillo, with the address at 635 Vista Sandia Court. The new center consists of two buildings: one housing animal services including exam rooms and offices, and a second holding 60 kennels, replacing a temporary shelter that had operated with just 21 kennels for years under growing demand.

The Sandoval County Commission unanimously approved the construction agreement with EPX New Mexico. The project was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and required piecing together funding from multiple sources, including federal, state, and local contributions. The county will soon hire an Assistant Director for the Resource Center to help manage the transition from the temporary shelter model to a full-fledged animal resource center.

For a county that has already earned national no-kill recognition operating out of a single temporary facility, the new Animal Resource Center represents a foundation built to meet Sandoval County's accelerating growth for decades to come.