Sandoval County approves $8.7M contract for 11,000-square-foot Bernalillo animal center

Sandoval County commissioners approved a professional services agreement with EPX New Mexico to build a permanent Sandoval County Animal Resource Center in Bernalillo, a move county officials say is aimed at relieving chronic overcrowding in local animal services. The contract totals $8.74 million, including gross receipts tax, and EPX New Mexico was selected as the lowest responsive bidder among nine proposals.

The planned facility will sit on part of a 22-acre parcel the county purchased near Highway 550 and Interstate 25; county crews have started work on five acres of the site. An Instagram post cited in local reporting puts the building footprint at 11,000 square feet. Funding for the project comes from bond proceeds and capital outlay funds.

County leaders framed the new center as a response to a post-pandemic surge in pet ownership and shelter intake. Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson said, “We’ve got a couple of temporary shelters around the county we are using right now, but it really has been a long term project over all, this site we purchased a couple of years ago.” Johnson added, “We see overcrowding here in Sandoval County, it has just gotten exponentially worse since COVID when everyone decided, ‘Oh it would be great to have an animal.’ And you couldn’t find one anywhere. Pretty much, you can find one anywhere now. We need it both for the health and welfare of the animals, but also the health and welfare of the public.”

Work will begin with a utilities and access phase. Charles Martinez, Sandoval County’s Special Projects and Construction manager, said, “This first contract with the county is to extend the sewer, all utilities, sewer, water electricity up to the build site of the Animal Resource Center.” Martinez said the utility work “should take around 14 weeks, then they will start construction on the building itself,” and that, “We are also constructing the road as part of the subdivision process through the town of Bernalillo.” Officials warned motorists that traffic along South Hill Road will be affected during construction and that delays are likely.

The new center replaces the county’s current temporary shelter, which was designed to house up to 21 animals and has been operating under constrained conditions. County notices encourage volunteers, dog walkers and prospective adopters to help find animals homes. Public comment captured in the record reflects community priorities for operations and services. Ann Rivera wrote, “The shelter is a must, please make it a no kill. Also, if we could get low cost shot and spay/neuter clinics as well. This is needed on the west side. … Would there be a vet included? … It was so great to have them close by.”

Officials have given a target opening window of late 2026 or early 2027, with the caveat that sources report slightly different phrasing on that schedule. The Bernalillo Town Council reviewed rezoning for the 400 S. Hill Road parcel as part of the approval process; the planning and zoning commission previously recommended approval. For residents near the site, the immediate impacts will be construction traffic and utility work for roughly the next three to four months, followed by the building phase that will determine final capacity and services. The county says the center is intended to improve animal welfare, public health and adoption opportunities; next steps will be tracking construction milestones, rezoning finalization and operational plans such as veterinary services and clinic offerings.