ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Bernalillo County says there’s an “unprecedented” volume of animals in their care. It comes after hundreds of birds and a variety of other animals were rescued earlier this week.
“Every shelter in this state, and in other states, are busting at the seams,” said Misha Goodman, Director of Animal Care Services.
The county says FBI agents alerted them Thursday, after discovering hundreds of roosters and hens during an operation. Bernalillo County animal care service officers found 195 roosters and hens and found evidence of cockfighting.
“There was fighting equipment,” Goodman said. “There was training equipment, antibiotics, surgical equipment for when the birds get injured.”
Twelve dogs were also found at the property. The owners also surrendered five of them to the county; the rest stayed behind. The county says they didn’t show any signs of neglect. It’s the second-largest case this week that’s brought more animals into the shelter.
“The population of animals is overwhelming,” Goodman added.
Just a couple of days earlier, on Tuesday, the county responded to a different animal neglect case, where the county says they rescued around 60 dogs, three alpacas, a mini horse, and chickens.
“Yesterday, we were at 469 animals in house, and additional 173 animals that are still within our care, but they were in foster homes, that’s a tremendous amount of animals for us,” Goodman added.
The shelter is asking for help from the community, encouraging people to adopt, foster, or give a monetary donation.
