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Animal Humane of New Mexico is rethinking its presence on the West Side with a view to moving its operation to a more high-traffic location.
The private nonprofit that provides animal adoption, shelter and training services will keep its location at 10700 Corrales Road, near the Flying Star restaurant, open through the end of April.
After that, Animal Humane will continue providing opportunities to adopt animals on the West Side four or five times monthly via its mobile adoption vehicle, said executive director Peggy Weigle.
“We are still committed to the West Side,” Weigle said.
Animal Humane is in the midst of a $5 million renovation of its main campus at 615 Virginia SE in southeast Albuquerque. Once that project is complete, the organization will search for another site on the West Side, probably late this year or in early 2014, she said.
Animal Humane opened the 2,000-square-foot Corrales Road center in mid-2010, primarily offering cats and dogs for adoption. It was the nonprofit’s third metro-area site and the first on the West Side.
Before that, Animal Humane brought adoptable animals to the Flying Star parking lot in its mobile unit. Based on the adoption numbers from the van, and research into adoptions at the Corrales Growers’ Market, Animal Humane expected to average 20 to 25 adoptions per month at the Corrales Road center. The experience hasn’t matched the predictions and the center has been losing money, Weigle said.
“The challenge of the Corrales location is that it’s a bit off the beaten path,” Weigle said. “We need to be closer to a more visible location.”
The organization decided to close the center when the lease expires at the end of April. In the meantime, it will continue to open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Call the reporter at 505-823-3919
