ABQ Animal Humane shelter overcrowded

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Animal shelters statewide are overflowing with pets and it has been trickling into an Albuquerque shelter.

Workers there are trying hard to find those pets new homes, to make sure they do not have to put them down.

A pack of puppies were part of another wave of transfers pouring into Animal Humane in Albuquerque this year and shelter workers say they know there will be more.

“I will actually say every shelter in New Mexico is overcrowded with pets,” Dawn Glass said.

Dawn Glass with Animal Humane says it's a problem that has hit the state hard this year, especially smaller shelters across the state.

Animal Humane is known to take in at-risk animals, meaning they would more than likely be euthanized if they stayed in smaller shelters, because of lack of space.

Glass says this year the number of transfers is up by a lot.

“In 2011 we transferred in about 600 animals, so far this year we've already transferred in 625…we still got five months in the year and we've already passed last years' amount,” Glass said.

Tuesday, the shelter took in 32 dogs from Roswell alone large dogs to even litters of puppies.

Roswell is not the only area that transfers pets in, shelters from as far as Gallup to Valencia County and the Albuquerque’s shelter, ship pets to Animal Humane.

“On a regular basis we transfer in animals from about 10 to 12 shelters,” Glass said.

Animal Humane says they will find space for the transfers to make sure the least number of pets are euthanized every year.

Glass says one of the main reasons for the overcrowding at small shelters is the economy.

Owners not able to pay for pet food and some not able to afford to spay or neuter their pets end up with more puppies on their hands then they have means to care for.

While Animal Humane has been coming to the rescue, the economy is also putting a pinch on their shelter space too.

“Animal Hhumane has definitely seen an increase in owner surrenders,” Glass said.

Animal Humane officials say despite the influx of animals, either surrendered or transferred into the Albuquerque shelter, they will continue to take in as many animals as they can.