Bernalillo County, New Mexico, USA

Bernalillo County’s new animal control ordinance and related fee structure will take effect Monday, June 8. While much of the 32-page document remains the same, there will be some important changes.

All dogs, cats, and ferrets are required to have permanent identification in the form of a microchip, tattoo, or collar id, in addition to being required to have a rabies vaccination and license. All fees are increasing slightly, but provide incentives for responsible dog and cat owners.
Chaining to stationary objects will no longer be allowed.
Sales of dogs and cats will be from the permit holder’s residence and will no longer be allowed along the roadside or from a commercial business. Shelters may have off-site adoptions with permission from the site owner. A female dog or cat may not have more than one litter in a consecutive 12 month period, if the owner does not have a professional or hobby breeder permit.
The language for animal cruelty has been expanded to include acts of negligence including providing basic or emergency medical attention, maintaining an animal in an enclosed environment without provisions to prevent pain or suffering, and performing ear-cropping, de barking, or tail docking on an animal or otherwise endangering an animal’s well-being (excluding procedures completed by a veterinarian).
The language for fighting animals has been expanded to include possession of fighting paraphernalia, use of bait animals, and training or conditioning animals for fighting.

“The Bernalillo County Animal Control Department's primary responsibility is to protect the safety, health and welfare of the public while enforcing the humane treatment of animals,” says animal control manager Becky Darrow. “This ordinance replaces one that was written some ten years ago. We feel it better addresses our community’s current needs.”

For more information, please contact Becky Darrow at (505) 314-0280.