City, animal shelter reach temporary deal to resume stray services

Nov. 16—The city of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society have reached a temporary agreement that will again allow the shelter to continue to take in the city's stray pets.

"The City of Santa Fe is pleased to report that effective this evening services with the Santa Fe Animal Shelter are approved to resume under a temporary contract," city spokesperson Regina Ruiz wrote in an email Friday.

Shelter CEO Jackie Roach wrote in an online message Saturday "we've now reached a very short-term resolution that allows us to resume services effective today. ... This temporary measure will give us the time needed to work toward a longer-term agreement with the City."

Roach wrote the city "will require us to respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP), which we look forward to submitting, and we are confident in our ability to secure a sustainable, long-term partnership to continue providing vital services to the City and the citizens of Santa Fe."

The contract between the city and the shelter expired Wednesday, and the shelter said Thursday it could no longer take in stray animals brought in by the city's Animal Services Division. Roach said the shelter was already operating over capacity with more than 300 animals in its care.