Española Humane Responds to Mold Findings with Temporary Dog Kennel Closure

ESPANOLA, NM — Española Humane has temporarily closed its indoor dog kennel area to the public after routine testing revealed elevated mold levels in the ceiling. While the rest of the shelter remains fully operational, the dog kennels will remain closed during remediation efforts.

“We’re taking this seriously and moving swiftly to protect the health of our animals, staff, volunteers, and visitors,” said Kate Baldwin, Executive Director of Española Humane. “We’ve already brought in remediation experts, roofing contractors, and toxicologists to guide our response.”

The decision, made out of an abundance of caution, comes after testing conducted on June 20, with findings interpreted on June 30. The shelter’s cat rooms, lobby, office spaces, and on-site clinic remain unaffected and fully operational. All services, including adoptions and veterinary care, will continue with adjusted operations.

Thanks to the shelter’s short average length of stay for dogs, its indoor/outdoor kennel layout, and continuous airflow from fans, there is currently no indication that the mold has impacted the health of animals in care. Additional testing, including air and swab samples, is scheduled for July 9.

Dogs and puppies are being relocated into temporary kennels outdoors as the organization prepares to purchase additional housing systems to maintain comfort and care during the remediation process.

How the community can help:
• Foster a dog – even short-term fostering helps
• Adopt – lobby, cat, off-site, and outdoor adoptions continue as normal
• Donate – help us build and outfit new kennel setups

“We’re no strangers to tough situations—and every time, our community rises to meet the challenge,” Baldwin added. “Our mission goes on, and we’ll continue showing up for animals who need us. With your support, we’ll come out stronger.” Española

​Humane will reopen for public adoptions on Wednesday, with adoptions taking place in the lobby or outdoors.
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To foster, adopt, or donate, visit www.espanolahumane.org or stop by the shelter during business hours.

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Española Humane’s mission is to end animal suffering in underserved communities. We offer free spay/neuter, vaccinations, and work to build trusting relationships. To learn more about how you can help, visit espanolahumane.org.