No-kill shelter closing

The Animal Support Center, or TASC, is closing Monday.

The center, which is a no-kill shelter, cannot accept any more animals and had at last count 25 cats, eight dogs and seven puppies, which must be adopted out by Monday, said Maureen O’Brien, who is assisting with the closure of TASC.

Those wishing to adopt can call 425-3450 for cats, 426-8203 for dogs and puppies.

O’Brien said animals can be taken to the city’s animal control department.

She said the center is closing because it hasn’t had enough community support, either with monetary contributions or manpower.

“The work has been falling on a few people. It’s been that way for quite awhile. I’m just here to close things,” she said.

O’Brien said through “loads of help and prayers,” the group hopes to get all of its animals adopted by Monday. “We’re not going to euthanize any of them,” she said.

She said those interested in animal protection are hoping to have a new facility that would serve San Miguel, Guadalupe and Mora counties.

Tomas Garza, supervisor of the city’s animal control, said the city is up for the new task.

Garza said the city’s kennels are relatively empty and that they have multiple resources for animal adoption, including a website, www.petfinders.com, which has adopted out 12 million animals nationwide since 1995, as well as bulletin boards with photos of the animals at Wal-Mart and at City Hall.

Garza said the city’s animal shelter doesn’t euthanize except in cases of illness, injury or a court order.