WASHINGTON – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren expressed his appreciation to New Mexico Congresswoman Teresa Leger-Fernandez for her confirmation of $1 million to replace a 50-year-old animal shelter in Crownpoint, N.M.
The President thanked the congresswoman here last Friday for the allocation to the Navajo Nation as part of Congressional Direct Spending within the Consolidated Appro-priations Act of 2024.
“We are deeply thankful to Congresswoman Leger-Fernandez and all those who supported the legislation that makes this possible,” President Nygren said. “With this new shelter, we can turn the tide on a decade-long crisis that has affected the safety of our people and the well-being of animals across our lands.”
The old shelter has been condemned and out of service for more than six years. In 2018, the Navajo Nation Council allocated $250,000 for the design and construction of a new shelter.
In recent years, the Navajo Nation has seen a rise in dog bites, maulings and deaths from feral dog attacks. The new shelter will increase the Nation’s capacity to care for animals, provide impoundments, quarantine, vaccinations, microchipping, spaying/neutering and adoptions.
The shelter will be an educational hub for the community to promote responsible pet ownership and humane treatment of animals.
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