UPDATE: NO ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING OR CALLED ME BACK!
Letter to City and County Authorities in Las Cruces/Dona Ana County-
I made a call to animal control yesterday about animal neglect/abuse. He did not give me a phone number to call him back, or I would tell him what I'm telling you. I'm upset because he said the residents are updated with the county ordinance.
That is not true! I have been at this residence several times serving papers, and every time I go there, the dogs have green water, no water, no food, and nothing to keep them warm. The dogs were freezing when I was there yesterday, and didn't even have some blanket in the dog houses to keep them warm. I called yesterday, and no one went out until today, giving the owner time to provide clean water and food and unbury the dog houses. Personally, I think they are breeding dogs, which really angers me. Why didn't they go out yesterday when I called?
I made a mistake by telling the owners I just called animal control, which gave them time to cover what I say is abuse! How is having a dog house buried in the dirt and the rain going into the dog house up to date?
These dogs are in this condition 24/7, and he tells me they are in ordinance? You look at these photos and tell me it is okay. We need someone else in your job to take over if you think this is okay with you. I cried all the way home, knowing these poor animals were being treated like this. Even the damn chickens didn't have protection.
I am a private investigator serving papers around Southern New Mexico. I see many cases of animal abuse and neglect. I see dogs lucky enough to have 10 feet of chain to walk around, with no shelter and sometimes no water. This isn't very easy for me to see. I've investigated animal abuse for over twenty years in California and New Mexico.
I report animal abuse when I see it, and I go back to where I observed the violence during different times of the day, and nothing has been changed. These same animals are chained or locked up in the same place 24/7, and you are telling me this is okay? That's INSANE if you do!
The laws in New Mexico are still neglecting our job as humans to protect them, such as a lack of safeguarding animals being left in a hot cars. We have no laws against animal fighting paraphernalia, and a Veterinary doesn't need to report animal cruelty, no law supporting post-conviction possession bans, no law prohibiting the sexual assault of animals.
Dogs are naturally social beings who need interaction with humans and other animals. Intensive confinement or long-term restraint can severely damage their physical and psychological well-being. When kept continuously chained or intensively confined in any way, an otherwise friendly and docile dog becomes neurotic, unhappy, anxious, and often aggressive.
It is common for continuously tethered dogs to endure physical ailments as a result of being continuously tethered. Their necks can become raw and sore, and their collars can painfully grow into their skin. They are vulnerable to insect bites and parasites and are at high risk of entanglement, strangulation, harassment, or attacks by other dogs or people.
Tethered dogs may suffer from irregular feedings, overturned water bowls, inadequate veterinary care, and extreme temperatures. During snowstorms, these dogs often have no access to shelter. During periods of extreme heat, they may not receive adequate water or protection from the sun. Owners who chain their dogs are less likely to clean the confinement area, causing them to eat and sleep in an area contaminated with urine and feces.
Since becoming a private investigator and serving papers, I have seen this myself many times. Moreover, because their often neurotic behavior makes them difficult to approach, chained dogs rarely give minimal affection. Tethered dogs may become "part of the scenery" and can be easily ignored by their owners.
Dogs tethered for long periods can become highly aggressive. Dogs feel naturally protective of their territory; they respond according to their fight-or-flight instinct when confronted with a perceived threat. A tied dog, unable to take flight, resorts to fighting, attacking any unfamiliar animal or person who unwittingly wanders into their territory.
Please pass a law that animals are required to have shelter from the sun and rain. Please change the law, so horses and other animals have a larger area to live. It makes me sick and saddens me when I see animals being mistreated.
I don't think most people know this type of behavior, and neglect happens because they close their eyes to it or don't care. It seems like these abused animals are only being used to bark, so the owner knows when someone comes onto the property. These people don't care about their animals. No one should be allowed to have animals if they are going to mistreat them.
Dogs are supposed to be part of the family, live indoors, receive regular exercise, and provide adequate attention, food, water, and veterinary care.
My vision is that all animals are treated with dignity, respect, and live free from cruelty, harm, and neglect. Simple acts of awareness and compassion can save the lives of countless animals in need. I reached out to the Sheriff Kim and the Governor last year, only to be ignored. I know the Sheriff is running for her second term, and I will be reaching out to Captain James Frietze to see what he will be doing regarding animal laws here. I have started a Facebook page and my blog to expose animal abuse here in NM. I take photos, and I post them on my sites. I will start creating videos on my youtube account, and I will make sure my voice is heard until something changes.
New Mexico Animal Abuse FacebookAccording to code enforcement on the web, it said
The shelter for your pet requires 3 sides, a roof, and an elevated floor. The shelter should also be weather resistant.
So, how are they in ordnance if the animals don’t have this? There were other dogs that I didn't take photos of. I will be going back to check on these animals again. This is not dirt, it is sand so when it rains, the water will go into these houses and the animals have no escape. The dog house to the left with the pool has his dog house buried under the sand. I thought I got the photo, but I didn’t. I will be going back to obtain more photos. The white pole is used to poke
at the dogs. Ive seen it and it was against the Chihuahua’s cage.
These dogs were begging for attention.
The chickens did'nt have any housing at all. They have one small piece of wood and that was it.
