New Mexico's Week for the Animals

Pecos PAWS Sponsors Festivities on Saturday         

Governor Bill Richardson has proclaimed September 21-27 as the Ninth Annual "New Mexico's Week for the Animals."

Sponsoring events in observance of this very special week is the People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), of Pecos, whose events lineup will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Las Vegas Plaza on Saturday, September 27, in Las Vegas, NM.

Events include:

• Humane Education Talks & Demonstrations — featuring several animal species
• Pet Parade
• New Animal Shelter Information
• Music
• Prizes & Awards
• Refreshments
  
  

If you would like more information, please call Jane Carson, State Coordinator of New Mexico's Week for the Animals, at (505) 466-1525.

The People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Pecos, NM.


Directions from Santa Fe or Albuquerque:  Take I-25 North to Las Vegas, take Exit 345, University Avenue — turn left at stop sign (Route 65 West) — go West on University Avenue to 8th Street — turn right on 8th Street for one block — turn left on National (through Highland University grounds) — continue straight to the Plaza.  

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Related links:

Governor Richardson
People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

Cruelty Case Updates           

Emaciated Mare Doing Well in Valencia County;
Abuser of Silver City Dog Charged with Cruelty          

APNM will from time to time provide you with updates on cruelty cases with which we have been involved. In this alert, we bring you news about two cruelty cases that we helped bring to the public's attention this summer.


Amazing Grace

Photo taken one week after rescue; Grace is slowly putting weight on.

APNM has heard from KOB Channel 4 that many viewers have asked to know how the emaciated mare found wandering the Valencia County countryside in mid-August has fared. We are very happy to report that the mare, recently named Grace, is doing well.

When Valencia County resident Jacob Romero found the horse in the countryside on August 12, she was likely within a few days of dying of starvation. He stayed with her for three-and-a-half hours, until he got the public's attention on her behalf, with the aid of the local NBC affiliate.

The fragile mare was taken to Bomar Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation Center in Belen for care and assessment by a veterinarian. The mare, named Grace by a donor to the nonprofit rescue facility, is staying for a longer period than originally anticipated because her age, estimated to be approximately 30 years old, dictates that she be especially carefully rehabilitated.

Grace is putting weight on more slowly than would a horse whose teeth are in good shape, but she is doing well. It may be another two weeks or so before a veterinarian feels she is in good enough condition to tranquilize her for dental work, called "floating" in this case, which will be necessary for her to be able to eat properly. Nevertheless, she has been gradually putting on weight, gaining strength, and making friends among the other horses, and the pair of donkeys, who share her barn at Bomar.

When her caretakers feel Grace can safely travel approximately 80 miles to her permanent home, she will be transferred to The Horse Shelter in Cerrillos, NM.

APNM is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the prosecution of the horse's former guardian.


Trinity: The Abused Dog that Silver City Would Not Forget

Trinity has a wonderful home today.

Early in July, Animal Protection of New Mexico was notified of a case of extreme animal cruelty that had originally been discovered in Silver City in August 2007, but had not yet resulted in an arrest. Grant County Crime Stoppers asked APNM to help republicize Trinity's case, even if it was almost a year old, because no one had yet been charged with the cruelty.

When she was found by an area resident near a Silver City landfill, the young female dog was severely emaciated, she'd been shot in the head with a pellet gun, her right hind leg was mangled and nearly two inches of bone was exposed. Her foot had rotted and turned black.

APNM was able to place the story on local TV news broadcasts, and added funds to the reward that Crime Stoppers was offering. People in the Silver City area started talking.

According to the Silver City Sun-News, the dog's former owner, Phillip Narvaez, was charged with cruelty to animals in Grant County Magistrate Court on August 21. Narvaez entered a not-guilty plea during his arraignment the same day; the next court date has not yet been determined.

Ironically, the dog's name used to be "Precious."

APNM commends the many Silver City residents, including Trinity's adopter, who were outraged that nothing had been done to prosecute anyone almost a year after the cruelty was discovered. Their collaboration with Grant County Crime Stoppers ensured that Trinity's abuser was made to face charges for extreme cruelty that he probably thought he'd gotten away with.

Good for you, Silver City. Good for you, Trinity.       


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Related links:

Bomar Equine Rescue & Rehabilitation Center
The Horse Shelter
KOB Channel 4
Silver City Sun-News
Animal Cruelty Hotline