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PECOS, NM — For six months, two puppies that had been abandoned at a mom and pop convenience store in Pecos, begged for food, dodged vehicles, and, inseparable, simply tried to stay alive. For months, Santa Fean Darlene Azures had seen the dogs on her Sunday drives through the area. The puppies were clearly not being cared for, so Azures decided it was up to her to rescue them. She was able to capture the female of the pair in August, but the male was more wily and reluctant to trust.
Every weekend for six weeks, Azures returned to Griegos Market on Highway 50, with tasty dog treats, with a friend to help, with a humane dog trap, with food for the remaining stray—and still had no success in catching him. When she returned to try again on September 11, she heard the dog had been injured in barbed wire, had been hit by a car, had been seen dragging himself around.
"I was heartbroken," Azures states. "I thought that instead of a rescue, I would be recovering the male's body."
The dog was spotted taking refuge under a house near the market, barely alive. Rescuers crawled under the house to retrieve him. His wounds seeped with infection, but it was not possible to discern what the source of his injuries had been.
A veterinary examination determined the puppy had been shot at close range—three times: through his neck, through his shoulder, and through his anus.
Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM) is offering a $2,500 reward to anyone who has information related to this crime, if that information results in an arrest and prosecution.
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"We are horrified that after this dog's long struggle to survive, that someone got close enough to shoot him three times, but couldn't be bothered to take him to a shelter in the first place," stated APNM Cruelty Case Manager, Sherry Mangold. "Strays are vulnerable to acts of cruelty, and many other dangers. No one should assume that just because they're dumping cute puppies somewhere, that someone else will take them in. Dumping animals adds to their suffering."
The dog is recovering slowly from his first series of operations, and will convalesce at the foster home where the female stray is also staying. The male puppy faces a second surgery, and possibly a third. After the dog has recovered from all necessary surgeries months from now, the pair will be available for adoption.
Information related to this crime should be called in to the Attorney General’s Animal Cruelty Task Force hotline: 1-888-260-2178. Callers are welcome to leave messages in English or Spanish, and may remain anonymous if preferred.
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