ALBUQUERQUE – Residents of Valencia County’s Meadow Lake community are tired of animals being tortured, killed and dumped in their back yards. Just before Christmas, a yearling was apparently dragged to death and his remains left out in the open for nearly a week before they were removed. Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), are jointly providing a reward of up to $3,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the torture and death of the young horse.
Meadow Lake resident Rosemary Le Brecht states that this horse is one of many animals she and her neighbors have found tortured and killed near their homes. The neighborhood is treated as the sort of dumping ground that nightmares are made of. “I mean, if they want to get rid of an animal, this is where they come. Someone needs to get caught,” Le Brecht states.
Resident Annie Lawler agrees. "I've seen a lot out here. And I've seen a lot I don't think other people could handle."
APNM and the HSUS are working to bring this grisly animal cruelty to a stop. It is hoped that the reward offered for solid information will lead to arrests and punishment to the fullest extent of the law.
“Most people have no tolerance for intentional cruelty to animals,” states APNM’s Executive Director Elisabeth Jennings. “People who commit atrocities like this one are dangerous to the entire community.”
According to New Mexico law, a conviction of extreme cruelty to animals is a fourth degree felony punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a fine of $5,000.
Information related to this case, as well as tips on other extreme animal cruelty in New Mexico, should be called in to the Animal Cruelty Taskforce toll free hotline: 888-260-2178. Callers may remain anonymous if that is their preference.
