HOBBS — On the morning of Thursday, July 30, a four-year-old American pit bull named Napolean escaped from his yard, and by noon was found by a neighbor one block away on the 600 block of Midwest Street with multiple BB shot wounds all over his body and to both eyes. A veterinarian found the damage to both eyes extensive, and Napolean’s guardian, Peter Aguilar, chose euthanasia for the dog his family had raised from a weeks-old puppy. [News-Sun: Family mourns loss of pet in 'heartless' shooting; Aug 1, 2009; pdf*]

         Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM), an Albuquerque-based advocacy organization, is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in this felony crime. 

        “All of us are really upset by this,” Aguilar told APNM Communications Manager Monica García, of his wife and three children’s reaction to the brutal killing of their only dog. “He was always hyper and happy. He was the type of dog the kids always played with and even dressed up.”    

         Aguilar believes more than one person must have been involved in the shooting. He thinks the strong, 62-pound dog was held down to be shot multiple times at close range.

Information related to this crime should be called in to the Attorney General’s Animal Cruelty Task Force toll-free hotline:  1-877-5-HUMANE (877-548-6263). Callers may remain anonymous, if preferred.