Charges not filed yet in Dona Ana County animal hoarding case
June 19 Update: Dona Ana County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Kelly Jameson tells ABC-7 that they have made contact with the owner of the property where more than 100 animals were found earlier this week and alerted them that the warrant was executed.
No formal charges have been filed yet in the animal hoarding case against the person leasing the property who had the animals..
The goat found injured during the animal removal had to be euthanized. Also, a second sow gave birth to four piglets this week.
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June 18 Original Story: Nearly 100 animals, including pigs and ducks, seized in Dona Ana County hoarding investigation
The Doa Ana County Sheriff’s Office seized approximately 100 animals this week in an ongoing hoarding and animal cruelty investigation south of Las Cruces.
The animals seized include pigs, piglets, ducks, chickens, goats and dogs.
Several Doa Ana County Animal Control Officers assisted with executing a search warrant in the 1100 block of Carver Road Tuesday afternoon.
After several hours on the property, eight goats were seized, along with nine dogs, two cats, 16 ducks, a chicken, a rooster and nearly 70 pigs and piglets.
While deputies, animal control officers and a livestock inspector gathered animals Tuesday, two sows began to give birth. At least three piglets died shortly after they were born.
Some of the animals were injured, including a duck which had a broken leg and an injured wing; and a goat that reportedly could not stand and also appeared to be injured. All animals are being cared for by the Doa Ana County Sheriff’s Department and will be assessed by a veterinarian.
Sheriff’s officials said the animals’ owner reportedly leases the property where the animals were being kept and did not have the proper permits to have the number of animals that were found.
Sheriff’s officials added that the property does not meet necessary standards for livestock in Doa Ana County’s extra-territorial zone (ETZ).
The county’s ordinance only allows for six domestic animals without a multiple-animal permit, which the owner did not have.
Additionally, county ordinance stipulates each animal must have at least 1,000 square feet of open area, which was allegedly also not met.
The case is currently under investigation by the Doa Ana County Sheriff’s Department Animal Cruelty Task Force. Criminal charges are pending.
