Dona Ana County man ordered to build shelter for dog on a leash
County residents are frustrated and want answers after they say a pit bull has remained tied up outside a mobile home without food or shelter.
The property is in an unincorporated community near Holman Road off the US 70.
It all started when a photo of the dog was posted on Facebook. More than 200 comments were posted, including some from neighbors claiming the dog is chained without food or water.
ABC-7 went out to the trailer home. We found the dog, named Jasmine, on a short leash. There was a water bucket, but the dog couldn’t reach it because its chain was twisted. There was also a small area under the trailer where the dog could crouch underneath.
Under county ordinance, you are not allowed to keep a dog chained up for more then two hours during a 12-hour period. Residents say this dog is chained up 24 hours a day and has been for the past week. As ABC-7 was visiting the property, a man who lives there peeked out the window and came outside to explain.
“She gets fed every morning,” Hector Crespo said.
Crespo said he lives at the home with his mother and her husband. He says he recently got the dog after his nephew was no longer able to care for her. He says he would let the dog inside, but it isn’t his house. He says he keeps the dog chained up because he doesn’t want it to hurt his other dogs.
“She reaches under the house so she does have a little bit of a shelter. I’ve already discussed this with the dog catcher who came the other day and he gave us time to build a house and everything. No, it’s not adequate, but it’s all I can do for now. Like I said, I had a death in my family I haven’t had her that long. I haven’t been able to give her the care she (the dog) needs.”
Terre Blevins, the owner of the local website “Animals of Las Cruces,” said she wasn’t satisfied with Crespo’s explanation.
“I think it’s a bunch of bologna,” Blevins said, “You see what happened when he took the dog off the chain? She went straight to the water and acted like she hadn’t drank all day. There’s no food, no shelter, no blankets. The dog doesn’t even have a sweater and it’s cold out here.”
A county spokesman tells ABC-7 they take chained animals seriously and they will ensure this issue is addressed accordingly. Crespo acknowledged he was given a warning and a week to build the shelter.
Blevins also volunteered to help him with materials to build the shelter. She plans on attending the next county commission meeting to express her concerns.
