RESCUE: Hoarding Case - 2008 Sante Fe, NM

  • by: Susan Stephens
  • recipient: GOVERNOR RICHARDSON;  Hand delivered.  ANIMAL PROTECTION OF NEW MEXICO, Heather Ferguson   1-505-265-2488 faxSAN MIGUEL COUNTY, County Manager, Les Montoya   1-505-425-7019 fax        &
Dec 08 and This extremely  time sensitive.  Terry Gongalez has a litter due in a week or so.  How can this be...because she was not charged with abuse and because she was not put on probation there are other stupid people out there who will help her go back into business.  PLEASE sign this and email or  call the NM governors office and leave a message.  The gonernors taskforce has been an enabling body and not enforced their own mandate of no un-neutered aninals for this woman
On July 14th, 2008, personnel from three separate sheriff's departments,
under the authority of the Governors Taskforce on Animal Cruelty and Animal Protection of New Mexico, with help from Afghan rescue, NM and 20 rescue volunteers went to the home of an individual in San Miguel County, NM and took 67 Afghan Hounds and 27 birds into their care. More than 30 individuals were present to assist with this operation. They were catching and moving dogs until the early hours of the next morning.

The 67 dogs had been housed in a 1500 square foot home, with access to one small enclosed yard. They roamed freely around the property, interacting with each other and going in and out of the house. Dog food and excrement were co-mingled on the floors and walls of the home. The dogs were badly matted, and one was found to have a ruptured tumor on her foot. Some were identified as pregnant. Fifteen puppies were seized, and Parvovirus was suspected to be present. The puppies were placed in isolated quarantine. Only 2 have survived. These dogs, like all animals bred in puppy mills, lacked proper veterinary care or even basic socialization.
No criminal charges were placed, as the woman (owner) determined to be a hoarder, surrendered the dogs to the authorities after 3.5 hours of negoitation. The Afghan Hounds were temporarily housed at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society. Open sores, imbedded wire, and broken or deformed legs were discovered once the animals were shaved down. Some of the pregnant bitches had to be aborted due to their extreme poor health. The dog suffering from the open tumor was euthanized. The shelter worked with the Afghan Hound Club of America to turn the dogs over to its breed-specific rescue operation.

The dogs were moved out of the shelter and placed in experienced foster homes. Most were not originally socialized, and many require evaluation and veterinary care.
This story has not ended.  Terry now has at least one female un-neutered dog back and San Miguel County has given their blessing... The real deal was that because she was talked into giving up the dogs, she would not be charged and could have up to 4 of any combination of animals back, in this case 4 Afghans.  Although rumors have it that it belongs to her ex-husband or her son, the reality is  she is already soliciting for a mate as there are several who will accommodate her as she was not charged.   Animal protection should own their name and protect animals from her.  Actually they should have charged her and been done with it.   If one were to add up all the costs involved in this case it would be in the thousands, well over ten thousand, much of it New Mexico taxpayers money and they should know the money was well spent. Terry is being rewarded for being a bad steward.  Griffin's photo is a good example of what we found.
Gov. Richardson                 http://www.governor.state.nm.us/emailchoice.php?mm=6
Laura J. Bellatti  Laura.Bellatti@state.nm.us
Heather Heather Ferguson   heather@apnm.org
Amimal Control/Solid Waste,
Harold Garcia        hgarcia@smcounty.net
  County Manager, Les Montoya    mvasquez@smcounty.net
Sheriff, Benji Vigil                      mvasquez@smcounty.net
Robyn Gojkovich                robyng@donaanacounty.org

Animal hoarding is an illness and should not be rewarded by returning
animals to the hoarder. We the undersigned appreciate the time you have taken to read our petition.

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