AR-News: (NM - US) 86 dogs rescued from abandoned house

[Snugglezzz at aol.com]

86 Dogs Rescued From Abandoned N.M. House

.c The Associated Press 

LOS LUNAS, N.M. (AP) - Animal control officers called by a neighbor who complained about a horrible stench found 86 Pomeranians inside an abandoned house that was covered with feces.

``It was horrendous. There was probably two feet of feces throughout the entire home,'' said Ann Aragon, acting director of Valencia County's animal control division.

All 86 dogs were removed Wednesday, and animal control officers were removing a number of cats from the property on Thursday, Aragon said.

Bags and cans of food were found outside the house and there were tipped over empty plastic gallon milk jugs inside, Aragon said. That showed someone was coming by periodically to feed the animals, although there was no food or water inside the house when officers arrived Wednesday, she said.

A volunteer veterinarian was checking out the dogs. Aragon said they seemed to be ``fairly OK'' although she said it's possible a couple of them might have to be destroyed.

The animals range in age from ``extremely old to little puppies,'' she said.

Neighbors knew dogs lived on the property, but since the animals were inside, they had no idea how many there were, Aragon said.

Authorities are investigating who owns the property, she said.



03/11/04 16:37 EST