Animal Cruelty Bill Could Impact Hobbs
by Levi Hill, News-Sun, New Mexico

Amanda Barnett-Green pets a dog named Emma that she recently rescued.
Emma’s collar was so tight it became embedded in her neck.
(photo: kimberly ryan/news-sun)

Nine cases of animal cruelty reported in Hobbs so far this year

Five bills are being considered by the New Mexico Legislature this year that could toughen the penalties for cases of animal abuse or neglect.

Gov. Bill Richardson announced his support for the bills Thursday through a release.

“This year I am supporting legislation that would make euthanasia more humane,” Richardson said in the release, “and with the sharp rise in animal starvation cases I am also supporting a bill that would protect starving or mistreated horses and another to increase penalties for animal cruelty.”

The five bills include HB 159, which proposes increased penalties for animal cruelty.

House Bill 159 could have a major impact in the Hobbs area. However, the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, could not be reached to comment on the specifics of the bill.

According to the bill’s fiscal report on the state Legislature Web site, House Bill 159 amends the current animal cruelty statute by expanding the definition of animal to include captive reptiles. It also includes and defines criminal negligence as meaning anyone who knows or should have known of the dangers involved in certain acts and continued to act with reckless disregard, endangering an animal’s health or safety.

Finally, it increases the penalty to a fourth degree felony upon a fourth or subsequent conviction or when convicted of aggravated cruelty. The bill also would prohibit leaving an animal unattended in a vehicle if the possibility of injury or death may occur.

A stronger penalty for offenders could make a difference in Hobbs, where nine cases of animal cruelty have been reported to the Hobbs Police Department this year.

Donnie Graham, deputy chief for the HPD, said animal cruelty cases are common in Hobbs, but are also underreported.

“A lot of dogs are in people’s backyards and out of sight of the police and animal control officers,” he said. “We really rely on neighbors to report these kinds of cases.”

TWO EXTREME CASES of cruelty and neglect were reported this month, thanks to the intervention of community residents.

The first occurred Feb. 1 at a Hobbs home, Graham said. Amanda Barnett-Green, area representative for the animal rights group Dogs Deserve Better, came across a 6-month-old puppy while visiting the home to deliver dog food.

“I was delivering some dog food to a contact I made during our Christmas present project,” Barnett-Green said. “I asked if I could pet the dog.”

Barnett-Green found the puppy tied to a corner fence post and suffering from a swollen neck. On closer observation she found the owners had put a flea collar on the dog and failed to take it off as the puppy grew. The collar grew into the dog’s neck, cutting through flesh.

“It had cut through the flesh, causing it to rot,” said Graham. “It looked like the dog’s throat had been cut.”

Barnett-Green asked to take the dog into her care and the owners consented. Almost three weeks later, the puppy, Emma, is doing well and the owners are facing one count of cruelty to animals.

“It was very obvious the owners had neglected the animal to the point of being criminal,” Graham said.

“My first reaction was, ‘Oh, my goodness,’” Barnett-Green said. “I just couldn’t believe that this was happening to (the puppy).”

Graham said the owners face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year in jail. The owners’ case has not been heard in Magistrate Court yet, and in the meantime Barnett-Green is looking for a home for Emma, a German shepherd,
pit bull cross.

“She is a very thankful dog. She loves people,” she said. “She really holds no emotional scars from what she suffered.”

ANOTHER HOBBS RESIDENT faces two charges of cruelty to animals after police
found six emaciated dogs living in the owner’s backyard. A citizen called in the complaint, and according to police reports, the two male dogs were without food and water. The female had recently birthed a litter of six puppies that were also underfed
because of the mother’s condition, Graham said.

“Our officers said the male dog should have weighed 40-50 pounds if he was nourished, but he probably weighed only 10-15 pounds,” he said. “He
was chained to a very large chain and he was barely able to walk and move the chain.”

The animals had no food or water when officers found them and all eight were taken
into custody by Animal Control. The two adult dogs had to be euthanized, Graham
said.

“They were already past that point and were in too bad of health,” he said.

Barnett-Green said she believes state laws for animal cruelty need to be tougher. Graham said in some cases a person just shouldn’t have a pet.

“It is like having a kid,” he said. “If you don’t have the means and responsibility to care for an animal, you don’t need an animal.”

Anyone interested in adopting Emma can contact Amanda Barnett-Green at 392- 3458.

Anyone who knows of any cases of animal cruelty should contact the Hobbs Police
Department at 397-9265 or Hobbs Animal Control at 397- 9323. Outside the Hobbs city limits, contact the Lea County Sheriff ’s Department at 396- 3611.

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