Dog neglect, tick infestation leading to death
Doña Ana, NM (US)

Incident Date: Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005
County: Dona Ana

Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Abel Hernandez

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

Doña Ana County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a county resident on charges of extreme animal cruelty that led to a dog's death. Able Hernandez, 35, was arrested July 13 after county Animal Control officers responded to a call from neighbors of his former residence at 890 D Banegas Road, north of Las Cruces, said Robyn Gojkovich, department spokeswoman.

There they found an abandoned dog, a Rottweiler-cross, that was in such poor condition a veterinarian at the Doña Ana County Humane Society Animal Shelter euthanized it because of its suffering, she said.

The dog had no food, a chain was embedded in its neck and it was severely infested with ticks, officers reported. Its body temperature was almost 108 degrees, instead of the normal 101 or 102 degrees.

Gojkovich said Hernandez had moved from the residence about two weeks before.

"He said he was a bad pet owner," Gojkovich said when asked about Hernandez's comments on the situation.

The dog, which a veterinarian estimated was 2 or 3 years old, had shade but no food, and its water was algae-infested. It was restrained with a chain that had become embedded in its neck.

The veterinarian estimated that upward of 2,000 to 3,000 ticks had infested the dog's chest and belly alone, investigators reported. The animal also had ticks in the wound from the chain and in its ear canal, preventing it from hearing, Gojkovich said.

Animal Control supervisor Ellie Choate said Hernandez admitted to knowing about the ticks.

"He knew the dog had ticks and did nothing, nothing, for this animal," she said.

Gojkovich said Hernandez claimed to have bought tick powder and collars for the dog, but she added the evidence does not support the story.

The dog was also anemic, infected with a disease carried by ticks, underweight and too weak to jump into the animal control truck, Gojkovich said.

"He didn't want the dog," she said of Hernandez. "He couldn't care for the dog."

She said Hernandez said he had intended to call Animal Control about the dog eventually.

Elaine Million, Las Cruces pet owner and animal advocate, said animals need time, attention and membership in the family as much as possible.

"To abandon a dog, to think it can care for itself in this kind of climate, is the cruelest kind of cruelty," she said.

Though she hates to see animals put down, that may be the most humane option sometimes, she added.

Choate said people should call Animal Control when they see a pet owner leaving an animal.

"There's no excuse to abandon them," she said.

Animal control will pick them up at no charge with no questions asked and take care of everything from there, she said.

Million spoke of the need for responsibility.

"When you take an animal into your life and into your home, you need to understand the responsibility and long-term commitment," she said.

Hernandez was released July 14 from the Doña Ana County Detention Center after posting a $10,000 bond.

Case Updates

References

• Las Cruces Sun - July 16, 2005
• KFOX-TV - July 15, 2005

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