Sandoval County takes control of Placitas property at center of Feb. animal hoarding raid

47 dogs, five horses removed from house in Placitas

Forty-seven dogs and five horses have been rescued from a Placitas home. “We received a call from a concerned neighbor. Animal Control went out there and discovered that there were a large amount of dogs,” Sandoval County Undersheriff Joe Gonzales said. “We didn’t know the amount, but we started to look into that situation. Because […]

Nearly four dozen dogs and five horses were rescued from a Placitas home in February. Now Sandoval County has taken control of the property, which was recently deemed to be unsafe due to its compromised condition.

The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a concerned neighbor in late February about the house. Animal Control went there and discovered that there was a large amount of dogs.

“We didn’t know the amount, but we started to look into that situation,” Sandoval County Undersheriff Joe Gonzales said. “Because there were a few circumstances regarding care of the animals, we obtained a warrant and served that warrant. The initial warrant, we were able to receive 21 dogs, and the investigation continued after that.”

Eventually, 47 dogs and five horses were removed from the three-bedroom home in Placitas, which was filled with trash, debris and animal feces. The owner of the property is facing charges of animal cruelty and animal at large.

The bureau chief for the state of New Mexico has since found the structure to be unsafe due to its compromised condition.

The Sandoval County Commission voted unanimously at its May 22 meeting for a resolution that requires the owner to remove the building and, if they do not remove it, authorizes the county to remove it and place a lien on the property for the cost.

State law requires the commission to adopt the resolution in order for the county to act.

“This gives us the power to move forward,” Sandoval County Attorney Michael Eshleman said. “We don't have to exercise that power. But if there's a sincere genuine effort to clean up the property, we certainly would work with them.”

Construction Industries stated in its inspection report that, “This home cannot function in its current condition due to compromised structure. There is an imminent safety threat to the occupants associated with this property due to fire hazards, trash accumulation in the home. This is dangerous or detrimental to human life, health, or safety, and therefore should be corrected immediately.”

According to the resolution, “the ruined, damaged and dilapidated building, structure or premise at 77 Aspen Road, Placitas, constitutes a menace to the public comfort, health, peace or safety and that the owner is required to remove the building. The Board further finds that the property at 77 Aspen Road, Placitas, is covered with ruins, rubbish, wreckage or debris and constitutes a menace to the public comfort, health, peace or safety and that the owner is required to remove the ruins, rubbish, wreckage, and debris.”

Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson gave insight into what went on in the home at the commission meeting.

“This was a property where we had to take into custody 47 Australian shepherds during that incident,” Johnson said. “The animals were found starving, in some cases actually eating each other, living on the roof. When they made entry into the property, they found feces as high as your knee along walls. So we were concerned about the health and safety of anybody that might occupy that premises. This isn't a habitable home at this particular time. We know it didn't get there overnight, just due to the severity of the damage and the feces that were left behind by the dogs.”