ONE YEAR AGO TODAY: SPECIAL NEEDS RESCUED DOG SHOT AND KILLED AT PUPPY DOG RANCH RESCUE Sometime in the early morning hours of January 2, somebody shot and killed a dog named Junior, at Puppy Dog Ranch, a no-kill dog rescue and sanctuary in Arenas Valley, New Mexico. Later that morning Juniors body was found near the exterior fence along the road by Laurie West, founder and president of PDR. Junior, a large Belgian Shepherd mix, had lived on the Ranch since 2009, when West adopted him from Grant Countys Animal Shelter. At that time he was almost two years old and had been so physically and emotionally abused it was not felt he would ever be a candidate for adoption. West adopted Junior from the Shelter and took him home to begin the long term process of trust building and his rehabilitation over the next four years. Junior had lived very happily for the past several years on the part of Puppy Dog Ranch known as the Sanctuary. Five of the ranch’s seven acres are double fenced with 10 tall elk fencing which is also buried 6” in the ground, just for the dogs safety, like Junior, who lived there. This double fence protects them from any threat of mountain lions, coyotes and wolves, and the Sanctuary contains one of two specially built large insulated dog cabins that offer protection from the weather, a swimming pool in the summer, and numerous individual dog houses, which enable these six dogs to live comfortably. But it doesnt protect them from human predators. Junior had grown into a wonderful, gentle dog,” West said. “It took him a long time to trust and get used to other people, like our volunteers, but once he knew you, he was an affectionate, sweet, loving boy. He loved to be walked by our junior dog caregivers and looked forward to car rides as long as he had a buddy riding along.” Dale Rucklos, owner of Yankee Creek Coffee in Silver City, was a long-time volunteer for Puppy Dog Ranch, who at one time lived on the property, said, “When I first started feeding and caring after the big dogs in this group, the others immediately came to me. But not Junior. It took Junior about three weeks of my being there every day before he realized he could trust me. Then one day he just came up to me and nudged my arm with his nose, after that, every day when I went into their five acre Sanctuary, he just hung out with me and walked by my side. He was just a beautiful dog. I can’t believe somebody would do this….” West added, To hear any volunteer say, Guess who let me pet him today?....was joyful. And after a year, the pain of his loss doesnt subside. I cry every day over his senseless killing. A police report was filed, but West said, “On New Year’s eve, exactly five years ago, our dog Larry was shot with the same kind of gun that was used to kill Junior. Larry also lived within the five acre Sanctuary on Twin Sisters Creek Road in Arenas Valley. And before that,” West went on, “I had a beagle, Rudy, who I rescued from a Research Lab, who was shot and killed in 2005. Same type of weapon. All of my dogs were killed after each complaint to the Sheriffs Department about a known pedophile and drug dealer who lived in our area. And a poison-filled, headless and legless rabbit was also thrown over our gate into our sanctuary in April of last year. Also during the spring of 2013 we had a two week period where dogs living in homes along Twin Sisters Creek Road were poisoned. We know who has done these horrible things, but we can’t prove it.…so we are left with nothing but sorrow and frustration. And anger. A lot of anger. We are a no-kill dog rescue and sanctuary and we are here to rescue unwanted dogs, rehabilitate them and provide a safe home for them. And Ive been rescuing here in southwest New Mexico for 5 1/2 years and relying on donations to help pay expenses and volunteers to help care for our 40 dogs.....” I feel like unless I build a fortress around my Ranch, they will never be safe.” I see the worst in mankind every day. It is so sad to be surrounded by toxicity every day when we are trying our best to do good and care for these unwanted and abandoned dogs.” And because of Juniors killing, Puppy Dog Ranch was forced to do just that: We held several fundraisers over the course of 60 days to raise $8,000 while volunteers spent every weekend last January and February helping to build the 6 wooden fence, installing an electronic gate, motion sensor lights and cameras on the 7 1/2 acre Ranch. While West was providing information for this interview last year, Kevin Rodriguez (vice president and Lauries boyfriend of 9 years) was digging a grave for Junior in the Ranchs Memorial Garden, tears streaming down both of their faces. “Ive dug too many graves,” Rodriguez said quietly, as he continued to dig deeper. Puppy Dog Ranch Rescue is the first and only 501(c)(3) nonprofit No Kill, No Cage Rescue and Sanctuary serving Grant County, New Mexico and communities throughout 125 in southwest New Mexico. PDR is run entirely by donations and a hand full of volunteers who care for their 40 dogs. We have rescued over 20 dogs and have found furever homes for more than 150 dogs and continue to maintain our 99% adoption success rate through our tough adoption standards and matching the dogs energy level and personality to the adopters lifestyle. We are open by appointment Tuesday through Friday 10-5 and Saturdays 10-2 and are closed on holidays. For more information, call Laurie at (575) 313-7232. To learn more about Puppy Dog Ranch or to make a donation, please visit our website at puppydogranch.org.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 18:26:15 +0000
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