Horse abuse claimed
Humane Society impounds 2 animals from Yatahey home

Animal control officers Anderson Brown, Romie Calderon and Donna Damon battle against a bit of stubborn horse power Thursday as they round up Dusty, one of two horses they confiscated in Navajo Estates after the owners were issued a citation for animal cruelty. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

Gallup humane society animal control officer Romie Calderon reaches out his hand as he approaches a horse Thursday while confiscating a pair of horses from their owners in Navajo Estates. The owners, Esther and Albert Largo, were cited for cruelty to animals after an investigation led officials to conclude that the horses were not being supplied with food and water. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

YATAHEY — The Gallup-McKinley County Humane Society impounded two horses Thursday afternoon for animal cruelty, raising the total number of horses confiscated for cruelty this year to seven.

The Humane Society received a first complaint about the neglected horses on May 11. Since then, Mark Waters, a livestock inspector with the New Mexico Livestock Board has been frequently checking on the horses' living conditions.

Wednesday afternoon, Waters left a business card for the owners in a last attempt to make contact with them. It was the fifth attempt to reach the horse owners.

"The horses' hip bones and ribs have become more visible over the weeks, and it looks as though the horses have mange," Balok said. On one occasion, Balok was informed by Waters that the horses were seen eating a piece of cardboard.

"When they've reached that point, it has reached the point of cruelty," Balok said.

Esther and Alfred Largo, horse owners, said they were caught off guard when they were informed Thursday morning that their horses would be impounded. They said no attempts were made by the livestock inspector or humane society to make contact with them prior to Wednesday afternoon when they found the inspector's business card on their front door.

"I don't know what they're complaining about," said Alfred Largo, just before his horses were scheduled to be removed from his property in Navajo Estates. "They've been well fed."

Neither Largo, or his wife Esther, understood why they were being taken out of their care.

"I don't agree that this is animal cruelty," he said. "I don't go and kick them. I don't beat them up."

According to the Gallup-McKinley County Animal Ordinance, cruelty to animals not only includes physical abuse, but it also defines cruelty as failure, refusal, or neglect to provide any animal with proper food, drink, shade, or shelter. Animal cruelty ordinances were set up about 15 years ago so that the humane society could handle cruelty cases.

"It is required that horses have access to shade and water at all times," Balok said. "That's the law."

Balok said horses are also required to be fed twice a day, and consume about 10 to 12 gallons of water per day. The water tanks, Balok said, were bone-dry on Wednesday afternoon, and he said he suspects the horses have been without food and water on more than one occasion.

"Who knows how many days they've been without water and food?" Balok said.

But the Largos said that they fill their horses' water tanks in a separate tank outside the horse corral near their home because the dogs get into the water tank. Largo said she argued with officials saying that the animals usually do have shade, but that their shade was blown off Thursday afternoon because of the high winds.

"I was surprised when they said they were going to confiscate them," she said.

The Largos said the horses, whose names are Dusty and Gypsy, are in good shape, and are fed and watered twice a day.

"They're well-taken care of and they're happy," Esther Largo said.

The Largos attempted to talk to officials asking that their horses be left in their care. Balok said owners often say that they will begin to feed and water their horses, but by that time, it is too late.

Balok said some cases have gotten so bad that when the horses are finally impounded they cannot be revived and are euthanized. In the worst case scenarios, Balok said they have seen horses so hungry that they begin to eat the wood from their pens. She estimates that it will take about six months for the horses they seized to return to a healthy status after they are dewormed.

Horses that are seized are usually never claimed and become adopted out or are taken to a horse rescue in Santa Fe .

"A lot of times they don't come to claim them because they know they're going to be cited," Balok said.

But the Largos said they do plan to get their horses back and pay whatever fees that may possibly be cited. They feel confident that the judge will rule in their favor.

"I wish the judge would come out here and see what's going on," Largo said.

The citations for animal cruelty vary depending on a judge's decision. A court date is set for June 21.