'IT'S BREAKING MY HEART'.

Byline: ANNE CONSTABLE, PHOTOS BY JANE PHILLIPS

Task force takes 67 Afghan hounds, 25 exotic birds from woman's home in Ilfield

Hounds: Team of more than 30 rescued dogs

A multiagency task force rescued 67 Afghan hounds Monday night from the home of a San Miguel County woman.

One puppy died overnight from canine parvovirus, often called parvo, and others are showing symptoms of the deadly and highly contagious disease. One dog has a tumor, others have rotten teeth and open sores, and many have matted fur, although rescuers said most of the animals were in better shape than they expected. None were spayed or neutered, and some were breeding as the rescuers approached the house.

Terry Gonzales, owner of the property in Ilfield, cooperated with the task force and surrendered the dogs. San Miguel County Sheriff Benjie Vigil said she has not been charged. "She feels bad about losing her dogs," he said. "She had been working hard to keep (the property) clean. She ran out of funds."

The dogs, resting in cages at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society, looked unkempt and dazed after their middle-of-the-night journey. One observer said some of them had never left the second floor of the house where they lived.

The task force also rescued 25 exotic birds from the basement and turned them over to an avian rescue organization in Albuquerque.

Sarah Patamia, an animal-behavior specialist, walked a dog in a fenced area behind the shelter Tuesday. As the 7-year-old female shied away from her approach, Patamia said, "They're going to need stability and routine and months to relax and feel safe before their personalities emerge." The main issue for the dogs, she added, is the "lack of socialization," and most of the adults will probably never become "your average family pet."

A team of more than 30 rescuers descended on Gonzales' home Monday afternoon. "Conditions were unhealthy for her and for her animals," said Heather Ferguson, legislative director for Animal Protection New Mexico. The dogs had full access to the house 24 hours a day, and there was feces and urine on the floors. Although they had food at various feeding stations around the property, some of them looked malnourished.

"The woman is compassionate about her animals," Ferguson said, but she had become overwhelmed by the numbers and didn't know where to turn. "She was relieved for the help last night." Ferguson explained the Red Cross is going to help Gonzales clean her house.

"We are not intending on bringing charges. She needed a rescue as much as they did," Ferguson added.

Robyn Gojkovich, a criminal investigator with the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department, has handled a number of cases involving so-called hoarder-breeders. She said she spent a lot of time with Gonzales between 4:30 p.m. Monday and 3:45 a.m. Tuesday. "She was scared. She knew she needed help. But in her mind, she wanted the best for her animals."

Gonzales helped the rescuers with some of the more difficult dogs, Gojkovich said.

Most hoarders don't believe in euthanasia and "think that nobody can give (the animals) a home like they can," she added.

Susan Stephens of Afghan Rescue New Mexico said she began hearing about the conditions in Ilfield, notified authorities including Animal Protection New Mexico and helped assemble resources for the task force. She said rescuers wore masks and hazmat suits.

Some 40 dogs were milling around a pen when the rescuers arrived. "You could smell it from the road. The conditions were atrocious. It's breaking my heart," said Stephens, who was up most of the night helping with the rescue. She has raised Afghans for 30 years, currently has two and is caring for a third.

In addition to animal experts from San Miguel, Santa Fe and Dona Ana counties and the city of Santa Fe, the team included representatives from the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and People for Animal Welfare Society in Pecos. Medics from Pecos were there to care for Gonzales; Eldorado Animal Clinic's T. Murt Byrne and two interns evaluated all the animals at the scene.

"It takes a lot of people to move this many dogs," said the shelter's director, Duane Adams, who was still on duty at 2:30 a.m. Tuesday as the dogs settled in.

Adams said he'll be working with national rescue organizations to transfer the dogs because the Santa Fe facility doesn't have the resources to care for them over the long term.

All the dogs have been vaccinated for parvo, distemper and kennel cough, but most have not yet had full medical or behavioral assessments.

Afghan hounds, which originated in the mountainous regions and plains of Afghanistan, have long coats, an elegant stride and an aloof, dignified temperament. They are said to be hypersensitive, smart and spirited.

For more information on Afghan adoption, visit www.afghanhound.net or contact Stephens at [e-mail].

Contact Anne Constable at 986-3022 or [e-mail].

CAPTION(S):

1. Sarah Patamia, an animal-behavior specialist at the Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society, takes a rescued Afghan hound for a walk Tuesday.

2. Kelly Tribelhorn, lead veterinarian technician, checks Afghan hound puppies brought to the Santa Fe Animal Shelter late Monday. A multiagency task force rescued 67 Afghan hounds from a San Miguel County home.