In April of this year, a 27-year-old man in Sunland Park, New Mexico was arrested for charges of extreme animal cruelty after shooting a dog in its own yard with what SPPD officers describe as a “ long-barreled rifle”, injuring the 3 year old female husky, Oyuki, critically.
Footage of the incident surfaced online and through various news channels, sparking outrage and justice for Oyuki. A Go Fund Me page was set up for the husky in order to help the family with veterinary expenses. As of now, Oyuki is in stable condition.
This incident has not only caught the attention of both Sunland Park and El Paso citizens, but also of animal rights protection groups such as the Humane Society and El Paso Animal Services who strongly push for firmer laws and bills that will keep animals safe from future harmful incidents like Oyuki’s and decrease the number of animal cruelty cases in the city and all across the nation.
Julie Newbold, Public Affairs Coordinator at El Paso Animal Services, affirms her advocacy for all our pets to feel loved and safe in welcoming homes by promoting her April Animal Cruelty Awareness campaign in collaboration with the Animal Protection officers at EPAS and EPPD’S Animal Cruelty Investigations unit. The team works diligently year round to make sure the campaign reaches people in the El Paso community.
“ This month is where we just focus on really putting it out there in the community, to be a good witness and make a report.” Newbold states, “ Even if you aren’t sure, you making that call could potentially save an animal’s life.”
“ A lot of people are afraid of calling in and are scared about retaliation possibly or somebody getting a hold that they are the ones that called” Newbold further states, “ You can make an anonymous report but it is so important to be able to have a witness to follow through on these investigations.”
“ And if it ends up going to court, we can have that witness and prosecute whoever ends up being convicted of animal cruelty.”
Officer Ramirez, one of the officers who works in connection with the El Paso Police Department and the Animal Cruelty Unit, urges everyone in the El Paso Community to stay alert and contact EPPD and EPAS as soon as they see the signs of a possible animal cruelty case.
“ They can dial 311 and the call can get routed over to us.” Officer Ramirez states, “ Also we have a tip line for anyone who wants to report the signs of animal cruelty going on at 915-212-0800.”
As the campaign continued to be carried throughout the month of April, Gina Ramirez, Animal Protection Field Manager at El Paso Animal Protection Services expresses how important it is to be a voice for the voiceless and expresses her desire to maintain a zero tolerance policy for animal cruelty and how making changes to save a animal’s life keeps her going.
“ I have 18 years with the department” Gina Ramirez said, “ This is my passion, my soul, my drive, and it’s being the voice for the voiceless.”
“ My team and I have seen a lot of unfortunate things as well as the police department.” Gina Ramirez states, “ We’ve seen a lot of incidents some can’t even fathom on the acts that are done against the animals but helping those dogs, saving them, and securing a prosecution with the police department is what keeps me coming in everyday.”
“ So, as far as I’m concerned and as long as I’m working here there will be zero tolerance for animal cruelty.”
“ I know a lot of times our community thinks nothing is really done but that’s where we encourage them to be a part of the solution and be involved in the case.”
Newbold states that the majority of animal cruelty begins from severe overcrowding of animals who have not been spayed or neutered or adopting pets from puppy mills or breeders, which are known to have conditions of poor sanitation practices and lack of care for animals.
“ We have an overpopulation of pets just from them not being spayed and neutered, or having unwanted litters, or supporting backyard breeders and buying puppies from puppy mills or their vecina down the corner.” Newbold said, “ It’s so important with now me working here and seeing how many pets we have in our shelter.”
“ Us alone we’ve taken in around 20,000 animals every single year which is crazy to think about.”
“ Last month we had around 1,700 animals come into our care.”
EPPD and EPAS are pushing for more laws and regulations to be embedded into the city’s government regulations regarding animal cruelty, an issue that has been downplayed and underestimated.
“ Cruelty is a very real crime in our backyard and unfortunately it is also very underreported.” Gina Ramirez states, “ We can always benefit from more stringent laws and more stringent ordinance for us to enforce.”
“ And of course that’s at our legislation level, but I do think little by little we are getting there.” Gina Ramirez said, “ There was an ordinance that was just passed last year that states that if you are convicted of cruelty you are prohibited from owning a pet for 5 years.”
“ I know it’s only five years but it’s getting us somewhere where we eventually hope to get abusers from owning any pets at all.”
“ But as far as Texas, we need to continue working and remember that these pets aren’t furniture and disposable.”
“ These pets are actually living animals that feel and can love unconditionally.” Gina Ramirez further states, “ I’ve seen pets in front of my eyes, a pet abused horribly, and are still very forgiving and still love.”
“ It breaks my heart because because owning a pet is a privilege and we take it for granted.”
Newbold expresses the importance of the El Paso community to read about proper pet care and basic pet necessities in order for our pets to be in good health and condition.
“ It’s such a big part that education plays because a lot of people don’t know, they really don’t know, even just some of the basic necessities that are making sure that your dog has shade outside and that they have water.” Newbold said, “ Making sure the water isn’t out in a metal container in the middle of the sun in 110 degree heat that’s undrinkable water.”
“ It’s the little tiny things that people might not think that it’s cruelty but it really is, you are just providing those basic necessities to survive and that an animal needs and just making sure that the community is educated and just trying to put that message out there.”
“ So anybody listening here, we do a lot of different campaigns so that we can push that information out there but if you hear it, talk to your family members.” Newbold said, “ Talk with people that might not be on social media and educate them a little bit because just that one conversation can help change a life.”
Originally published July 11, 2024
Revised July 16, 2024
