Gruesome animal abuse spikes in NM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The mangled remains of a pit bull found recently near Santa Fe is part of a growing problem in New Mexico, according to one animal welfare organization.

The dog was found dead North of Santa Fe with a makeshift noose around its neck. Investigators said the pit bull was strangled and possibly shot.

"He had some marks on his body, some of his organs were coming out," Jennifer Schwalenberg said.

Schwalenberg found the dog Christmas Eve during her daily walk in Cuyamungué.

Sherry Mangold with Animal Protection of New Mexico has seen a jump in the number of animal cruelty cases.

In December alone, she handled more than 150 incidents—many of them were gruesome.

"There are beheadings, slit throats and the poisoning I mentioned," Mangold said. "The shooting of an animal is more common than you think."

Mangold said the news of dead birds thrown on the streets of Belen on New Year's Eve is alarming. She also pointed to a Bernalillo County cock fighting bust where investigators found a decapitated chicken.

According to Mangold, Tough times are to blame for a spike in some of the abuse calls.

"With the recession, people have been unable to keep up with what need to be done with their horse," she said. "So there has been a huge jump in the number of equine issues."

However, she said there is no excuse for a dog found dead from a gunshot.

Mangold warns that a person who abuses animals could be capable of harming humans.

"The connection between child abuse and spousal abuse and domestic violence and animal cruelty is a factor," she said. "So it is essential that people contact the right agency."

The Attorney General's Animal Cruelty Task Force is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case of the strangled pit bull.

To report animal abuse you can call the Attorney General's Abuse Hotline, the number is (877)-5HUMANE or (877) 548-6263.