Man accused of burning, beating dogs

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - In a shocking case of animal cruelty a man is accused of burning and beating his dogs so badly one is now dead.

Chaves County sheriff's deputies said there's no question in their minds who did it since they found the dog's owner with a bloody baseball bat still in his hand.

Neighbors said the noise tipped them off that their neighbor, Luis Baltazar, 47, was abusing his dogs, but no one knew just how bad it was until after they called police.

The wounds the dogs received are disturbing.

"It turns my stomach," said Tammie McKee, Roswell Animal Shelter kennel manager.  "It sends chills through my spine.  It makes my hair stand up

A female pit bull has severe burns across her back, evidence of extreme abuse she and three other dogs endured.

"We woke up to him hitting the fence, and then we walked outside and we heard a dog crying like if something was wrong with him," said one neighbor, who did not wish to be identified.  "And all of a sudden we just heard him like not bark anymore."

Neighbors called the Chaves County Sheriff's Department. When deputies arrived, they found Baltazar armed with a bloody baseball bat and one of his dogs clinging to life.

"We interviewed him to try and determine what was going on, and it appeared he was just mad that the dogs were barking," recalled sheriff's Lt. Britt Snyder.  "(That) is what prompted him to go out there and beat this one particular dog just, almost to death with a baseball bat."

Animal Control officers said that dog was beaten so severely they had to put her down.

Another dog Animal Control officers believe to be a shepherd cross has old wounds on its back and head; some appear to be burns. Officers are still trying to figure out what caused them.

The second surviving pit bull had lacerations on his leg.

"No excuses for this whatsoever, none," McKee said. "Dogs can't speak, they don't know any better.

"You train your dogs to do what they're supposed to do as you would raise a child, you teach them, and it's just a shame."

Baltazar's neighbors said they had no idea how bad it was.

"I don't understand how somebody so cruel can beat a dog, or burn a dog, but why?" the neighbor said.  "What did the dog do to you?  Why take it out on a dog?"

McKee said the three surviving dogs from Baltazar's property do not bark in their kennels. She said she believes they are afraid to make any noise.

Baltazar is charged with extreme animal cruelty and was released on bond Friday morning.

Animal control officials said a vet will look at the animals and determine exactly what caused the burns. Baltazar was convicted of battery in the past and completed an anger-management course as part of his sentencing.