ANGEL FIRE, NM -- Over the last eight years, we have come to our Angel Fire home whenever we had an opportunity.We love the forest, only a few steps from our door, and always hike the trails when we are in Angel Fire.
Last weekend we had our daughter and grandchildren with us. We are just up the hill from the Lady Slipper trail and can walk to it directly from our home. My daughter Sharon, grandson Nathan, two granddaughters, and three dogs hiked up the trail Saturday (June 25) morning.
We met up with three young women with three dogs on leashes. Two of the dogs were pit bulls. The other looked like a pit bull mix. Carson, our golden retriever, as usual, walked up to the dogs, wagging his tail. The three ladies all dropped their leashes, letting the dogs go. Three pit bulls came up and attacked Carson.
Nathan kicked two of the dogs off of Carson. One of them went and attacked our granddaughter’s miniature dachshund, Koda. It had his neck and ear in his mouth and wouldn’t let go. Nathan immediately went to the dogs and started punching the pit bull, but the dog had a grip and would not let go. My daughter tried to pry the dog’s mouth open with her hand, and ended up with a couple of bloody fingers.
Nathan, a varsity soccer player in Albuquerque, finally took a running start and kicked the dog, and he finally let go. Koda had a hole in his neck and had to be rushed to the veterinarian in Taos for stitches and treatment. Koda is my 9-year-old-grandaughter’s dog, and she was traumatized by having to witness the whole thing.
I am convinced that if it weren’t for the strength and quick thinking of my grandson, she would have witnessed her dog being killed. The owners stood there dumbfounded and did nothing to try to control or stop their dogs.
Meanwhile, the other pit bull was attacking Carson. He was unable to get a good grip, and I got him to back off by yelling “no” at him, while looking him in the eyes and shaking my finger at him.
We realized later that he was bleeding and had two small holes on his back. They turned on our Great Dane puppy. Nathan picked up the puppy and put him across the stream. He was not hurt. We were in such a hurry to get medical attention for our dog, we didn’t get any information from the women.
We are dismayed to know that people would bring ferocious dogs, that they are unable to control, into the forest. We will now carry self defense and would like to encourage others to do the same.
Also, if anyone knows who these women are, we would like them reported. Nobody should have to go through this on a peaceful hike through the mountains.
Letter to the Editor, Susan G. Varela
(Sangre de Cristo Chronicle - July 7, 2011)
