A Placitas home that was the site of an alleged hoarding case involving more than 40 dogs in February has been seized by Sandoval County after a unanimous decision by the commission at a May 22 County Commission meeting.
According to the County Commission, the home at 77 Aspen Road in Placitas is “a menace to the public comfort, health, peace or safety” due to its unsafe condition.
“We had to take into custody 47 Australian shepherds,” Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson said. “The animals were found starving, in some cases actually eating each other, living on the roof. When [police] made entry into the property, they found feces as high as your knee along the walls.”
In addition to the dogs, police found five horses on the property. According to the County Commission resolution, the property is titled in the name of Laurian Lee Jaramillo aka Laurian Lee Hott. Paul Jaramillo, one of the owners of the home, has pleaded not guilty to 18 counts of animal cruelty and one count of resisting, aiding or obstructing an officer. His case is pending trial.
Johnson says that animal hoarding seems to be a growing problem in Sandoval County, and that he sees more cases like this than he used to. In February, Sandoval County Sheriff’s deputies determined that one of the owners of the house has a medical condition they believe might have led to the deterioration of the home and the animals inside.
The county Construction Industries Division was asked to inspect the property.
“We know it didn’t get here overnight due to the severity of the damage,” Johnson said.
Sandoval County Director of Planning and Zoning Daniel J. Beamen said the “Construction Industries Division has found the structure to be unsafe due to its compromised condition. This resolution would require the owner to remove the building and if they do not, authorize the county to remove it and place a lien on the property for the costs. State law requires the commission to adopt a resolution in order for the county to act.”
According to Beamen, the property owner’s brother has indicated that he has power of attorney and is not questioning that the building needs to be brought up to “a standard that is acceptable.”
Johnson said the commission’s decision to take control of the property is the beginning of a long process, and the property owner’s brother has 10 days to appeal the decision.
“We don’t want to under any circumstances violate property rights,” Johnson said. “We’re gonna work with [the owners] to the extent that we can and the extent that they’re willing to.”
What happened to all those dogs?