“Annie” survives bout with winter snowstorm

Annie’s snow story
—DAISY KATES
Well, I have just finished a grueling several days of grief and joy with my dog, Annie.

We had a record-breaking snowstorm, which started on Friday, when we woke up to twelve inches of snow. Annie went outside around 9:30 in the morning to pee and sniff around (as always), and never returned. Around 10:00 a.m. I noticed she wasn't back and started freaking out. Annie is profoundly deaf, so I couldn't call for her (although I did). I followed her tracks wherever I could find them, while the snow was still falling hard and starting to fill in the tracks. In my snow pants and with ski poles, a bell hanging on my arm which I hoped she might hear, I spent about five or six hours (in about four excursions out) searching the hills and arroyos for her. At one time, I followed tracks that went down the side of my hill (I thought ... since they were getting vague) and all the way through the arroyo toward the bottom of my road. I had to give it up at darkness.
The next day, we woke up to an additional twelve inches of snow, and it was still snowing. Also, our electricity went out. I was a mess, knowing that there was no way Annie could negotiate through that level of snow. I put on my snowshoes and went out several more times for about four or five hours, hoping to find her under a tree or building. My sister Evi went with me, as going out alone was getting prohibitive. I could hardly speak to those who called me without crying as my heart broke at the thought of her out there alone and lost and possibly dying. We had a terribly cold night. The next day, as much as it haunted me, I needed to stay in and rest. I was exhausted and didn't think I was up to the task. We had another super-cold night, which once again tore me up.

On New Year's day, I woke up determined to give it one more try, and go down another arroyo I hadn't checked out. It had been three days and three nights since she went missing. A friend offered to join me with her two dogs to help sniff. The snow was now about twenty-seven inches, with drifts to four feet. I put on my snowshoes again and broke trail through the arroyo. I carried food in case I found her, and a sheet, in case I'd have to drag her back. To make a long story a little shorter ... we found her! She was shaking and thin and freaked out. I fed her some food, and my friend Anne made a sling out of the sheet to carry her for awhile until she digested a bit of it. Then I put her on a leash and she was able to follow the tracks I made with my snowshoes ... all the way back through the arroyo and up my hill. Annie is about fifteen years old and the new local hero. She is the woman! She had apparently stayed under a tree and just went out to pee, etc., within fifteen yards or so of her little snow-laden tree cave.

Annie has had some diarrhea and was weak when she first got home, but she's doing great and is happy to be back on her pillow. And you know I'm happy to have her there again.
Happy New Year!

Painting, by Darryl Willison

For the love of art and animals

—ROGER ALVERNAZ
The Animal Humane Association of New Mexico is very pleased to announce the new relationship with Art Gallery 66 artist Darryl Willison and his wonderful new original work Give leash a chance.

Willison’s original pastel of his character Peace DOG will be published as open-edition prints, T-shirts, and posters. Eventually, the original will be auctioned at a AHANM benefit event, and 100 percent of the proceeds of the sale of Give leash a chance will be given to the AHANM.

Willison and Art Gallery 66 will be teaming up with the AHANM to create other new art originals and published prints to benefit the association. The exciting new arrangement between art and animals will be a year-round project, making new images available for sale via the Internet, as well as at Art Gallery 66, in Bernalillo.

Darryl Willison’s artwork captures the joy and whimsy of the West as well as animals. He will be designing art exclusive to the AHANM, making it very collectible and unique to the association.
Originals will be considered for publishing in one of several different formats. Since Willison’s work is so diverse, it can be offered as open prints, limited edition giclées, decorative pins and clothing, and other commercially licensed products that will benefit the animals of New Mexico.

Give leash a chance and Lap DOG artwork to benefit the AHANM can be viewed and purchased at www.ahanm.org, www.artgallery66.net, or www.whimsicalwest.com.

If you have any questions or would like to donate directly, please contact Bree Collins, at the AHANM, (505) 255-5523.

Pronghorn antelope

Department seeks public input on antelope releases in southeastern New Mexico

The Department of Game and Fish is soliciting public input on the proposed trapping and subsequent transplanting of pronghorn antelope to several locations in southeastern New Mexico.

Pronghorn antelope numbers in and around Roswell continue to increase, resulting in growing depredation and nuisance problems. The department has successfully trapped antelope in the past to decrease their numbers in specific areas around Roswell to lessen crop damage and to address concerns in and around subdivisions. The antelope trapped in the past were relocated to Bureau of Land Management lands on Fort Stanton, near Capitan, to supplement an existing herd.

In an effort to address concerns in the Roswell area, the department plans to trap antelope this winter on private property in two or three locations. Antelope will be live-trapped by the use of drop-nets and then released on specific ranches in southeastern New Mexico that also could contain public land within their boundaries. The ranches selected for transplants contain excellent antelope habitat and could provide additional hunter opportunity in the future. The release of antelope on the ranches also could result in new herds being established.

Comments or questions about the trapping or transplanting operations can be addressed to Mark Madsen, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Southeast Operations Division, 1912 W. Second Street, Roswell, NM 88201; (505) 624-6135, or mark.madsen@state.nm.us.

Department of Game and Fish seeks help finding poached antelope

Department of Game and Fish officers are seeking citizens’ help to find the carcasses of several antelope believed to have been illegally killed in November of 2006 and discarded near the communities of Clayton, Raton, and Springer. One conservation officer described the case as the most blatant display of poaching he’s seen in ten years.

“These guys apparently drove up and down the roads and shot every antelope they saw,” Officer Clint Henson said.

Officers believe two hunters traveling from Idaho to Texas attempted to fill unused Idaho antelope licenses while traveling from Raton to Clayton. Several dead and wounded antelope were found near Des Moines, but other carcasses are still unaccounted for. Officers believe that the hunters also traveled on NM 193 from Raton to Farley and from Clayton to Springer. At least five antelope were believed killed during the poaching spree.

Anyone who finds an antelope carcass or has information about the antelope or the alleged poachings is encouraged to contact the Clayton Police Department or any New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officer. Call the Department of Game and Fish Operation Game Thief toll-free hotline, (800) 432-4263. Reporters may remain anonymous and earn rewards if charges are filed.