Veterinarian’s home called ‘deplorable’

Investigators removing dogs from the Edgewood home of a former Rio Rancho veterinarian wore protective gear due to conditions described as “deplorable.” (Courtesy KOAT-TV)

Reports of dogs killing each other and loud barking led the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office to the Edgewood home of former Rio Rancho veterinarian Debra Clopton with a search warrant Monday.

What investigators found when they got there, according Lt. William Pacheco, spokesman for the sheriff’s office, were at least 20 dogs and terrible living conditions.

“It’s deplorable,” he said. “There’s dog feces everywhere and the smell is horrendous. The detectives are wearing safety suits and masks, and have told me it’s very unhealthy in there.”

Pacheco said detectives believe there are at least 20 more dogs on the property and authorities would be there until the early morning hours. He said the dogs are being taken to the Santa Fe County animal shelter.

Pacheco said a veterinarian with the Doña Ana County Animal Cruelty Task Force is on site assessing each animal. The task force is part of the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and was called in because it specializes in cases of animal abuse and neglect. Clopton could be charged with animal cruelty depending on the care and condition of the animals.

Clopton, whose age was not available, was not under arrest, he said.

Pacheco said that the animals ranged in size and breed, and that some were so sick they were having a hard time standing.

The investigation started about three weeks ago, he said, after Santa Fe County animal control officers received at least seven complaints from neighbors. Animal control officers also believe the dogs were killing each other.

“To me, it sounded like a dog kennel, like if you go to a dog kennel and hear all the dogs barking,” KOAT-TV reported a neighbor saying. “And it sounds like a lot of fighting.”

The New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine revoked Clopton’s license according to its online records. The reasons behind the revocation were not available online and the board office was closed for the day Monday.

This is not the first time Clopton, who formerly owned Animal Wellness P.C. in Rio Rancho, has been in trouble with the law over animal issues.

Sgt. Nicholas Onken, spokesman for the Rio Rancho Police Department, said that agency has been dealing with Clopton for some time, and that she came to the department’s attention after neighbors complained about feces piling up in the backyard of her former Enchanted Hills home, as well as a lot of barking.

She was cited for not having proper vaccination or registration for her animals. She had 10 dogs, twice as many as is allowed by city ordinance. Onken said police recently issued a warrant for her arrest for failing to come into compliance by registering and vaccinating her pets.

Onken said the Rio Rancho police were told that Clopton moved from her home some time in the past two months. The home is now in foreclosure and the bank gave police permission to enter it last week. He said they found at least one dead cat inside, several cats still alive and unlivable conditions.

“It was not fit for humans to live in, much less animals,” he said. “There was animal feces on the floor. It was in a state of filth.”
— This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal