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Letters

Remote sanctuary seeks help

The devoted owners of Fur and Feather Animal Assistance (FFAA), the largest no-kill sanctuary for dogs and cats in New Mexico, are seeking live-in help for this special place. An energetic, “must love dogs and cats” couple, Brad and Laurie Beauchamp perform magnificent acts of caring and kindness every day here in Pie Town, N.M.
   Their 90-acre property is remotely situated in the west-central mountains of Catron County, 160 miles southwest of Albuquerque. The county has no animal control, so unwanted animals are often abandoned to fend for themselves. The Beauchamps have devoted their vast acreage to house and rehabilitate abandoned pets for life, whether healthy, disabled or elderly. They incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2006.
   In addition to a financial arrangement, FFAA offers a trailer with utilities, or a dedicated area with hookups for your motor home. Daily chores involve physical work, but not heavy or extreme. The dog population varies from 70 to 100, and cats can number more than 100. Adoptable pets can be viewed at www.furandfeather.org and Adopt-A-Pet.com.
   The facilities include 45 indoor kennels and sleeping bunks in two separate heated bunkhouses. Dogs and cats are not caged, and take part in daily activities around the property. Canine playgroups are rotated between pastures. Cats have their own play and napping areas, but it is not unusual for dogs and cats to become “best buds.”
   If you are someone who would like to share this special experience, please email your information to furandfeatheranimalassistance@gmail.com.
                                                                                                                                                                      Kate Kuligowski
Albuquerque

Corrales campaign made no sense

I cannot let Debora Michael Gonzales’ letter in the last issue go unchallenged. To infer that Chris Allen ran as nasty a campaign as Scott Kominiak, our [Corrales] mayor, attests to a lack of factual information about almost everything that happened during the campaign. Chris lost the race because she consciously made the decision not to run an attack campaign like Kominiak did. She was viciously attacked by Judy Paulsen and others for simply protecting her property and livestock. This unprovoked attack was orchestrated solely by the Kominiak campaign.
   As they say in politics, where does the buck stop? Councilor Ennio Garcia and Mayor Kominiak both pushed for a no-kill animal shelter in order to get votes, while spouting that the Village was going broke and can’t afford anything. Why would we put $500,000 into an animal shelter for the dogs and cats no one wants, when we do nothing to protect the dog, cats, and other livestock that villagers love and care for against attacks from coyotes that are allowed to run free? This doesn’t make sense!
   We have only two animal control officers to handle all the animal issues in Corrales. Would it not make more sense to increase animal control’s yearly budget and finance a better computerized reporting system to keep track of hotspots in the Village? Then give animal control the power to actually do something about the problems that arise, instead of just reporting on them.
   In my opinion, Mayor Kominiak and Ms. Gonzales owe Chris Allen and the rest of the Village an apology for running a campaign based on half-truths and misinformation.
                                                                                                                                                                              Al Knight
Corrales