‘Sacred cat’ escapes bosque fire
Corrales residents and animals seem to have been well prepared when hit by the third bosque fire in three years. Residents took it upon themselves to load their livestock and evacuate either to the Corrales Recreation Center or state fairgrounds without prompting, according to Corrales Animal Control officer “Frosty” Frostenson.
Most wildlife appears to have relied on instinct to escape the bosque fire. An injured porcupine was reported but never found. Firemen battling the blaze reported seeing a mountain lion, approximately 150 pounds, in the area. Sandia Pueblo residents said the animal is known to them as their “sacred cat.”
Animal Control gets training in equine abuse
Corrales Animal Control officer Catherine Garcia continues to rack up professional credentials. With Village help, she won a scholarship to attend the Equine Investigation Academy’s Certified Equine Cruelty Investigation Training. Offered by Code 3 Associates in Durango, Colorado, in August, the training in horse abuse investigation takes place on a working ranch.
“It’s one of the better schools you can find,” said Frosty. “Super-intensive training.” Garcia will spend 60 hours over six days at the horse facility learning everything from equine psychology, to catching and handling, to behavioral analysis, for Level I certification.
Since the school is out of state, application required administrative and Council approval. The Village emphasized in its bid for the $1,700 scholarship its status as “the Horse Capital of New Mexico,” with an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 equines. The academy is designed “for the humane investigator,” with Level II training to include such topics as sports abuse, horse auctions, and hoarding.
Over the last year Garcia has completed training in professional animal control and livestock assessment. “It’s the first time so many trainings have been available at no cost to the Village,” Frosty said.