Lovington patrols increase to pickup strays
Virginia Cunningham/News-Sun
LOVINGTON — The City of Lovington Animal Services Department has increased the amount of time patrolling neighborhoods in order to get stray animals off the streets of Lovington.
This action comes in response to residents voicing frustration, during the April 8 regular commission meeting, about a large number of stray dogs and cats in the city.
At the April 8 meeting, one woman said she was bitten and chased by a dog while walking in her neighborhood, while another man complained about several stray cats using the restroom on his lawn and tearing up things.
“I spoke to the residents after the meeting (April 8) and even invited them to share their stories and concerns with the animal services,” Lovington City Manager David Miranda told the News-Sun.
The man who spoke at the April 8 meeting said he had also called to get traps for the stray cats and was told he would have to pay for the trap and set it up himself.
But Miranda said Lovington residents may use the traps free of charge.
“The traps from the city are free,” Miranda said. “The employees of the animal services department will deliver, set-up and monitor the traps at no cost.”
On social media, multiple other assumed residents of Lovington complained about two vicious dogs in the the Polk Avenue area, stating the dogs had killed other pets of nearby residents.
“Those dogs have been picked up by animal services,” Miranda told the News-Sun.
Miranda said it took animal services a few days to track the dogs down, but the employees were able to apprehend the dogs.
Animal services takes care of not only strays, but has been on the front line of the spay and neuter program — which receives money from Lea County.
On top of performing these surgeries, the animal services employees transport strays that have been picked up to different cities around the country, and to various no-kill facilities. This is done in an effort to reduce the amount of animals having to be put down, Miranda told the News-Sun.
“Animal services employees have stepped up over the last couple of weeks and have been more available for phone calls, neighborhood patrols and to Lea County Communication Authority for dispatch,” Miranda said.
Miranda said the public can report strays by calling 575-396-2811.
