There is a monster walking among us. Someone who does not look like a monster. Probably goes to work every day. May even go to church. He has friends and just could very well be an ordinary guy to the people who know him.

He is not just an ordinary guy. He allegedly shot two dogs who became trapped in his clawed bear traps. These traps have sharp claw like teeth that ensnare the animal, usually breaking bones and causing horrific pain and trauma. The animal tries to chew his way out of the trap and sometimes will actually chew his leg off to get free.

On Aug. 25, two dogs escaped from their fenced yard through a gate that was accidentally left open. “Chi Chi” and “Speckles” were beloved pets whose scared and panicked owners searched all day and night for them. The next morning the dogs were found very near their home, caught in the traps that were well hidden. To their owner’s horror, they were each allegedly shot in the head while trapped and defenseless. Yes, some lowlife excuse for a human being allegedly shot them at point blank range, straight into their heads.

Both were still alive after spending that night in the field through a thunderstorm with freezing rain pouring down on their wounded little bodies. They were taken immediately to Salazar Road Veterinary Clinic. The apparent bullet deeply grazed Speckles’ scalp and brain, but did not enter the brain. Chi Chi’s apparent bullet went into her brain and was still lodged deep inside. While Speckles was being cared for, Chi Chi was taken to an animal neurologist just north of Albuquerque. A test given to Chi Chi determined that she could be operated on, but it would cost more than a thousand dollars, and even then her prognosis could not be determined. Chi Chi was compassionately put to her forever sleep.

These dogs were rescued from extreme neglect and cruelty. I actually rescued Speckles a few years ago and gave her to my friend Coleen as I knew her to be a true animal lover and rescuer. Working temporarily in Arizona on the Navajo reservation, Coleen found Chi Chi — a starving stray. She took care of her. She gave her food and hugs every day. When Coleen returned to New Mexico she took Chi Chi with her.

Speckles and Chi Chi had the best of life with Coleen and her husband Mike — kisses and hugs daily, hikes, spayed and neutered, vaccinations and microchips, a yard to hang out in — everything a pet should have. That is until the day everything changed. The monster who lived close by turned the good life for this family into one of sorrow and loss through his heinous cruelty.

Speckles came home with shattered nerves and a deep gash on her head — all treated by Salazar’s compassionate vets and staff. This incident had an effect on everyone who came in contact with the dogs. The vets were deeply affected. The cruelty was impossible to comprehend. Speckles is rehabbing at home and should recover from her physical trauma. Trying to chew through the steel trap, she chewed all her front teeth down to the nubs. All have been sutured and will heal, but she’ll eat soft food from now on.

Animal control took the traps. Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe is working with his department, the district attorney, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in an investigation. We are also working with Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM).

What can be done about this kind of trapping? Animal Protection Voters of New Mexico, (apvnm.org) the legislative arm of APNM, is the only organization of its kind in the state dedicated solely to passing legislation and engaging in the political process to protect animals.

APVNM opposes trapping due to the unnecessary, cruel suffering that trap victims are subjected to — and the indiscriminate nature of traps and snares means anyone whose foot fits within the steel jaws will be caught if they step into them, including dogs, cats, endangered species and even children. We are working on legislative efforts to ban trapping (and poisons) on public lands in our state. Rep. Bobby Gonzales, D-Taos, has sponsored legislation in 2013 and 2015, spurred by learning of two of his constituents being injured by traps – but both times the bill was tabled in a House committee. We expect to reintroduce the legislation in 2017.

A GoFundMe account has been set up for Speckles to help the family pay for vet bills at gofundme.com/specklesfight. The immediate need is for $700 — that amount will go to Salazar Vet’s emergency fund for our local folks who cannot afford emergency care for their pets.