Gallup-MCKINLEY County Humade

Society Names New Executive Director

Ortega has a background in business management, and she says she’s ready to take on all the challenges of running an animal shelter in a rural community.

“It’s a huge learning curve; it’s definitely an experience to say the least,” she said. “But being in this role, it’s been nothing but challenges that I’m willing to overcome and face. I love working here, I love our employees that we have here, and what we do here really makes a difference. For me, that’s something that is really fulfilling.”

THE HUMANE SOCIETY’S CHALLENGES

One of the humane society’s board directors, Cosy Balok, who started the organization in 1988 with her husband Clint, handpicked Ortega for the executive director position. Ortega started in the new role on April 4, and she’s already made some improvements.

Overcrowding remains a top concern at the humane society. They have less than 40 kennels open for any animal brought in, and Ortega said they typically see about 400-500 animals enter their doors each month.

Transports, fosters, and adoptions are ways in which the shelter can successfully bring those numbers down.

Ortega said she’s been working on increasing the shelter’s transportation efforts: four transportations have gone out since she started, with 25 dogs in heading to other humane societies and shelters. Ortega is trying to expand the shelter’s reach; she’s now working with some Midwestern humane societies and animal rescues.

A volunteer for the shelter transported two dogs to a humane society in Tennessee the week of May 6, and Ortega reported that they were adopted the same day they arrived.

“It’s not high numbers, but it prevents the dogs who have been here a long time from being euthanized,” Ortega said. “Those are the ones we try to get out first.”

Unfortunately, when fostering and transporting don’t work out, and the humane society isn’t seeing enough adoptions, euthanasia is the only option.

According to documents the Sun obtained from the City of Gallup’s City Clerk, 24 animals were adopted from the Gallup-McKinley County Humane Society in March. One hundred and three animals were transferred out of the shelter; six animals were reclaimed by their owners; five were trapped, neutered, and then released; one died in the shelter; 34 were euthanized because they were deemed unadoptable; one was euthanized because it had rabies; and six were euthanized at the owners’ request.

The shelter had 250 animals under their care at the end of the month.

Then in February, 20 animals were adopted from the shelter. One hundred and eleven animals were transferred out of the shelter; six animals were reclaimed by their owners; five were trapped, neutered, and then released; 49 were euthanized because they were deemed unadoptable; and 10 were euthanized at the owners’ request.

CAPACITY ISSUES

The animal shelter isn’t alone in trying to control the city’s animal population problem. Animal Control picks up strays, but if the humane society doesn’t have room, Animal Control can’t pick up as many animals. For Tiffany Hubbard, the Animal Control’s Animal Protection Manager, it’s all about controlling what she calls “the revolving door.”

“It’s hard for us to not pick up, so we kind of depend on them to make these transports and adoptions happen in order for us to still be able to go out and pick up [animals],” she said in an interview with the Sun.  “They’ve got to make room one way or another, unfortunately.”

Hubbard also explained how Animal Control’s job can become increasingly difficult during the summer months.

“Dog bites have gone up because it’s getting warmer, school’s going be getting out,” she said. “The amount of aggressive dogs have gone up because we’ve got people dumping animals and animals are packing up.”

Feral cats can also be a problem. Animal Control handles them by trapping them, then neutering or spaying them before releasing them. Hubbard said she had to buy 25 more traps the other week to keep up with the demand.

While they do work together, the humane society and Animal Control are separate entities. Animal Control has 24 large indoor/outdoor kennels compared to the humane society’s almost 40. These kennels are often filled with dogs who may be involved in animal abuse cases or strays.

Hubbard said Animal Control is currently in a sort of pick-and-choose situation because of their limited space.

“Right now we just go on the calls that we’re called for, and a lot of those are strays, and like I said if we don’t have the room for them or if they’re not in a dangerous situation or causing harm to people then we have to wait until we have the room to grab those guys,” she explained.

After a two-three day holding period, all the Animal Control’s stray dogs are sent to the humane society.

REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY

Ortega said she is working with local businesses and spreading the word about how dire the Gallup-McKinley County Humane Society’s situation is. She wants people to be aware of the situation, and encourages people to adopt, not shop for an animal companion.

The Gallup-McKinley County Humane Society is located at at 1273 Balok St. They are open Tuesday-Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm.

March numbers

In March there were:

• 24 animals adopted

• 103 animals were transferred out of the humane society

• 34 animals were euthanized

One thing people can do to combat the overpopulation of animals in the Gallup area, and the nearby Navajo Nation, is to spay and neuter their pets. Below, there is a list of animal rescues, shelters, and even churches that are hosting free or discounted spay and neuter clinics in the near future.

Pure Heart Bible Church

May 18-19

8:30 am - 12:30 pm

Kaibeto, AZ

APPOINTMENTS

Call: 435-899-2588

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

***

Underdog Animal Rescue & Rehab

May 11-12

8 am - 1 pm

Sanostee, NM

June 14-16

8 am - 1 pm

Sheep Springs, NM

July 19-21

8 am - 1 pm

Shiprock, NM

August 16-18

8 am - 1 pm

Sanostee, NM

APPOINTMENTS

Text: 435-260-7982

***

RezDawg Rescue, Inc.

June 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11, 2024

Navajo Mesa Farms

Farmington, NM

APPOINTMENTS

Call: (720) 515-3679

https://www.facebook.com/rezdawgrescue

***

The Parker Project

May 24-27

Tuba City, AZ

May 25-26

Tonalea, AZ

June 14-17

Tuba City, AZ

June 15-16

Coal Mine, AZ

July 12-15

Tuba City, AZ

July 13-14

Navajo Mountain, AZ

August 9-12

Tuba City, AZ

August 10-11

Shonto, AZ

APPOINTMENTS

Text: (480) 569-4559

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Staff Reports

Noxious fumes, explosion danger close I-40

LUPTON, Ariz. — A BNSF train carrying liquid petroleum gas (propane) derailed, creating an explosion at the Arizona/New Mexico border April 26. Flames from the two railcars nearly engulfed the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 shortly before 1 pm.

McKinley County Sheriff James Maiorano III said the highway was shut down for 54 hours, causing traffic delays and bottleneck traffic along rural byways.

The westbound train derailed on both sides of the border, bringing together a multitude of law enforcement agencies and firefighters. No injuries were reported.

Dramatic photos of the incident flooded social media channels, and one man from Pennsylvania, who was crossing into New Mexico along eastbound I-40, caught the explosion with his dash cam. Flames from the fireball licked the side of the RV the man was towing, causing some minor damages. The I-40 bridge he was crossing over didn’t sustain damages, Maiorano said.

DERAILMENT DETAILS

According to a McKinley County Fire Rescue press release, 35 railcars carrying mixed freight derailed, six of which contained propane.

A hazardous and toxic materials team arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion and had the job of determining the level of the danger posed to the public by the fumes emitting from the burning railcars, plastic, and other debris.

Additionally, there was the possibility of another explosion occurring at the site.

To keep the team organized as best as possible, an “emergency operation center” was formed at and headed by McKinley County Fire Chief Lawrence Montoya, Jr.

“We yielded to the professional opinion, not having any experts who could tell us anything different,” Maiorano said. “We thought that there may be danger to the motoring public, so the decision at the emergency operation center was to keep the interstate closed until someone could say that the tankers were not subject to explosion.”

Another concern for law enforcement was the possibility of an explosion occurring at Speedy’s gas station, north of the interstate, along with the neighboring refinery, Maiorano noted.

The next morning, outward flames died out in both railcars, leaving a twisted mess of smoldering, blackened metal. But looks are deceiving, the remaining propane left in the tanks continued to burn for a while.

To mitigate existing conditions, and for the safety of the surrounding community, evacuations were issued for residents within a two-mile radius of the derailment site. BNSF worked directly with displaced residents to provide necessary lodging and accommodations, a press release stated.

Maiorano added that about 50 people had to be evacuated from the area.

Once the area was considered no longer a threat to residents, businesses and first responders, the cleanup project commenced shortly after the reopening of the I-40 April 28. Westbound I-40  reopened around 10 am, and eastbound lanes reopened a few hours later at about 1:45 pm.

Maiorano praised officials involved with the hazardous emergency and initial cleanup.

“It was definitely not an MCSO thing,” he said. “We obviously participated, but none of that could’ve been pulled off without the help of all of those agencies providing personnel. The BNSF handled things well, I thought, at least for now.”

The BNSF hazmat team arrived within the first couple of hours of the derailment, Maiorano said, and they were quick to provide food, drinks and accommodations for people who were temporarily displaced from their homes.

At press time BNSF was still working at the area, with MCSO helping direct traffic. Maiorano said the company is expected to be done by the end of May 3.

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

Staff Reports

The lasting legacy of the ‘Festival of Trees’

When Geraldine Arviso died in August, she left the Gallup community with memories of the ways she touched others.

As the head of the Gallup chapter of Soroptimists International, she was part of the local effort to help women and girls live their dreams — the mission of the organization, by providing such important bridges to independence as a gas card, when it was needed, and a computer for an area woman working to improve her situation.

When she organized the Festival of Trees fundraiser, her name became connected with what has now become a family tradition.

Maura Schanefelt, her daughter, who is organizing the event in her mother’s memory this year, said her mother’s dedication to this festival has been taken up by her father, sister, grandmother, great aunt and son.

This family tradition has grown into part of the annual holiday season for Gallup, being sponsored by other organizations including Rotary and Kiwanis.

This year it will benefit the Community Pantry, as it did in 2019.

For Schanefelt it is tied to her mother.

“I’m hopeful that in years to come, the annual Festival of Trees will be in memory of her [Geraldine Arviso].”

HOW THE FESTIVAL HELPS FEED PEOPLE

This year’s Festival of Trees is dedicated to helping the Community Pantry, by selling tickets to people, who stand a chance of winning a decorated tree or wreath.

The tickets are $3 apiece, or four for $10. That money goes to the Pantry, which finds itself staring down some of the longest lines of hungry people since Alice Perez took the spot as executive director there in 2015.

Last year, Perez told the Sun, the fundraiser brought in $5,000.

Schanefelt said this year is a difficult one.

“We’re trying to be optimistic [about raising money]. But realistically, Schanefelt said, [we’re hoping to bring in] $2 thousand.”

The Community Pantry is hard at work and stretches every dollar it receives.

“Pre-COVID we were servicing about 3,500 families a month [that includes both pantries]. Now we’re at over 7,000 because of the unemployment, limited work hours, [and] restaurants shutting down,” Perez said.

“When you have two small communities that are about 75 percent entrepreneurialship, you have two communities that are hurting a lot,” she pointed out.

She also talked about the stresses on grandparents living on fixed incomes, who find themselves taking care of children.

Perez said it’s not just more families coming to the pantry for food, there is also more food being given out.

“Pre-COVID our distribution was approximately about 120-160 pounds per box. Right now we’re giving between 220-260 pounds per family. People can pick up twice [in a month] when they need it,” she said.

Where does it all come from? Perez said the food is donated by local groceries, Feeding America, organizations, foundations, non-profits, and people from across the U.S. — from as far away as Pennsylvania.

REACHING OUT

As the Festival of Trees continues to provide help to others each year, the Community Pantry does, too.

In addition to handing out boxes of food as part of its Commodities Program, the Community Pantry grows food. In the winter that takes place in hoop houses.

Free Produce is a program available to everyone to promote healthy eating, especially for people who have diabetes, which Perez points out, is rampant in the area.

The pantry also participates in the downtown Gallup farmer’s market in summer months one day a week, honoring Double Bucks, a program that allows people with EBT cards to spend $5 and receive $10 worth of produce.

There is a Food for Kids, or backpack program that is run through the school system, which helps provide for children who do not get enough to eat at home on the weekends.

The Emergency Food Box program bridges the gap for people in emergency situations. “If the car breaks down and it costs $250 to get it fixed — there goes the grocery money,” Perez said. “We want people to stay employed.”

The Dollar Stretcher or Meat Box Stretcher program allows the pantry to use its buying power to create special boxes of food that can be sold to members of the community at a discount, allowing them to save money by shopping at the pantry instead of at a grocery store.

Perez is grateful for the help from the Festival of Trees.

Like the tradition of generosity Geraldine Arviso started years ago, the Community Pantry also reaches out beyond its own borders by helping other nonprofits to feed people in communities that cannot get to it.

By Beth Blakeman
Associate Editor