26-05-2025
Nine dogs dead after fire. Owners did not have proper permit to house so many.
May 25—Flames broke out at a small residential structure in the city's South Broadway neighborhood Saturday shortly after noon killing nine dogs, marking the second incident in the past two months when a fire in the metro area has claimed the lives of multiple dogs.
The blaze was under control within 11 minutes of firefighters responding, according to a news release from the department, however, the responders located and freed 17 dogs. but could only save nine of them at the scene. One of those died from injuries later.
The two residents of the home who were displaced by the fire could be facing consequences.
According to the city's Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment Ordinance, the maximum number of dogs an Albuquerque resident is allowed to have is four unless they have a permit. No permit was connected to the address or the dog's owners, according to Staci Drangmeister, spokeswoman for the mayor's office. She said the Animal Welfare department "will be issuing citations for non-compliance, and no dogs will be returned intact."
According to the Ethical Animal Treatment page on the city's website, the penalty for being out of compliance with the ordinance is up to $500 or up to 90 days in jail.
The department reportedly will conduct a further investigation to see if there were any other dogs at the home not discovered at the time of the fire.
In April, a South Valley house fire killed 14 dogs in a fire that was allegedly "intentionally set." Those dogs included four puppies and their mother, an 18-year-old Shih Tzu, two Chihuahuas, a French bulldog, a pug, a Weimaraner, an American bulldog and several mixed breed dogs.
