Nearly 90 Great Pyrenees Rescued from Bloomfield Hoarding in San Juan County

Authorities in Bloomfield, San Juan County, N.M., rescued 90 Great Pyrenees from a single property in early January after repeated “dog at large” calls last fall led investigators to the site, KOAT reported. Local coverage and community posts described the scene as an extreme case of animal hoarding with the animals concentrated on one Bloomfield parcel.

Bloomfield community service officer Cliff Young answered the initial calls last fall that prompted follow-up, and the operation expanded to involve the Bloomfield Police Department, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and multiple animal-welfare partners, Tricityrecordnm reported. Tricityrecordnm described the group as “more than 90 big white dogs,” and noted that some animals appeared to be mixed breeds amid the primarily Great Pyrenees population.

Denkai Animal Sanctuary staffed the response with program manager Tierra Knuckles, veterinary technician Millie Burns and veterinarians Lisa Bane and Victoria Robinson, along with team members Savannah Neely and a person identified only as Blackburn, Tricityrecordnm said. Transportation support came from Doug Kinney and Dallas Kinney, and intake partners Hoof and Paw and Grand Pyrenees Rescue Resources of Utah and Montana assisted in placing dogs into care environments, the report said. A Reddit update noted that a “Mama and her babies” were transported to Texas Great Pyrenees Rescue and were spoken for.

Capt. Justin Rieker of the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office framed the response as a coordinated effort: “This rescue reflects the power of collaboration between law enforcement, animal welfare partners and the community. Because of these partnerships, dozens of animals are now receiving the care and second chance they deserve,” he said, Tricityrecordnm reported.

The animals were moved through a veterinary process and required holding in temporary facilities while under care. Tricityrecordnm’s reporting included an unusual legal detail: because of Colorado state law, the dogs were required to be held in a temporary facility constructed in New Mexico while they moved through the veterinary process; the articles did not specify which statute or agency triggered that requirement.

Public reaction played out on social platforms, with KOAT noting high engagement and outrage on X and Facebook shares of the story, YouTube reports referencing a $45,000 boost from a donor identified only as Miranda, and Reddit community updates tracking specific placements. Bloomfield officials recognized responding organizations at a city council meeting where Police Chief Phillip Francisco presented a plaque of appreciation to Denkai Animal Sanctuary and letters of commendation to Bloomfield officers Cliff Young and Travis Peterson.

Officials have not released the property owner’s identity and Tricityrecordnm’s coverage contained no mention of criminal charges; local authorities and Denkai continue to coordinate veterinary processing and placement through intake partners. While plaques and letters are appreciated, the lasting reward is seeing the remaining dogs move on to brighter futures.