Belen Man and Husky Milo Celebrate Three Years Walking Valencia County Ditchbanks

Raul Aragon and his Siberian husky Milo marked three years of daily walks through the ditchbanks, llanos and streets of west Belen, a routine that has become familiar to neighbors and local dogs. The milestone matters to residents because it combines pet rehabilitation, public health exercise and informal community oversight along shared open spaces.

Aragon adopted Milo in 2023 after the dog suffered a broken hip and underwent lifesaving surgery. The veterinarian’s prescription was straightforward: walk. Aragon took that directive seriously and established a daily five-mile route. On Tuesday, Jan. 6, the pair again followed that route, and on Jan. 22 they celebrated three years of walking together.

Their route runs along irrigation ditchbanks and lowland llanos that are part of everyday life in west Belen. Over the course of thousands of miles together, Aragon and Milo have become regulars on these paths, meeting other dogs and neighbors. Aragon often brings treats for Milo’s friends and has named some of the regulars. "That’s Zeus over there, he walks with us sometimes," Aragon said, noting that they still exercise caution because of the loose dogs that run around.

The discipline of a five-mile daily walk has broader implications for local wellness. Five miles a day amounts to 35 miles a week and roughly 11 hours and 40 minutes of walking at a moderate pace, representing sustained physical activity for owner and pet. Those hours translate into neighborhood familiarity: repeated presence on public ditchbanks increases informal surveillance, eases recognition of hazards and creates routine connections between residents. For Milo, the rehabilitation work is literal; steady walks are a core element of recovery after major orthopedic surgery.

There are also local policy and safety angles. Persistent reports of loose dogs along ditchbanks raise questions about animal control resources and leash enforcement in Valencia County. Ensuring well-maintained banks, clearer signage and coordinated animal control responses would support safer walks for dogs like Milo and the people who walk them. Small infrastructure investments that make walking routes safer can yield public health benefits and reduce strain on emergency veterinary care over time.

For west Belen residents, Aragon and Milo are more than a pair on the path; they are part of the fabric that keeps a neighborhood connected. Their routine underscores how everyday activities - a prescribed course of rehabilitation walks - build social capital and spotlight local needs like leash enforcement and ditchbank upkeep. As Aragon and Milo head out on future walks, their steady presence offers a simple reminder: small, regular actions can have outsized local effects on health, safety and community cohesion.