Dear Mr. Nyeholt,

The City has completed this request and will now close it out. It is my understanding that Mr. Ludwick on behalf of the City’s Animal Welfare Department emailed you responsive records from their department. Please let us know if that is not the case or if you were unable to open/view those record. Otherwise, City Legal will send you (via email or attached to this request in nextrequest) the non-exempt responsive records maintained by our office for the following request:  

1. I am the attorney for Mr. Robert Patterson and Mrs. Linda Stephens.  It is my understanding that Mr. and Mrs. Stephens called Animal Welfare regarding a dog, a 6 month old German Shepherd named Shiloh, at their home that had become vicious. The address was 5333 John Thomas Dr, NE, Alburquerque, NM.  The call would have been placed on or about January 17, 2018.  It is my understanding that the dog was therafter put down on or about January 19, 2018.  I am requesting any and all documents related to this incident including but not limited to (1) any documents pertaining to the call from Patterson and Stephens regarding the vicious dog, (2) any and all forms signed by Patterson or Stephens (surrender forms, etc) (3) any and all records related to Animal Welfare’s taking custody of the dog, (4) any and all documents related to Animal Welfare’s decision to put the dog Shiloh down (5) any other relevant records or documents.

2. I am the attorney for Linda Stephens and Robert Patterson.  In January of this year, my clients owned a dog named Shiloh.  It is my understanding that Albuquerque Animal Control took custody of Shiloh on or about January 19th, and destroyed the dog shortly after that.  I also understand that you were involved in some conversations and correspondence between my clients and the Animal Control officer about the dog after he was put down.  Litigation has developed between my clients and the breeder, and I am trying to wrap my head all the way around exactly what happened.  I am requesting, under the Freedom of Informations Act, that you provide me with any information you have (emails, correspondence, documents, notes) about the dog, my clients, and anything else.  I have a similar request in to Animal Control. If you are able to do anything from your end to help that along, I would greatly appreciate it.

Please be aware, we cannot permit inspection of some of these records because they are exempt from disclosure under New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act pursuant to NMSA 1978, § 14-2-1(A)(8) (as otherwise provided by law, including but not limited to NMRA, Rule 11-503 (attorney-client privilege); NMRA, Rule 1-026(B)(5) (attorney work product)). I am therefore denying inspection of those records.

Please let me know if you experience any issues opening or viewing the records or if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Crystal Velarde

Legal Records Custodian

Hello Collin H. Nyeholt, 

All responsive documents have been made available for inspection as e-mail attachments. This request is now fulfilled and will be closed. 

- Jim Ludwick

Custodian of Records, Animal Welfare Department