Three loose dogs got into the Spring River Zoo in Roswell recently and killed four zoo animals.
Three Barbary sheep and a wallaby were found dead when zookeepers reported for work last week, according to KRQE. The zoo's staff members are heartbroken. Three dogs apparently gained entry to the zoo by digging under a newly installed fence.
"They are like our own; they are our own for our keepers, but they are part of our family," Juanita Jennings, director of public affairs for the city of Roswell, said. "They dug underneath a first fence, then they dug underneath a second perimeter fence inside the exhibit."
The dogs escaped before workers could catch them, and city employees are trying to find them, KRQE reported. One of the dogs was described as a collie/black lab mix with a white patch of fur. The other two dogs have brindle coloring; one appeared to be a pregnant female.
Two of the sheep were raised by zookeepers.
"The Barbary sheep – Barbie and Bugsy – our zoo curator Andrea Cole, she bottle-fed these animals when they were brought to Spring River Zoo," Jennings said.
Vinny – the third Barbary sheep that was killed – was transferred from the Alamogordo Zoo.
"He was new to our family and was still in the quarantine process to be introduced to his new mates," Jennings said.
Cashew, also known as "Cash," was a five-year-old wallaby.
"He was being trained and stimulated to take a peanut ... this is the type of enrichment that helped them," Jennings said.
The Spring River Zoo dealt with similar problems during the last few years, according to KRQE. An elk was fatally injured by a faulty enclosure fence in 2022, and a bear from the Alamogordo Zoo that was temporarily housed at Spring River escaped its enclosure in 2021. City officials said they have been working to re-enforce the fencing for a while.
"Our keepers and staff will do everything they possibly can to ensure the safety of our animals," Jennings said. "Anytime there is a stressful situation, we want to make sure that our other animals are ok, as well."
A veterinarian came in to check on the other animals while the zoo was closed on Dec. 29, KRQE reported.
Anyone who sees the loose dogs is asked to contact the city's Animal Services department.
