Two months after six of Azlan White’s hybrid wolf‑dogs were discovered dead along NM 68, residents of Embudo Valley gathered to press Rio Arriba County officials for action. At a public meeting held on Sept. 18 at Embudo Station, roughly a dozen community members voiced worries that the pack, known locally as the “Emissary Wolf Pack,” poses a safety risk to people, livestock and emergency responders.

Letter to the commission

Community member Margaret Campos submitted a letter on behalf of neighbors to the Rio Arriba County Commission at its Sept. 24 meeting. The letter asks the county to enforce its animal‑control ordinance, grant Campos permission to set traps on her property adjacent to the pack’s enclosure, investigate alleged attacks on pets and livestock, and consider impounding the remaining animals.

Owner’s background and legal history

White has cared for the pack for 14 years, moving it several times after conflicts and evictions in Mora, Taos and San Miguel counties. Court records show she faced nine petty misdemeanor counts in Rio Arriba County in 2022 for lacking rabies vaccinations. In September, Taos County cited her for “Animal Restrictions — Animals Running At Large.” She is scheduled to appear in Taos Magistrate Court on Oct. 26.

According to White, the county’s animal‑control supervisor, Ismael Olguín, indicated the court might allow her until the end of October to relocate the pack. White said she is working to move the animals by that deadline and rents the 40‑acre plot near Embudo Station from Mark Rendleman.

Incidents and community concerns

In early August, six wolf‑dogs were found dead on NM 68 near the Embudo Station Bridge after escaping from their enclosure that morning. Security cameras captured as many as 17 pack members running through the area. At the Sept. 18 meeting, former Taos High School principal J.P. Luján recounted a tenant’s sighting of roughly 15 wolf‑dogs near a donkey and sheep on Aug. 3, and described a wolf‑dog tearing a raccoon apart before returning to the station.

Another resident reported an animal resembling a wolf‑Malamute mix attacking his terrier, grabbing the dog by the neck before fleeing. White disputes claims that the animals are dangerous, stating they are well‑fed, generally shy and not aggressive toward people.

Unresolved deaths and differing accounts

White initially believed the six deaths resulted from vehicle strikes but now suspects intentional killing, with the bodies moved to the highway to appear accidental. She said, “I may be wrong, but I’m going to stand with my intuition.”

Campos alleges two community members claimed the animals were killed by a Walmart semi‑tractor‑trailer that flashed its lights on a blind curve around 4:45 a.m. A partial recording of the meeting contains no such statement, and neighbor Irene Smith said no truck was mentioned, though she suspects more than one vehicle was involved because the bodies were found in different locations, including near Vivác Winery three miles away.

Genetics and regulatory implications

The pack’s genetic makeup remains unresolved. White describes the animals as descendants of Red and Arctic wolves crossed with Newfoundland dogs, estimating 60‑80 % wolf ancestry. Rio Arriba County’s animal‑control ordinance treats wolves as “wild animals,” requiring registration and facilities that prevent escape or injury to the public. If classified as dogs, the animals must meet vaccination, licensing and household‑size limits unless the owner holds a professional animal permit.

White sent three mouth‑swab samples to the University of California, Davis for genetic testing, but the lab reported no results.

Financial and future considerations

White estimates caring for the pack costs about $40,000 per month, a figure the Taos News has not independently verified. She says a romantic partner has helped cover most expenses for three years but declined to identify him due to harassment concerns.

Rendleman noted that Rio Arriba County Planning and Zoning official Jorge Ruiz contacted him after complaints about odors and animal feces. He disputed allegations that the animals are inadequately cared for, describing the material as compost. The New Mexico Environment Department also reached out regarding the property’s septic system.

White is exploring relocation options, including moving the pack to a site in Taos County where she could build 20‑foot fences. Rendleman expressed support for White’s care of the animals, stating, “I think she’s got a big heart and I completely feel the same way at this point. I just want to see them taken care of and there must be a way.”

Original reporting: Taos News — read the source article.