Otero admits shooting dog
Businessman fired arrow in animal because it wouldn't leave his yard

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — A 40-year-old business owner was arrested Thursday by Gallup police for allegedly shooting an arrow into a dog's skull after it did not immediately leave his yard.

Orlando Otero, the owner of Otero's Lock and Safe located at 716 S. Second St., confessed to detectives after they worked in conjunction with the company that manufactured the arrow that was removed from the dog's head to find evidence to connect him to the incident.

The young adult Australian mix, tentatively named Easton after the brand of hunting arrow that was temporarily lodged in his head, was rushed to Cedar Medical Center on Feb. 18 where veterinarians pulled the arrow from beneath muscle inside his head.

The arrow did not puncture the dog's brain or cause any irreparable harm, but did prompt local Human Society officials to offer a $1,000 reward to anyone who provided information that led to the eventual arrest and conviction of the individual who harmed the dog. The amount of the reward was up to $2,500 by the time officials received the tip that helped them crack the case.

Capt. John Allen said Otero was initially questioned by detective Juan Reyes on March 3 after he received a call from an anonymous informant who said Otero was involved in the incident.

Otero initially denied involvement, but did provide officials with the consent to search his Milda Street home. Allen said officers found several bows and arrows, which where manufactured by the same company as the arrow removed from the dog, inside the residence. They also learned Otero was an experienced hunter.

Allen said detectives worked with the company that manufactured the arrows to determine the hunting arrow found inside the dog belonged to Otero.

"No two people can own a bow and arrow that is exactly the same," Allen said. "The pull and arrow length will vary."

During a second interview with detectives, Otero reportedly confessed to shooting the stray animal when it continued to roam his yard.

"He originally shot it with a BB gun and when it didn't leave, he shot it with the arrow," Allen said.

Otero allegedly expressed disbelief when the dog walked away from his yard with the arrow lodged in its head. Otero was booked into the Gallup-McKinley Adult Detention Center on a fourth-degree felony charge of extreme animal cruelty. If convicted, Otero could face up to 18 months in prison.

His bond was set at $5,000 cash or surety.

After the dog spent some time recuperating, he was adopted out to a Port Townsend, Wash., family who said they have plenty of land, including a private beach on which the dog can roam, according to Cosy Balok of the Cedar Animal Clinic in Gallup. The clinic reportedly received inquiries about the dog from as far away as Canada.