Demand Justice for Masleña Rescue's Neglected Horses
The Issue
Demand Justice for Maslena Rescue’s Neglected Horses
20 horses and donkeys reportedly ordered removed. More than 80 animals reportedly at the facility. Repeated inspection concerns. Who will be held accountable?
We demand an immediate, independent criminal animal-cruelty investigation into Maslena Rescue Foundation, located at 21 Locust Hill Road, Tijeras, New Mexico 87059, and the actions of those responsible for the animals in its care.
The facility’s published contact information identifies Jeff Morewood as its contact.
According to information released by New Mexico For Equine Rights & Open Government, inspections by the New Mexico Livestock Board reportedly documented horses and donkeys whose physical condition and hoof care had failed to improve or had deteriorated.
Twenty horses and donkeys were reportedly identified for removal to foster homes and other rescues.
Photographs shared with the public show visibly underweight animals, raising serious concerns about inadequate nutrition, veterinary attention, and overall welfare.
An excerpt attributed to an inspection report describes financial difficulties, rising feed costs, problems obtaining quality hay, and worsening living conditions.
These circumstances demand investigation—not excuses.
A rescue organization has a responsibility to protect animals from suffering. A rescue license must never become protection from the law.
We Demand Action From Bernalillo County Authorities
We call upon the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Task Force and Bernalillo County Animal Care Services to initiate an independent investigation into the allegations involving Maslena Rescue Foundation, including the conduct of individuals responsible for the animals’ care.
1. Investigate Possible Criminal Animal Cruelty
Under New Mexico Statutes § 30-18-1, animal cruelty includes certain forms of negligent mistreatment and failure to provide necessary sustenance.
Investigators must determine whether the reported deterioration, inadequate feeding, untreated conditions, and alleged failures of veterinary care constitute criminal violations.
If sufficient evidence exists, responsible individuals must be referred for prosecution.
2. Investigate Jeff Morewood’s Role and Responsibilities
The facility’s published information identifies Jeff Morewood as a contact for Maslena Rescue Foundation.
We demand that investigators establish his actual ownership, management, and animal-care responsibilities, including whether he had knowledge of documented deficiencies and what steps he took to address them.
Any individual with responsibility for the animals’ welfare must be evaluated according to the evidence and applicable law.
3. Investigate Violations of Equine Rescue Licensing Requirements
Under NMSA §§ 77-2-30 and 77-2-31, equine rescue facilities are subject to care standards, inspections, corrective-action procedures, and potential licensing sanctions.
We demand examination of all inspection reports, deficiency notices, corrective-action plans, reinspection findings, and enforcement decisions.
If statutory conditions requiring a licensing hearing were met, the New Mexico Livestock Board must account for whether that process occurred.
4. Protect Every Animal Remaining at the Facility
Twenty reported removals do not resolve the welfare concerns involving the remaining animals.
We demand independent veterinary assessments, body-condition evaluations, hoof examinations, and inspection of feeding, water, sanitation, and shelter arrangements for every animal.
Where legally justified, authorities must pursue protective seizure under NMSA § 77-18-2, emergency treatment, and placement with qualified caregivers.
5. Investigate Bernalillo County Animal-Welfare Violations
Bernalillo County Animal Care Services should investigate whether applicable county animal-welfare requirements, including Bernalillo County Code § 6-58, have been violated.
The investigation should address food, water, necessary medical care, sanitation, shelter, and whether the facility had sufficient resources to care humanely for its animal population.
6. Investigate the New Mexico Livestock Board
If complaints and inspection findings documented deteriorating conditions over time, the public deserves answers.
How many complaints were received? How many inspections identified deficiencies? Were corrective actions required? Were those actions completed? Why did animals reportedly continue to deteriorate?
We demand an independent review of the Livestock Board’s inspection and enforcement history concerning this facility, including whether it complied with its statutory responsibilities.
7. Preserve All Evidence and Investigate Possible Additional Violations
Authorities must preserve veterinary records, photographs, feeding records, animal inventories, intake and transfer documentation, inspection findings, corrective-action notices, and relevant communications.
Investigators should also determine whether the facility complied with applicable capacity limits, recordkeeping requirements, and licensing conditions.
8. Demand Transparency and Accountability
The public deserves a clear accounting of what happened to the affected animals, whether additional animals remain at risk, and what enforcement actions are taken.
If criminal violations are substantiated, pursue prosecution. If licensing violations are established, impose appropriate sanctions. If government oversight failed, investigate those failures.
Rescue Is a Responsibility, Not a Shield From Accountability
These horses and donkeys depended on the people responsible for them to provide food, shelter, medical attention, and humane treatment.
They could not leave. They could not report their conditions. They could not demand help.
The reported removal of 20 animals cannot be the end of this matter. It must be the beginning of accountability.
We are calling on the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Bernalillo County Animal Care Services, the New Mexico Livestock Board, and appropriate prosecuting authorities to investigate fully and enforce every applicable law.
SIGN THIS PETITION. DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION. DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THESE ANIMALS.
Facility identified in this petition:
Maslena Rescue Foundation
Published contact: Jeff Morewood
21 Locust Hill Road
Tijeras, NM 87059
505-281-0974
www.maslenarf.org
The inspection findings and proposed animal removals described above are based on publicly circulated reports and allegations. The facility contact information comes from the supplied image. Criminal wrongdoing by any named individual has not been established, and the petition seeks an independent investigation to determine responsibility.
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The Issue
Demand Justice for Maslena Rescue’s Neglected Horses
20 horses and donkeys reportedly ordered removed. More than 80 animals reportedly at the facility. Repeated inspection concerns. Who will be held accountable?
We demand an immediate, independent criminal animal-cruelty investigation into Maslena Rescue Foundation, located at 21 Locust Hill Road, Tijeras, New Mexico 87059, and the actions of those responsible for the animals in its care.
The facility’s published contact information identifies Jeff Morewood as its contact.
According to information released by New Mexico For Equine Rights & Open Government, inspections by the New Mexico Livestock Board reportedly documented horses and donkeys whose physical condition and hoof care had failed to improve or had deteriorated.
Twenty horses and donkeys were reportedly identified for removal to foster homes and other rescues.
Photographs shared with the public show visibly underweight animals, raising serious concerns about inadequate nutrition, veterinary attention, and overall welfare.
An excerpt attributed to an inspection report describes financial difficulties, rising feed costs, problems obtaining quality hay, and worsening living conditions.
These circumstances demand investigation—not excuses.
A rescue organization has a responsibility to protect animals from suffering. A rescue license must never become protection from the law.
We Demand Action From Bernalillo County Authorities
We call upon the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Animal Cruelty Task Force and Bernalillo County Animal Care Services to initiate an independent investigation into the allegations involving Maslena Rescue Foundation, including the conduct of individuals responsible for the animals’ care.
1. Investigate Possible Criminal Animal Cruelty
Under New Mexico Statutes § 30-18-1, animal cruelty includes certain forms of negligent mistreatment and failure to provide necessary sustenance.
Investigators must determine whether the reported deterioration, inadequate feeding, untreated conditions, and alleged failures of veterinary care constitute criminal violations.
If sufficient evidence exists, responsible individuals must be referred for prosecution.
2. Investigate Jeff Morewood’s Role and Responsibilities
The facility’s published information identifies Jeff Morewood as a contact for Maslena Rescue Foundation.
We demand that investigators establish his actual ownership, management, and animal-care responsibilities, including whether he had knowledge of documented deficiencies and what steps he took to address them.
Any individual with responsibility for the animals’ welfare must be evaluated according to the evidence and applicable law.
3. Investigate Violations of Equine Rescue Licensing Requirements
Under NMSA §§ 77-2-30 and 77-2-31, equine rescue facilities are subject to care standards, inspections, corrective-action procedures, and potential licensing sanctions.
We demand examination of all inspection reports, deficiency notices, corrective-action plans, reinspection findings, and enforcement decisions.
If statutory conditions requiring a licensing hearing were met, the New Mexico Livestock Board must account for whether that process occurred.
4. Protect Every Animal Remaining at the Facility
Twenty reported removals do not resolve the welfare concerns involving the remaining animals.
We demand independent veterinary assessments, body-condition evaluations, hoof examinations, and inspection of feeding, water, sanitation, and shelter arrangements for every animal.
Where legally justified, authorities must pursue protective seizure under NMSA § 77-18-2, emergency treatment, and placement with qualified caregivers.
5. Investigate Bernalillo County Animal-Welfare Violations
Bernalillo County Animal Care Services should investigate whether applicable county animal-welfare requirements, including Bernalillo County Code § 6-58, have been violated.
The investigation should address food, water, necessary medical care, sanitation, shelter, and whether the facility had sufficient resources to care humanely for its animal population.
6. Investigate the New Mexico Livestock Board
If complaints and inspection findings documented deteriorating conditions over time, the public deserves answers.
How many complaints were received? How many inspections identified deficiencies? Were corrective actions required? Were those actions completed? Why did animals reportedly continue to deteriorate?
We demand an independent review of the Livestock Board’s inspection and enforcement history concerning this facility, including whether it complied with its statutory responsibilities.
7. Preserve All Evidence and Investigate Possible Additional Violations
Authorities must preserve veterinary records, photographs, feeding records, animal inventories, intake and transfer documentation, inspection findings, corrective-action notices, and relevant communications.
Investigators should also determine whether the facility complied with applicable capacity limits, recordkeeping requirements, and licensing conditions.
8. Demand Transparency and Accountability
The public deserves a clear accounting of what happened to the affected animals, whether additional animals remain at risk, and what enforcement actions are taken.
If criminal violations are substantiated, pursue prosecution. If licensing violations are established, impose appropriate sanctions. If government oversight failed, investigate those failures.
Rescue Is a Responsibility, Not a Shield From Accountability
These horses and donkeys depended on the people responsible for them to provide food, shelter, medical attention, and humane treatment.
They could not leave. They could not report their conditions. They could not demand help.
The reported removal of 20 animals cannot be the end of this matter. It must be the beginning of accountability.
We are calling on the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Bernalillo County Animal Care Services, the New Mexico Livestock Board, and appropriate prosecuting authorities to investigate fully and enforce every applicable law.
SIGN THIS PETITION. DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION. DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THESE ANIMALS.
Facility identified in this petition:
Maslena Rescue Foundation
Published contact: Jeff Morewood
21 Locust Hill Road
Tijeras, NM 87059
505-281-0974
www.maslenarf.org
The inspection findings and proposed animal removals described above are based on publicly circulated reports and allegations. The facility contact information comes from the supplied image. Criminal wrongdoing by any named individual has not been established, and the petition seeks an independent investigation to determine responsibility.
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Petition created on October 16, 2026