Local artist identified as dog-mauling victim as details of attack emerge

LAS CRUCES - A local artist in the Las Cruces community was identified as the victim of a dog attack Wednesday evening.

Local painter Penny Duncklee, 84, was identified by her family as the victim of a dog mauling on March 16 outside her home on the 1200 block of 2nd Street in Las Cruces. Her family told the Sun-News that Duncklee suffered severe bite marks on her arms. The family also confirmed that Duncklee's right hand up to her elbow had to be amputated. She is currently in stable condition at an El Paso hospital, her family said.

According to a Las Cruces Police Department detective, police and animal control responded to a call for services at around 6:30 p.m. near Duncklee's home on 2nd Street. They believe two pit bull-type dogs were responsible for the mauling.

The detective confirmed that the whereabouts of the dogs is unknown but they are believed to be roaming the neighborhoods near the 1200 block of 2nd Street. Another neighbor of Duncklee's described the dog's colors: one is believed to be a white female with a brown spot on her ear, while the other is believed to be a white male with black markings. Police and animal control have not yet confirmed this description of the dogs.

Dora Sosa said she and her husband, James Sosa, heard Duncklee screaming for help before police arrived. Dora said that her husband leapt over their fence and fended off the two dogs as they savaged Duncklee. Dora then called the police. James suffered a fractured bone in the process, Dora said.

Dora also said she wasn't surprised when she realized which dogs were responsible for the attack. She said that those two dogs have a reputation in the neighborhood for harassing people and animals, a feeling that two other neighbors confirmed.

The Sun-News reached out to the City of Las Cruces for comment on the attack, including questions about whether the dogs have been found, if the dogs were known to animal control before the attack occurred and what area residents should do if they discover the dogs. The city has not yet responded to that request for information. This article will be updated when and if those questions are answered.

Duncklee is an artist who has created in several mediums but may best known for her watercolor work, which can be viewed online at http://www.pennyduncklee.com/. In a biography on her website, Duncklee stated that she grew up in Massachusetts and has lived in Colorado and New Mexico.

"My work is a collection of vistas and niches of beauty as I explore my way through life," she writes. "There is much beauty if we will stop to look. It is those moments I like to share."

This is a developing story.

Justin Garcia is a public safety reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached via email at JEGarcia@lcsun-news.com.

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This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Local artist identified as dog-mauling victim as details of attack emerge