Algae bloom in Elephant Butte water suspected in dogs' deaths

Elephant Butte Lake water was sampled Friday by the New Mexico Environment Department to investigate an algae bloom that could be toxic to pets and humans, said Toby Velasquez, law enforcement and boating safety bureau chief with New Mexico State Parks. The scrutiny comes after two 3-year-old pit bulls, belonging to a Truth or Consequences woman on a camping trip, became ill and later died after swimming for about an hour along a cove, became ill and later died. Because it was only reported to the state later and after the pit bulls' bodies were disposed of, no one will ever know if their deaths were related to algae, Velasquez said. Humans also are at risk for skin irritations from toxic algae blooms, which form for short periods of time primarily in the summer and are more prevalent in isolated coves. "It's kind of like a virus. It hits some people and not others," Velasquez said...SilverCitySunNews