Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
On this date ...
1970: A Clovis hog farmer watched while officials killed five of his hogs, which may have eaten grain treated with mercury fungicide.
John Liston said he was given little choice in the matter, though his animals had not been tested for poisoning. Health officials said Liston’s hogs came from the same location as a hog in Alamogordo, which had tested positive for mercury poisoning.
A Curry County sheriff’s deputy was tasked with shooting the hogs at the Clovis city dump. Liston claimed three of the animals were still alive, still kicking, when their bodies were covered with dirt by a bulldozer.
“I hope the humane society hears about this,” Liston said.
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