Three-year-old Reyna and her 3-week-old puppy Frances were discovered by Sunland Park landfill workers and rescued last Thursday after Reyna lived there for about two years.

Anna Juarez is a volunteer for the Action Programs for Animals and stepped up to foster Reyna and Frances.

It's believed Reyna had about three litters with five to six puppies each, but only Frances survived.

"She was competing with other dogs out there that had been dumped for what little food there was," Juarez said.

When Reyna was finally rescued, Juarez said she was barely able to stand up because she was so malnourished.

"Reyna was virtually skin and bones," Juarez said.

The Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley told KFOX14 Reyna and France's story is a warning for people to spay and neuter their pets.

Last year alone, the shelter received 8,000 dogs.

Today County Commissioners agreed to allocate around $48,000 to the Coalition for Pets and People, some of which will go to spay and neuter costs.

The Animal Service Center of the Mesilla Valley said overpopulation is leading to owners dumping their pets in the desert, forcing them to fend for themselves, and like Reyna's other puppies, many dogs simply can't survive.

"It's not uncommon for the general population to think that animals are wild animals and can just survive out there," Dr. Beth Vesco-Mock said.

"They didn't have to die and they probably died, you know, painful deaths," Juarez said.

Juarez said an El Paso woman has volunteered to adopt Reyna and Frances once the veterinarian says they are healthy enough to cross state lines.