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In 2008, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office won an appropriation of $77,900 for ACT for: law enforcement education about animal cruelty; investigation and prevention of animal cruelty; apprehension and prosecution of violators.
The Problem:
 Sources show that dog fighting operations are prevalent across the state of New Mexico.
- Research shows that a felony law was passed in 1981 to ban dogfighting in New Mexico, but only one case been adjudicated.
- Illegal animal fighting operations are proven to be linked to other felonious activities such as the unlawful sale of narcotics, gang activity, unlawful carrying of firearms, illegal gambling, domestic violence, and homicide as well as violations of felony-level federal laws.
- When illegal animal fighting operations are found by law enforcement, there may be a large number of individuals and animals present at the scene.
- Sources show that following passage of a law making cockfighting a misdemeanor in 2007, large arenas continue to hold cockfighting derbies with hundreds of participants.
The Solution:  The Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT)
The investigation and seizure of illegal animal fighting operations requires focused and effective coordination within the Attorney General’s Office because of the necessary involvement of numerous state and federal agencies in these operations. ACT brings together state and federal law enforcement, animal control and humane agencies, and prosecutors to provide support and coordination to enforce illegal animal fighting laws.
- Provides expert training and investigative resources to law enforcement, prosecutors and animal control agencies for animal fighting cases;
- Facilitates inter-agency cooperation to coordinate large-scale law enforcement operations involving the investigation and apprehension of animal fighting rings;
- Provides a resource for prosecutors in the form of expert witnesses, investigation and the seizure of evidence;
- Creates uniform procedures for handling animal fighting and animal cruelty cases.
The Details:
SB 309 Sponsored by Senator Mary Jane García
HB 443 Sponsored by Representative Nate Cote
Additional Information:
New Mexico Attorney General’s Animal Cruelty Task Force (ACT) Fact Sheet |
