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Mission of ACT:
- To increase awareness of animal cruelty laws in New Mexico
- To enhance and coordinate the enforcement of animal cruelty laws in
- New Mexico by facilitating inter-agency cooperation
- To educate law enforcement, animal care professionals and other interested agencies in the aspects of animal cruelty and the relationship between animal cruelty and other forms of assaultive behavior.
- To standardize training and investigations of illegal animal fighting
Present Members of ACT: New Mexico Attorney General’s Office,
Governor Bill Richardson, the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico
District Attorney’s Association, New Mexico Sheriff’s and Police Association, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico Animal Control Association, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department, Children, Youth and Families Dept., Senator Mary Jane García, Representative Justine Fox-Young, Dr. Ray Powell DVM, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Investigator Robyn Gojkovich, the USDA Office of Inspector General, Animal Protection of New Mexico and the Humane Society of the United States
Statewide Toll-Free Hotline: 1-888-260-2178
Animal Fighting Training: March 18th, Albuquerque Convention Center,
details to follow
Contact information:
Heather Ferguson
Animal Protection of New Mexico
Cell: 505-264-3854
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.
- The Animal Cruelty Task Force:
- 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 enforcementoperations 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.
In 2008, the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office is seeking an appropriation of $160,000 for ACT for: law enforcement education about animal cruelty; investigation and prevention of animal cruelty; apprehension and prosecution of violators.
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