Animal Protection Voters’ Efforts Yield
Nearly $1.5 Million for Animals
State Funds Support Companion Animal and Wildlife Initiatives
Thanks to the support of our membership and dozens of legislators, Animal Protection Voters (APV) came away from the 2008 legislative session with a tremendous list of accomplishments. The chart below lists the numerous animal protection initiatives that received meaningful state funding this year.
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Animal Protection Voters is helping communities provide humane shelters and spay-neuter facilities. |
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By planning ahead and meeting with community and agency personnel for months before the session, APV was able to secure almost $1.5 million for animal projects! The funding was in the form of capital outlay for buildings such as animal shelter improvements and spay-neuter clinic construction, funding for the new Attorney General’s Animal Fighting Task Force, and operating funds for the new Animal Sheltering Services Board which was created and passed during the 2007 legislature. Only two projects were vetoed and the lion’s share of APV projects survived the entire process, no small feat in a year when the state budget was especially tight.
In summary, 32 legislators participated in the success of this year’s funding priorities for APV–that’s 29% of the legislature! Your voice for animal advocacy is being heard.
APV’s 2008 legislative accomplishments will help drive the 2008 priorities of Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM), as APNM continues working with state, county and municipal officials on implementation plans for the various projects that were funded. As you might know, APNM and APV collaborate on projects to maximize the positive impact on animals across New Mexico.
Looking ahead, APV’s staff is already working on its priorities for the 2009 legislative session, which will include both policy changes and funding requests. In order to continue being the animals’ best advocates for change at the state capitol, APV needs your financial support now more than ever. Our work takes us all over the state, and planning and implementing our ambitious agenda is not cheap. Please consider making a generous online contribution so we can make an even bigger difference at the state capitol next year! Thank you for your active participation!
| 2008 Funding Secured From State Legislature For Animal Projects |
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| *All items except those in blue were secured by APV staff |
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| Capital Outlay (SB471) |
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| Project |
Funding |
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| San Juan county regional animal shelter |
$314,000 |
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| Albuquerque animal shelter and spay-neuter clinic |
$200,500 |
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| Doña Ana county shelter for protective custody |
$120,000 |
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| Las Cruces animal shelter |
$160,000 |
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| Española animal shelter expansion |
$25,000 |
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| East Mountains regional animal shelter |
$110,000 |
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| Taos animal shelter |
$5,000 |
VETOED |
| Chaves county high-volume spay-neuter clinic |
$100,000 |
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| Albuquerque's south valley spay-neuter clinic |
$20,000 |
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| Ruidoso bear-proof trash receptacles |
$10,000 |
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| Beaver flow device equipment for statewide use |
$15,000 |
VETOED |
| Equipment for relocation of beavers in acequias |
$15,000 |
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| TOTAL (without vetoed items) |
$1,074,500 |
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| Junior Budget-Discretionary Funds (SB165) |
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| Project |
Funding |
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| Animal Cruelty Task Force funding |
$77,900 |
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| Doña Ana county animal shelter services for protective custody |
$33,400 |
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| Sandoval county spay-neuter program |
$75,000 |
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| Española animal shelter services |
$22,000 |
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| TOTAL |
$208,300 |
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| Main State Budget (HB2) |
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| Funding for new Animal Sheltering Services board |
$325,700 |
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| TOTAL |
$325,700 |
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| GRAND TOTAL FOR ANIMALS (without vetoed items) |
$1,608,500 |
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