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We work with legislators, non-stop and year-round, to pass laws that will change animals’ lives for the better. And during the legislative session, we are at the state capitol every day, making sure the laws we need actually get passed. We never take the pressure off until the laws are in place and are being enforced.
Here’s what we’ve done in the past five legislative sessions:
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2011
- Passed a law that extended the life of the Animal Sheltering Board, allowing it to continue its crucial work to support New Mexico’s animal shelters and shelter standards and practices.
- Continued to build support, through testimonials from legislators, shelter professionals, domestic violence advocates, law enforcement agents and local citizens, for stronger animal cruelty laws; over 100 citizen lobbyists turned out for APV’s 2011 Lobby Day to speak out in favor of laws that protect animals and establish serious consequences for animal abuse and neglect.
- Supported the successful bill that permits restaurant owners to allow patrons to be accompanied by their dogs in outdoor patio dining areas.
- Supported a Memorial that requests the Animal Sheltering Board to conduct a feasibility study of establishing a statewide fund geared toward reducing the cost of spaying and neutering dogs and cats.
- Supported a Memorial that, through collaboration with the New Mexico Game and Fish Department and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, will create a pilot program to reduce wildlife-human crashes on high-risk roadways.
2010
- Helped block legislation that would have allowed simulcasting of dog races at horsetracks throughout the state for purposes of gambling.
- Helped block legislation that would have allowed the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to skirt federal regulations regarding the reintroduction of endangered wolves.
- Helped block legislation that requested higher compensation to ranchers for depredation losses caused by wolves; the bill’s inflammatory language demonized wolves and falsely described their negative impacts on schools, local governments and livestock owners.
2009
- Passed a law allowing courts to order those convicted of animal cruelty to pay for the costs associated with the care of their animals seized by authorities.
- Passed upgrades to New Mexico’s spay-neuter license plate law, so $25 of every $37 for those special license plates goes to local spay-neuter programs.
2008
- Secured $1,074,500 for animal shelters, spay-neuter clinics and wildlife in 10 communities.
- Secured $77,900 for the new Attorney General’s Animal Cruelty Task Force.
- Secured $325,000 for the new Animal Sheltering Board for Fiscal Year 2009.
2007
- Passed ban on cockfighting after 18-year battle.
- Passed new Animal Sheltering Board to ensure humane animal shelters and euthanasia.
- Passed legislative measure directing NM Dept. of Public Safety to publish a report on the humane and public safety implications of dog chaining. The report was recently published.
- Secured $192,000 for the Animal Sheltering Board in Fiscal Year 2008.
- Secured $50,000 for livestock cruelty cases.
- Secured $460,000 for an animal shelter and a spay-neuter clinic.
Make a donation to support APV's continued efforts to improve the lives of animals!
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