Animal Sheltering Services Act Signed!

On March 29, 2007, Governor Bill Richardson signed into law SB458, the Animal Sheltering Services Act. The Animal Sheltering Services Act authorizes the creation of the Animal Sheltering Services Board, which will consist of nine members, with various animal and shelter-related backgrounds, appointed by the Governor’s Office. The board will promulgate recommended standards for New Mexico’s shelters, and mandatory standards for the practice of euthanasia. The Act also creates the Animal Care and Facilities Fund, which will be able to accept donations and legislative appropriations to assist communities with carrying out the provisions of the Act. The fund will be able to accept and the board help implement legislative appropriations for spay-neuter projects should they be funded by the legislature in the future. This law will go into effect on June 15, 2007.

Thank you to all of you who called or emailed the Governor’s office in support of this legislation. It has taken four years to pass this bill and all of your support made a difference.