Advocates Addressed by State Dignitaries
Including Governor, AG, Legislators at APV's
Packed Rotunda Press Conference Friday
APV's Lobby Day Called an Immense Success
Animal Protection Voters' press conference at the state capitol rotunda on Friday afternoon was the culmination of events that resulted in a venue filled to capacity to hear top lawmakers and representatives of state agencies speak about the need for passing legislation that will create broader protections for New Mexico's animals.
Addressing the wall-to-wall crowd were: Governor Bill Richardson, Attorney General Gary King, Rep. Al Park, Sen. Peter Wirth, Sen. Mary Jane García, House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, Rep. Andy Nuñez and Director of Animal Control for the Doña Ana County sheriff's department, Curtis Childress.
APV is grateful to the more than 100 animal advocates who participated in the day's advocacy work in Santa Fe. Given the high attendance of activists at the press conference, lawmakers saw the room full of people willing take a day off work, to drive sometimes hundreds of miles, to find the rare parking spot, to hike into a building that may be unfamiliar to most, in order to create a large presence for animals.
Many advocates visited the offices of their legislators, as they had been coached to do in APV's Lobby 101 workshops—and they asked their representatives and senators to vote in favor of animal protections. APV is enormously proud of these advocates, and thanks each and every one of them for taking the time to make this strong statement on behalf of animals.
If you were not able to join us on Friday, please know that the important thing is to contact your legislators, to let them know you want animals protected in New Mexico.
Priority Animal Bills Statuses:
HB159 — Animal Cruelty Bill — passed the House, and is awaiting hearings in the Senate Conservation and Senate Judiciary Committees.
SB127 — Animal Indemnity Bill — passed the Senate, and is awaiting a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee.
HB781 — Equine Protection Fund — tabled in House Agriculture Committee.
SB185 — Spay/Neuter License Plate Bill — passed Senate Corporations & Transportation Committee, and will next be heard in the Senate Finance Committee.
HB434 — Domestic Protection Order — passed the House unanimously, and is now pending in the Senate Public Affairs Committee
