• Add language to the statute to make it a criminal offense to leave an animal unattended and confined in a motor vehicle when physical injury or death to the animal is likely to result.
  
  
• Add language that makes the intentional abandonment of an animal a criminal offense.
  
  
• Ensure that the denial of sustenance, defined as food, water and shelter, when it leads to great bodily harm or death, is considered extreme cruelty to animals, punishable as a fourth degree felony.
  
  
• Close loophole that allows research laboratories to escape prosecution under the current state anti-cruelty law.
  
  
• Ensure reptiles are included in the scope of the state anti-cruelty law.

Create State Bonding Law to Facilitate
Seizure of Cruelly-Treated Animals:

• Pass a law that requires those charged with animal cruelty to pay for the care of their animals if they are seized.  This will provide a system that allows law enforcement officials to always seize animals who are being starved or mistreated.  Given recent increases in reporting and investigation of cruelty, some agencies often cannot afford to pay for seized animals' care, making it financially impossible for them to remove animals from bad situations.

Protections for Horses:

• Create a New Mexico Equine Protection Fund that will provide financial support to sanctuaries for abandoned or relinquished horses, and that will subsidize humane horse euthanasia and disposal.

Capital Outlay Funding for Animal Protection Projects

• APV will work hard to secure capital funding for priority spay/neuter and facility projects, despite being fully aware of current state budget woes.
  

Other Important Legislation in 2009

Attorney General's Legislation, Supported by APV,
Will Protect Animals of Domestic Violence Victims

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King will introduce amendments to the Family Violence Act that includes amendments to the temporary Domestic Protection Order, which will help victims of domestic violence who leave, or are escorted from, their homes to seek safe shelter, by mandating that law enforcement or animal control officers remove companion animals from the home at the same time for their protection. The animals will be moved to a safe shelter and cared for until the victim is able to reclaim the animals, or determine where they should be placed. In many instances, victims of domestic violence linger in abusive situations because they are fearful of what will happen to their animals if they are left in the care of their abusers. Abusers often use animals to control, threaten and frighten the primary victim of domestic violence. Animal Protection Voters believes this legislation is necessary, and will advocate strongly in favor of it.

Animal Protection Voters will work to ensure that current laws that protect domestic animals and wildlife are not rolled back.

Please support the serious work of Animal Protection Voters with a donation today.