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January 22, 2009
Dear Friend of the Animals,
In the past year the number of animal cruelty cases reported through animal cruelty hotlines has
increased dramatically due in part to a suffering economy. Animals who are severely neglected, or who
are being starved or abused, need to be removed to a shelter or sanctuary where they can be treated and
sheltered until prosecutions of the owners are resolved. Animal Protection Voters and the Office of the
New Mexico Attorney General will work during the 2009 legislative session to pass a measure that will
make animal owners responsible for the cost of care for their animals if they are seized, until a court
hears the cruelty case and makes its ruling.
The proposed legislation is referred to as "Animal Indemnities: Creating State Indemnity Law to
Facilitate the Seizure of Cruelly-Treated Animals," and is a joint legislative initiative by the Attorney
General’s Animal Cruelty Task Force and Animal Protection Voters.
The proposed legislation is not meant as a punishment to owners of animals, but as a source of
desperately-needed relief for New Mexico agencies burdened with the responsibility of seizing and
caring for animals who are typically in extremely poor condition, or within danger of dying. Preference
by law enforcement and other authorities to seize cruelly-treated animals, especially in livestock cases, is
often confounded by the reality of not being able to remove animals due to a shortage of resources:
funding for veterinary care, feed, general maintenance, and availability of shelter space. Sometimes,
seized animals have to stay in protective custody for periods that range from a few months to years.
Sheltering costs can climb into tens of thousands of dollars.
Horses in New Mexico would benefit immediately from passage of this legislation. The number of
starving horses being reported to APV's sister organization, Animal Protection of New Mexico and the
Attorney General's Animal Cruelty Task Force hotline has risen alarmingly over the last year, and the
state's nonprofit shelters and sanctuaries that can accommodate horses are being called upon to help
more and more animals.
The fact sheet on the Animal Indemnity legislation provides background on why this measure
is necessary in New Mexico. To support this legislation, please immediately sign the attached statement
of support and return by e-mail, fax or regular mail.
Show your support for the animals by joining us in Santa Fe for APV's rescheduled Lobby Day and press conference on Friday, February 27. Please see here for detailed information.
Sincerely yours,
Heather Ferguson
Legislative Director
Whereas not providing adequate food, water and shelter to an animal, resulting in great bodily harm or
death, is extremely cruel; and
Whereas the expense of caring for animals seized in cruelty cases is the responsibility of animal shelters
and livestock agencies; and
Whereas the cost for food, veterinary care, staff time and shelter space can reach into the tens of
thousands of dollars and this expense is a tremendous burden on animal shelters’ current budget
limitations; and
Whereas animals seized in cruelty cases can be kept for long periods of time, taking up much needed
space in shelters for adoptable animals; and
Whereas if a judge determines that there is rightful cause, those who commit crimes against animals
should be held responsible for the cost of their medical rehabilitation and care,
Therefore, we the undersigned, support Animal Indemnity legislation that will allow authorities to seize
and care for animals who have been treated cruelly without additional financial burden to their agency.
Cruelty to animals has no place in New Mexico. We urge the 2009 legislature to pass the Animal
Indemnity legislation to help animals throughout the state of New Mexico.
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Printed Name Signature
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Title
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Organization
Immediate Action Requested
Please return this form to: Animal Protection Voters, Inc.
Attn: Laura
P.O. Box 11651
Albuquerque, NM 87192
Fax: 505-265-2488 — Attn: Laura
laura@apvnm.org
Please RSVP to Laura if you plan to attend Lobby Day rescheduled for Fri., Feb. 27.
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• New Mexico Attorney General Gary King
• Sheriff Darren White, Bernalillo County
• City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department
• City of Aztec Animal Care and Control
• City of Carlsbad Animal Control
• City of Clovis Animal Control
• Town of Edgewood Animal Care and Control
• Grants/Cibola County Animal Control
• City of Las Cruces Animal Control
• City of Roswell Animal Control
• Torrance County Animal Control
• Animal Humane | New Mexico
• Estancia Valley Regional Animal Shelter
• Four Corners Animal League
• Four Corners Equine Rescue
• The Horse Shelter
• Pet Safe
• PETroglyphs
• Walkin N Circles Ranch
• Humane Society of the United States
• Humane Society Legislative Fund |
