A federal judge was right to strike down Idaho’s so-called “ag-gag” law – which made it a criminal offense to enter agricultural facilities by misrepresentation in order to record animal abuse. And the “famous potatoes” state is wrong to ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the ruling. Because this isn’t really […]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Their mission was clearly laid out: help New Mexico solve the grim, multi-million dollar pet overpopulation problem in the state’s animal shelters. In 2005, the state launched a volunteer board to do so. Nine experts, who were handpicked to lead the state’s so-called “Animal Sheltering Board.” More than a decade since its […]

Jessica Johnson, APV’s Chief Legislative Officer, joins host Jenny Rabinowitz to provide a round-up of the bills impacting dogs and cats, horses, and wildlife from the 2017 state legislative session — what happened during the session, and what happens next. Listen to a recording of the radio show: http://animaltalk.libsyn.com/animal-talk-april-21-2017 Animal Talk is a podcast from KSFR-FM that looks […]

With the state Legislature scheduled to end its 60-day session at noon Saturday, the focus is on whether the governor and lawmakers can work out a budget deal for the upcoming fiscal year. But several other key bills need attention before the clock winds down. Those that should be passed: ETHICS: For far too many years, […]

Sponsors of Senate Bill 268, which would outlaw coyote-killing contests in New Mexico, present the legislation Saturday to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Saturday. The committee voted to send the bill to the full Senate for a vote. Supporters of the bill say the contests are barbaric, while opponents argue the competitions are a way […]

The state Senate Conservation Committee approved a ban on coyote killing contests in New Mexico after hearing Monday from advocates, who called the contests barbaric, and opponents, who argued the competitions are a way to reduce coyote killings of livestock. The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, and Sen. Mark Moores, R-Albuquerque, […]

SANTA FE – A renewed attempt to ban coyote-killing contests in New Mexico cleared its first Senate committee on Thursday, despite vociferous opposition from ranchers. The proposal, Senate Bill 268, was touted by supporters who described coyote-killing contests as an immoral and “barbaric” blood sport. They described the aftermath of a 2014 contest in which […]

SANTA FE – Legislation that would ban coyote-hunting competitions in New Mexico cleared its first hurdle Thursday, while a measure aimed at overhauling the mission of the state’s game and fish agency was sidelined amid concerns about financial burdens. During a packed hearing, a majority of the Senate Conservation Committee gave the coyote bill a […]

Should there be a law to ban coyote killing contests? The better question is this: Why does New Mexico even need a law banning a contest that crowns a winner by counting coyote carcasses? In a more humane world, we would not need to ban coyote killing contests. Such contests would die a natural death, […]

House Bill 123, sponsored by New Mexico State Rep. Carl Trujillo, a Democrat from Santa Fe, was introduced in direct response to persistent requests from legislators seeking a funding mechanism for statewide, low-cost spay-neuter services, according to a news release from an animal advocacy group. The bill is designed to provide sustained funding to reduce […]