Senate Bill 51/House Bill 64 are both bipartisan efforts to fund a state low-cost spay/neuter program. These bills place New Mexico at a crossroads: we can embrace the opportunity to develop affordable spay/neuter resources across our state, paid for by pet food companies through a modest $100/year fee on their registration of dog/cat food and treat product lines, or we can resume the grisly mill of euthanizing healthy, adoptable dogs and cats to make space for other homeless animals entering our shelters – an approach that is inhumane, costly, and ultimately ineffective.

SB51 is a level-headed, cost-effective approach to reducing animal overpopulation in New Mexico, a problem whose costs are borne by our counties and municipalities, the very areas with least low-cost spay/neuter resources.  Additionally, by charging pet food manufacturers $100 per product line of dog/cat food and treats, New Mexico brings itself on par with how other states charge for the registration of dog/cat food and treats; that is, rather than the $2 we currently charge, we join the majority of states who charge upwards of $100 for the registration of product lines of dog/cat food and treats.

The $100 annual fee on the registration of dog/cat food and treat product lines is modest and within reason in exchange for the Industry accessing New Mexico’s estimated $190 million market.

Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Senator Gay Kernan (R-Hobbs), passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee by a bipartisan vote of 6-1 last week and is awaiting a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. With only three weeks left of the Session, I and many constituents of Sen. Cisneros ask simply that SB51 be brought to hearing.

Donna J. Volatile
Truchas

Back spay/neuter bills 

February 1, 2018, Deming Headlight

As residents of Luna County, we are in support of House Bill 64 and Senate Bill 51, a bipartisan effort to fund a state low-cost spay/neuter program.

HB 64/SB 51 places New Mexico at a crossroads: we can embrace the opportunity to develop affordable spay/neuter resources across our state through a modest $100/year fee on pet food companies’ registration of dog/cat food and treat product lines or we can resume the grisly mill of euthanizing healthy, adoptable dogs and cats to make space for the endless stream of homeless animals entering our shelters – an approach that is inhumane, costly, and ultimately ineffective.

SB51 is a level-headed, cost-effective approach to reducing animal overpopulation, a problem whose costs are borne by those least able to afford those costs: our counties and municipalities, most of whom lack available low-cost spay/neuter resources.

By charging pet food manufacturers $100 per product line of dog/cat food and treats, New Mexico brings itself on par with other states – that is, rather than our current fee of $2 on the registration of dog/cat food and treats, we join practice of other states who charge $100 and over per registration of those same products.  The $100 per year fee on the registration of dog/cat food and treat product lines is modest and within reason in exchange for the Industry accessing New Mexico’s estimated $190 million market.

Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Senator Gay Kernan (R-Hobbs), passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee by a bipartisan vote of 6-1 last week and is awaiting a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.  With only 2 weeks left of the Session, the clock is ticking and we and many constituents of Sen. John Arthur Smith ask simply that SB51 be brought to hearing as an idea whose time has come.  Please leave a message for Senator Smith at his legislative office at 505-986-4365 to schedule and support this bill.

Beverly Kostelnik, Jim Reedy, Angie and Bret Jenkins, Asa Porter, Jr., Ed O’Kelley, Richard Manning, Carol Kipp, Gwyn Ruebush, Joe Jackson, Jill Black, Larry and Mayra Srader, Jenifer Smyer, Renee and Waldo Winborn and Debbie Troyer, citizens of Luna County, NM

Opinion: Pet food surcharge bills critical to support low-cost spay and neuter program

February 1, 2018, The Taos News

I am writing today to clear up some misinformation.

For three years, several dedicated animal advocates have been working to develop a funding mechanism for our statewide spay/neuter program. We have met with other organizations from around the country who have successfully implemented similar legislation with tremendous success. Euthanasia rates dropped substantially in every case.

We have garnered support from legislators, organizations and individuals statewide. After much effort,  Representative Carl Trujillo introduced a bill in the 2017 legislature. It was stopped from going to a vote by one committee chair. House Bill 64 and Senate Bill 51, a bipartisan effort to fund a state low-cost spay/neuter program, is now before the 2018 legislature and has additional senators and representatives signing on.

Unwanted companion animals are a statewide epidemic that affects not only unwanted dogs and cats, who are born into a state of homelessness, but also our families and counties. Rural counties bear the fiscal brunt of this statewide problem.

For example, self-reported data by New Mexico counties and municipalities in a 2012 study on animal overpopulation showed that $27 million was budgeted by counties and municipalities collectively to fund animal shelters in 2011, representing an increase of $2.1 million from 2008. And while nearly two-thirds of New Mexico counties have either zero or only one low-cost spay and neuter resource, rural counties euthanize 60-80 percent of animals in their shelters, contributing to the more than 55,000 shelter animals euthanized each year statewide.

House Bill 64 and Senate Bill 51 place New Mexico at a crossroads: we can embrace the opportunity to develop affordable spay and neuter resources across our state through a modest $100 per year surcharge on pet food companies’ registration of dog and cat food and treat product lines, or we can resume the grisly mill of euthanizing healthy, adoptable dogs and cats to make space for the endless stream of homeless animals entering our shelters, an approach that is inhumane, costly and ultimately ineffective as long as there are more animals outside our shelter doors who are not spayed or neutered.

The funds generated by this mechanism will help provide additional funding to our local organizations working tirelessly to provide low-to-no cost spay and neuter services. If you want to help Stray Hearts Animal Shelter, help us get these bills to a vote. Stopping the flow of unwanted puppies and kittens is the only way to insure the survival and the mission of Stray Hearts.

The billion-dollar companies on the board of directors of the Pet Food Institute hope to sway New Mexicans against these bipartisan companion bills through misinformation and hand-wringing. The industry, which is the subject of the surcharge, has inaccurately characterized it as a “tax” to be paid by all New Mexicans.

Pet food makers are trying to stoke our fears by threatening us with an increase in pet food prices. However, many companies are likely to absorb the estimated .6 percent the surcharge represents of pet food sales in New Mexico’s $190 million market. If the industry did decide to pass along the surcharge, it would amount to no more the $1.54 per year per pet owner. In short, the industry will adapt as it has in the three states that have passed similar surcharge legislation. Let’s support New Mexico becoming the fourth.

Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Sen. Gay Kernan (R-Hobbs), passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee by a bipartisan vote of 6-1 last week and is awaiting a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. With only three weeks left of the legislative session, the clock is ticking. I and many constituents of Sen. Carlos Cisneros respectfully ask that SB 51 be brought to hearing as an idea whose time has come. Contact your local and state representatives and express your support for this much needed and proven program. Let’s finally put New Mexico on the right track and bring an end to the needless euthanasia of companion animals.

Harvey Yocum is a Ranchos de Taos resident.

Support bills to provide spay, neuter

February 3, 2018, Las Cruces Sun-News

The people of New Mexico need to support Senate Bill 51 and House Bill 64. These bills support the low-cost spaying and neutering in New Mexico. It will only cost $2.46 a year per pet-owning household. This is in comparison to $38 million in taxes and donations to animal control/humane societies/rescues and euthanasia. This is a policy that could really benefit animals and humans. It is cost effective for all households in New Mexico. Please support these bills!

Judy Ruiz
Chaparral

Manufacturers could pay for spay, neuter programs

February 4, 2018, Rio Rancho Observer

Editor:

What do these numbers mean: 135,000 and 67,000?

Those are the number of cats and dogs who enter New Mexico’s animal shelters every year and the number who are euthanized every year. The best way to reduce these numbers is a robust, low- cost spay and neuter program.

How to afford an effective low-cost spay/neuter program to address this problem? By increasing the fees New Mexico charges to pet food manufactur- ers, who do a lucrative business in our state, from $2 annually to $100 annually for each product of dog and cat food and treats sold in our state. Many states charge pet food manufacturers from $50 to $250 annually.

The approximately $1 million raised by this increase will be used to finance a state-wide,low-costspay/neuterprogram.

Senate Bill 51 and House Bill 64 pro- pose this solution for New Mexico’s dog and cat overpopulation problem. Please contact your state representative and senator to let them know you want them to support this essential legislation.

Lobbyists for pet-food manufactur- ers are using scare tactics to persuade our representatives and senators to vote against this increase by telling them we consumers won’t be able to afford food for our pets if this fee increase goes through.

However, even if pet food manufac- turers pass the entire increase on to con- sumers, that would mean an increase per pet-owning household of only $1.38 per year.

Let your senator and representative know you want them to vote yes on SB 51 and HB 64.

Kathleen O’Keefe
Rio Rancho

Spaying and neutering a healthy choice for pets

February 4, 2018, Rio Rancho Observer

Editor:

Spaying and neutering is so import- ant! Being Rio Rancho’s first animal con- trol officer in 1981, this subject is dear to me. Putting to sleep puppies, kittens, dogs and cats virtually every day nearly killed me.

Besides keeping unwanted litters from being born, spaying and neutering keeps your pets healthier.

In females, early spaying reduces the incidence of mammary, or breast, tumors. It also eliminates the chance of Pyometra, or infected uterus, which can be life-threatening.

In males, neutering eliminates tes- ticular cancer and can reduce marking behavior, or urinating where they should not. Sometimes neutering reduces roam- ing behavior and aggression.

So, besides lowering the unwanted pet population, spaying and neutering will keep your pet healthier! They tend to live longer also.

There are lower-cost spay and neuter programs that reduce euthanasia and lower the unwanted pet population. Sincerely,

Judy Bram Cast
Rio Rancho

A solution to pet overpopulation

February 4, 2018, The Santa Fe New Mexican

Every five minutes, a healthy dog or cat is put to sleep in New Mexico animal shelters. More than 135,000 dogs and cats enter our animal shelters every year, and almost half are euthanized. This is an ongoing tragedy for animals and the people who care for them. It is also a massive burden on local governments statewide.

There is a solution. Senate Bill 51 would fairly and efficiently address this problem for about $2.50 per pet-owning household per year. This is not a tax; it is a registration fee for pet food manufacturers selling products in New Mexico. The proceeds would provide spay and neuter funding statewide. This approach has been implemented in several other states with impressive results. The problem of pet overpopulation can be solved humanely and fairly. If passed, SB 51 will enable New Mexico to solve this escalating crisis.

Charles Fox
Santa Fe

Time is now for low-cost spay, neuter program

February 7, 2018, Quay County Sun

As a resident of Quay County and a business owner, I hope that Senate Bill 51, a bipartisan effort to fund a state low-cost spay/neuter program, be brought to a hearing by the Senate Finance Committee.

The bill places New Mexico at a crossroads: We can embrace the opportunity to develop affordable spay/neuter resources across our state through a modest $100 per year fee on pet food companies’ registration of dog/cat food and treat product lines. Or we can resume the grisly mill of euthanizing healthy, adoptable dogs and cats to make space for the endless stream of homeless animals entering our shelters — an approach that is inhumane, costly, and ultimately ineffective.

Senate Bill 51 is a level-headed, cost-effective approach to reducing animal overpopulation, a problem whose costs are borne by those least able to afford those costs: our counties and municipalities, most of whom lack adequate low-cost spay/neuter resources.

By charging pet food manufacturers $100 per product line of dog/cat food and treats, New Mexico brings itself on par with other states — that is, rather than our current fee of $2 on the registration of dog/cat food and treat product lines is modest and within reason in exchange for the Industry accessing New Mexico’s estimated $190 million market.

Senate Bill 51, sponsored by Senator Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee by a bipartisan vote of 6-1 last week and is awaiting a hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.

With only a few weeks left of the session, the clock is ticking. I ask that SB51 be brought to hearing as an idea whose time has come.

Kathi McClelland
Tucumcari