Tuesday, February 13, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DOÑA ANA COUNTY COMMISSION SUPPORTS SPAY/NEUTER LEGISLATION
SANTA FE, N.M. — Today the Doña Ana County Board of County Commissioners approved a Resolution #2018-19 (“Resolution in Support of HB64 and SB51”) by a vote of 4-1, expressing support for state legislation that would establish a spay/neuter funding mechanism that was identified by a 2011 independent State Senate-requested study as the best feasible and most equitable source of funding for sterilization services in New Mexico. The resolution also urges New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez to sign the legislation into law.
House Bill (HB) 64 was introduced by Rep. Carl Trujillo (D-Santa Fe) and Rep. Debbie Rodella (D-Española), and is co-sponsored by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces). An identical Senate version, Senate Bill (SB) 51, is sponsored by Sen. Gay Kernan (R-Hobbs).
Senate President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen (D-Las Cruces) said: “I applaud the Commission for its excellent decision today to support this legislation that will save animals’ lives and taxpayer dollars. I am very concerned about the significant and increasing cost incurred by New Mexico’s counties and animal shelters as they grapple with all of the problems associated with pet overpopulation. We should be investing in spay/neuter, not spending tax dollars to endlessly pay for the euthanasia of thousands of healthy adoptable animals. This year’s legislation is a reasonable and positive step toward using New Mexicans’ dollars more wisely and more humanely.”
Representative Ferrary said: “By investing more funding into statewide spay/neuter, not only can Doña Ana County reach its established goal of having no more healthy shelter animals euthanized, but the entire state can stop spending so many taxpayer dollars on killing tens of thousands of dogs and cats in New Mexico’s shelters.”
Doña Ana County District 1 Commissioner Billy Garrett, who sponsored Resolution #2018-19, said: “Creation of a fund dedicated to statewide spay/neuter efforts is a critical step toward a more humane treatment of domestic pets and control of public safety problems associated with feral dogs and cats.”
Doña Ana County District 4 Commissioner Sarala Solis said: “Our companion animals are important components of the quality of life for many New Mexicans, but we also have to acknowledge the large intake numbers at our community animal shelters, and the sad outcome of euthanasia for so many animals that go unadopted. I believe this legislation will lead to much lower intake numbers, as well as enhanced responsible pet ownership overall. Those are important goals that I believe we can achieve through this legislation, and that’s why I support it.”
The bipartisan-supported legislation would phase in over three years a modest annual fee of $100 for each type of dog or cat food and treat label paid by pet food manufacturers doing business in New Mexico. This spay/neuter fee would be added to the current $2 registration fee. The State Legislature’s Fiscal Impact Report indicates that the fee, once fully phased in, will bring in more than $1 million annually to fund spay/neuter services for low-income New Mexicans and reports that the impact on pet owners likely will be negligible, given the minimal nature of the annual fee to be imposed on pet food manufacturers.
Based on figures from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the American Veterinary Medical Association, Animal Protection Voters estimates that if pet food manufacturers pass the additional fee to consumers by proportionally raising dog and cat food prices, it will cost pet-owning New Mexicans an average of only $0.69 in the first year for each dog or cat, up to $1.38 per year at the completion of the phase-in period.
Every year, approximately 135,000 homeless dogs and cats enter New Mexico’s animal shelters—and more than 65,000 of those animals are euthanized annually. Pet overpopulation costs taxpayer-funded local governments and non-profit organizations more than $38 million per year. A robust statewide spay/neuter program is desperately needed to stop the widespread waste of life and resources.
“New Mexicans are already paying millions in tax dollars every year to control, care for, and euthanize shelter dogs and cats,” said Jessica Johnson, chief legislative officer for Animal Protection Voters. “It’s time to stem the costly, tragic companion animal overpopulation problem using a solution proven to be effective at saving lives and saving money without harming consumers or retailers.”
HB 64 has passed the New Mexico House of Representatives and all of its Senate committee referrals, and now awaits a Senate floor vote and a House concurrence vote. SB 51 has passed the New Mexico Senate, and awaits a hearing in the House Taxation & Revenue Committee.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jessica Johnson
Chief Legislative Officer, Animal Protection Voters
(505) 220-6656 (mobile)
About Animal Protection Voters
Founded in 2002, Animal Protection Voters is the leading non-profit legislative and political advocacy organization for animal protection in New Mexico. Powered by grassroots supporters, its mission is to:
- Actively promote and support animal-friendly legislation at the state, federal, and local levels;
- Build an effective political voice for animal advocacy in New Mexico; and
- Hold New Mexico’s elected officials accountable on animal issues.
For more information about Animal Protection Voters’ accomplishments, current priority issues, and annual scorecards, please visit www.apvnm.org, and be sure to follow Animal Protection Voters on Facebook and Twitter.
