**Pocket vetoed by the Governor due to no action, so will NOT become law**

Horses and their equine relatives (donkeys, mules, hinnies, ponies) are an economically important and treasured part of New Mexico’s western heritage. The vast majority of New Mexicans want equines treated humanely and do not support equine slaughter. New Mexico’s laws should reflect those values and ensure equine rescues have the first right of refusal to protect stray, abandoned and abused equines.

THE PROBLEM:

• New Mexico’s state laws (including the New Mexico Livestock Code) establish a “blanket” disposition for all livestock, including equines. As a result, homeless equines in the custody of the NM Livestock Board (estrays, abandoned, seized or running at large equines) are routinely sent to auctions and sold to so-called “killer-buyers” who then sell them for slaughter in Mexico.

• Equine rescue facilities are often forced to compete at auction for equines they want to rescue and will later spend significant funds to rehabilitate and care for until they can be adopted. Rescue organizations cannot possibly monitor all auctions or afford to always compete with killer-buyers, and they shouldn’t have to. Current laws result in New Mexican equines needlessly being exposed to the slaughter pipeline.

• A scientific poll conducted in 2013 revealed that 70% of New Mexican voters oppose the slaughter of horses for human consumption, and don’t want a facility in their community. New Mexico’s laws should ensure that its government agencies do not actively enable funneling equines into the slaughter “pipeline.” State statutes should allow humane disposition: adoption by equine rescue organizations that pledge not to sell the equines for slaughter; or humane euthanasia by a licensed veterinarian.

• As of March 2017, there are nine equine sanctuaries registered by the New Mexico Livestock Board that rescue and care for hundreds of equines, collectively spending nearly $1.5 million annually. These sanctuaries are responsible for shouldering the burden of the homeless horse population and rely almost exclusively on volunteers and private donations.

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THE SOLUTION:

Create equine-specific sections of the New Mexico Livestock Code and other laws to ensure first right of refusal for equine rescues, and humane disposition for equines handled by the New Mexico Livestock Board and other agencies.

• The NM Livestock Board (NMLSB) reports handling approximately 60 equines in 2016 (seized from cruelty cases, surrendered, and found at-large or abandoned), a manageable number for ensuring humane care and disposition. Almost all equines in their custody are held at the Santa Fe Corrections Facility. Custody of equines would be transferred to one of eight equine rescues after the NMLSB’s required 5-day holding period, or humanely euthanized by a licensed veterinarian. The average cost of equine euthanasia/disposal is $203¹. According to the NM Livestock Board, in 2016, 40 of 60 equines went to rescues, and 20 were purchased by horse advocates at auctions.

¹ Based on data from the Equine Protection Fund which has 5 years of experience funding humane euthanasia and disposal of equines across New Mexico (85 animals to date).

Take Action!

Contact your State Legislators and ask them to support legislation to give New Mexico’s equine shelters first right of refusal to protect stray, abandoned and abused equines.