Where do we go from here? Animal welfare in Dona Ana County and New Mexico
This will be the final Notes from the ASCVM column. I hope you have enjoyed Notes and learned something useful along the way!
Your voices mattered
In the next month or two, the new ASCMV facility will (hopefully) be open to the public. Located right next to the original facility (which is circa early 80s) at Bataan Memorial West and Rinconada, the new building couldn’t be more different—bright, welcoming, and with kennels and spaces that make sense for animals, caregiving staff, and adopters. The original building will be maintained as the medical center, in itself a big improvement as sick animals will be housed separately from healthy ones.
The new ASCMV facility and two dog parks are thanks to the August 2018 general obligation bond election. The projects had overwhelming support, receiving a 67% approval rating.
The will of the people: Las Cruces and Dona Ana County
The tremendous support for this project suggests that animal welfare is really important to Las Cruces residents, and this is great news. However, the excitement and momentum surrounding the approval, construction, and opening of the new facility need to continue if Las Cruces and Doña Ana County are to become better places for animals and their people. Our city, county and state leaders need to continue to hear from you.
You may know that the ASCMV is under the jurisdiction of both the city and the county through a joint-powers agreement. But did you know that the ASCMV has its own governing board comprising three city councilors, two county commissioners, the county manager, and two ex officio members? These board members are the community leaders who especially need your voice and your support to help them advocate for the ASCMV and the animals and people we serve. The 2023 ASCMV board members are: City Councilors Becky Corran, Yvonne Flores, and Kasandra Gandara; County Commissioners Manuel Sanchez (chair) and Christopher Shaljo Hernandez; County Manager Fernando Macias; and ex-officio members Barbara De Leon (city) and Mary Lou Ward (county).
The will of the people: New Mexico
Of course, what goes on in the Roundhouse in Santa Fe affects animals (companion, domestic, and wild) throughout the state, including Doña Ana County. Our state leaders, too, need to hear from you about the importance of animal welfare. You can find your state legislators using your address (you need to include city and state) at nmlegis.gov/members/Find_By_Address).
How can you find out about animal welfare bills before the senate and the house in the state legislature? According to its website, Animal Protection Voters of New Mexico is currently tracking 17 pieces of pro-animal legislation. A significant piece of legislation is the bipartisan-supported Senate Bill 215, which criminalizes bestiality (sexual abuse of animals). Shamefully, New Mexico is one of four states with no formal prohibition on bestiality (the others are Hawaii, West Virginia, and Wyoming). Other introduced legislation this session includes Senate Bill 134, which prohibits traveling circuses from using exotic animals in their acts, House Bill 178 that would support “internships to train the next generation of animal welfare and sheltering professionals,” Senate Bill 72 that would create wildlife corridors, and House Bill 184, which would make state wildlife policy more rooted in science and humane values. You can find out more about these bills (and others) and their sponsors at apvnm.org.
Local, state leaders need to hear your voice
The new ASCMV facility will be better for the animals we house and the people we serve, but it’s far from a magic bullet that will solve animal overpopulation and end animal suffering in our corner of the state. More resources, human and monetary, are needed. The only magic bullet isn’t magic at all, but rather calls to action to our local, regional, and state leaders on issues and bills that affect animals and their welfare.
What are those calls to action and how do you raise your voice? Sign petitions. Write emails. Write handwritten letters. Pick up the phone and make phone calls, make personal visits, and prepare public comments. Finally, when an official is up for re-election, look at their record on animal welfare issues as a criterion in your voting decision.
Your voice matters. The voices of caring members of the community are the voices the animals rely on. Thank you for being their advocate.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Where do we go from here? Animal welfare in Dona Ana County and New Mexico
