APNM’s 2010 Initiatives

Animal Protection of New Mexico has an ambitious set of initiatives for 2010, combining our heightened push against cruelty with work that continues our progress in fulfilling APNM’s mission of changing systems to ease the suffering of all animals. APNM is supported solely by the generosity of donations, grants and volunteers. Take a look at the issues on which we'll spend our days and nights this year, and please support APNM with a donation today. We sincerely appreciate and need your support.



Animal Control, Law Enforcement
& Animal Cruelty Task Force Casework
Develop capacity to ensure effective enforcement of New Mexico’s laws against animal cruelty, to include: hosting animal cruelty/animal fighting hotlines and providing technical support to the public and agencies on cases–more than 2,000 cases were handled in 2009; working with N.M. Attorney General to further develop the New Mexico Animal Cruelty Task Force; underwriting law enforcement training on animal fighting/animal cruelty investigations and a broad range of topics pertaining to animal control and sheltering; issuing and publicizing rewards for information in cruelty cases; and launching a substantial outreach campaign urging the public to report animal cruelty.

Equine Protection Program
Plan, fundraise for and implement comprehensive statewide program to address the most immediate needs of horses and other equines in New Mexico. Program components will include creation and distribution of educational material to promote equine stewardship, direct support of equine sanctuaries to increase capacity, training of law enforcement agencies on handing equine cases, subsidized farrier care and veterinary treatment, emergency equine feed, equine retraining, subsidized gelding services, subsidized equine euthanasia and disposal, and pursuit of equine policy improvements.

Promoting Humane Animal Shelters
Provide comprehensive input to the Animal Sheltering Board on all aspects of animal sheltering, including shelter and euthanasia standards. Continue outreach across New Mexico about new euthanasia licensing laws, governing agencies, procedures, technicians and instructors.

Companion Animal Rescue Effort (CARE)
Maintain and promote CARE network of safe havens across New Mexico for animals of domestic violence victims.

Getting Dogs Off Chains Using a New Mexico Department of Public Safety report on dog chaining, develop and implement a comprehensive plan to improve the quality of life for New Mexico’s dogs by: advocating for local ordinances that address chaining; creating a pilot program to ensure success; teaching people that dogs are social beings who should not be isolated on chains; developing a series of public service announcements; making behavioral training resources available; helping people with fencing and housing solutions.
Spay-Neuter Promotion & Program Support Work with communities to create effective spay-neuter programs, publicize a directory of spay-neuter resources available statewide and promote New Mexico’s spay-neuter license plate.
Humane Education Distribute Kind News newspapers to thousands of New Mexico school children, make age-appropriate presentations on animal care/safety and cruelty in schools, community centers, colleges and universities, and promote and distribute humane alternatives to classroom dissection of animals.
Chimpanzees to Sanctuary Expose the plight of former research chimpanzees and their progeny still living in substandard conditions in a New Mexico facility, and work to have them permanently retired to a sanctuary.
Coexisting With Beavers Work with state and federal agencies to promote humane solutions to problems caused by beavers by: educating agencies and the public about the benefits of flow devices and coexisting with beavers; creating a comprehensive landowner education packet on beavers and mitigation options; working with agencies on a model habitat and relocation evaluation procedure; and promoting beaver coexistence as part of river restoration and water conservation strategies.
Cougar Smart New Mexico Plan and implement comprehensive outreach program on how the public can stay safe when living and recreating in New Mexico's "cougar country". Cougar Smart New Mexico will emphasize coexistence, education and awareness.
Wildlife Management Policies Using the best available science and public support for coexistence with wildlife, influence policy-makers to change regulations harmful to wild species. Wildlife Safe Passages Work with wildlife advocates and other community stakeholders to evaluate, plan and implement short- and long-term strategies that ensure safe wildlife passage concepts are incorporated into transportation construction projects in New Mexico.

Download/print our 2010 Initiatives in PDF.

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NM AG On Animal Cruelty Laws,
Also Issues Cautions On Breeders

In advance of the holidays, New Mexico Attorney General Gary King asked his Communications Department to design and produce a brochure regarding unethical animal breeders and puppy mills, in collaboration with APNM. Anticipating a time of year when many people are enticed to buy “that doggie in the window” as a gift for someone, AG King wished to encourage people to instead adopt that “doggie at the shelter.”

View the important information in “Animal Sales: Where will your pet come from?” online.

The pamphlet provides guidance on how to find a breed-specific rescue group to adopt from, how to find a reputable breeder, or how to identify a disreputable back yard breeder. The AG’s office can also provide information about the law, and where to report puppy mills or how to handle the purchase of sick animals from a pet store. 

In collaboration with APNM, the AG’s office also published a pamphlet to address animal cruelty. The main points of New Mexico’s animal cruelty statute NMSA §30-18-1 to NMSA §30-18-15 are presented in: “Animal Cruelty: Observe, Document, Report” available online.

New Mexico residents will learn how to help in the fight against animal cruelty:  how to spot it, how to document it, and how to report it. The attorney general is appealing to the public to help law enforcement identify these cases by reminding them that they ”…may be the only one to witness cruelty, so please speak up and report it.” 

Attorney General King has been a long time champion for animals. He sponsored the successful bill to ban horse tripping as a legislator in 1995. In 1997, then state Representative King sponsored a “New Mexico Lemon Law” to protect citizens and animals from unscrupulous pet shop operators. While that bill didn't pass, it is clear that AG King hasn’t abandoned that issue.

He is looking out for all of New Mexico’s citizens, two and four-legged alike.

Thank you Mr. Attorney General.


Related links:
New Mexico Attorney General - Online Publications



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Remember that special someone with a sweet certificate that says you understand his or her deep appreciation for animals. Dogs. Cats. Burros. Cougars.

Animal Protection of New Mexico is offering a Valentine’s Day certificate that will let your special someone know you’re thinking of him or her, and you’re being generous to a very hard working nonprofit in his or her name!

Will you honor your friend, and honor us with a much appreciated donation?

You’re sweet!

APNM's mission is to advocate the rights of animals by effecting systemic change, resulting in the humane treatment of all animals. Click to see our 2009 accomplishments and how we are making a difference for animals in New Mexico and beyond in 2010.

Please make a secure, online donation to support our work, or download a pdf mail-in form to send in your donation. Thank you!