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Last week a woman left a message on APNM's Animal Cruelty hotline stating that she was on an Amtrak train passing through Placitas and noticed approximately 12 horses and some cattle that appeared to be starving. She quickly pulled out her phone and got the GPS coordinates of the location and called Animal Control. Unable to contact Animal Control, the woman found the APNM hotline number and left a message. Cruelty Case Manager Olga Schifanicalled the woman back and connected her to the New Mexico Livestock Board. The traveler agreed to call the Livestock Board to make a report. APNM continues to follow the case.
The truly exciting thing about this was that the caller was quick on her feet and used her phone/GPS to identify the location of the animals. APNM encourages others, whether visitors or local residents, to use GPS technology to identify locations of animals in need. The incident points out the fact that even passersby who do not live in New Mexico will use the APNM hotline and the Attorney General’s Office Animal Cruelty Task Force Hotline to report animal neglect as they see it while traveling through our State. APNM will distribute its cruelty hotlines brochures to rest stops, truck stops and travel centers throughout the state in hopes of recruiting more eyes on the lookout for suffering animals, especially in remote areas.
APNM welcomes our newest Cruelty Case Manager, Olga Schifani! Olga comes from a family that has lived in New Mexico for nearly 100 years and that has a tradition of volunteering for charitable endeavors. Olga's professional work includes being an Executive Director of a social service agency. She has a strong background in environmental education, partnership development, and effective fundraising. She worked on the first curbside recycling program and mobile household hazardous waste programs in the country. She has managed two organic community demonstration gardens and developed curriculum for the Comprehensive Organic Gardening program. She started and ran a Vegan Organic farm (that was featured in national magazines and radio) and transitioned the farm into an education and research organization, where she worked with residential interns and community volunteers. Olga and her partner Amy have traveled around the USA lecturing on vegan organic issues. Olga brings a successful collaborative and partnering background, and solid, down-to- earth communication skills, as well as a strong passion for the well being of animals to APNM. Olga has been vegan for 19 years.
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