-------- Original Message --------
Subject: NM ALERT -- HEART-like Statewide Spay/Neuter
Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 01:42:18
From: Ronald A. Gustafson
To: VCNM Animal Control Forum, pet-law
PERMISSION TO CROSS POST
At a press conference on Sunday (covered by KOAT-TV news) Albuquerque Mayor Chavez "officially" announced what had been expected for some time. During the 60-day New Mexico legislative session that starts on Tuesday (Jan 16), Mayor Chavez will seek legislation for mandatory statewide spay/neuter of all pets.
The legislation will be modeled after the disastrous HEART ordinance adopted
in Albuquerque. Unfortunately, this continues Mayor Chavez's politics of supporting extreme aspects of the Animal Rights ideology.
Under the HEART ordinance, animal ownership is considered to be a privilege granted through, and controlled by the government. Under HEART, owners have lost their property rights. So, any legislation modeled after HEART raises serious property rights issues that should be of concern to all New Mexico residents.
Furthermore, HEART is a disastrous law because it trivializes animal cruelty, establishes poorly conceived government care requirements, discriminates against those with low income, is acknowledged to be unenforceable, establishes a government monopoly on companion animals, and fails to provide effective measures to reduce the number of animals killed in Albuquerque's shelters. Simply put, HEART is a public policy disaster.
Those at Sunday's press conference included Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez, Denise Wilcox (the Albuquerque Animal Control Director), and Lisa Jennings (the APV-APNM Executive Director). APV-APNM is the largest Animal Rights organization in the state and has worked closely with Albuquerque. During the mayoral elections, APV-APNM endorsed Mayor Chavez. At Sunday's press conference it was also announced that former Minority Whip, Republican Joe Thompson will be the lobbyist for the proposed legislation.
Now is the time to start contacting state legislators to express concern about Mayor Chavez's proposed legislation. I will support any meetings to clarify issues and discuss alternative measures. As reported in recent news coverage, Albuquerque's handling of its own animal shelters under the Mayor Chavez administration has been a failure. Furthermore, mandatory spay/neuter laws have been demonstrated to be ineffective. To achieve a no-kill status for animal shelters, requires innovation and community effort. The State Legislature could lend support to such initiatives, but not with the Mayor Chavez plan.
Ronald A. Gustafson
Founder, New Mexico Animal Control Forum
"Rational Thinking on Animal Control Issues for the State of New Mexico"
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VCNM_Animal_Control_Forum/
505-864-3515