Saturday, March 17, 2007
Animal Sheltering Service Act now waits for Governor Richardson’s signature
By a vote of 60-0, SB458, the Animal Sheltering Services Act, passed the House of Representatives on Thursday March 15. Animal Protection Voters is deeply grateful to Senator Mary Jane Garcia who sponsored the Senate bill and Representative Thomas Swisstack who sponsored the House bill.
The Animal Sheltering Services Act authorizes the creation of the Animal Sheltering Services Board, which will promulgate recommended standards for New Mexico’s shelters, and mandatory standards for the practice of euthanasia. The Act also creates the Animal Care and Facilities Fund, which will be able to accept donations and legislative appropriations to assist communities with carrying out the provisions of the Act. The fund will be able to accept and the board help implement legislative appropriations for spay-neuter projects should they be funded by the legislature in the future.
It has taken four years to get this important legislation approved and funded.
