Animal Protection Voters

As Governor Richardson said so eloquently, "It's history."

On Monday, March 12, 2007, history was made for both roosters and the citizens of New Mexico. New Mexico has officially become the 49th state to ban the cruel sport of cockfighting! Flanked by actress and extraordinary animal activist, Ali MacGraw, the sponsor of SB10 Senator Mary Jane Garcia, Representative Peter Wirth, Animal Protection Voters Executive Director Lisa Jennings along with the APV staff and former staff and Allen Sanchez, Exec. Dir. of the NM Conference of Catholic Bishops, Governor Richardson signed the bill to ban cockfighting.

While the penalties have been reduced in this final version of the bill, the public can be assured that law enforcement will be more than happy to raid illegal rings and enforce this law. Governor Richardson also stated yesterday that we can come back and make the bill stronger in a few years if this law doesn't keep people from participating in these cruel killing contests.

Rocky "Not So" Cocky and Joey "The Chicken" Rooster are now free to strut their stuff around the barnyard and relax with their lady hen friends where they belong - their fight is canceled forever.

Representative Tom Taylor also had an idea:

HOUSE MEMORIAL 12
48TH LEGISLATURE
- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -
FIRST SESSION, 2007

INTRODUCED BY
Thomas C. Taylor

A MEMORIAL SUPPORTING A SUITABLE RETIREMENT FOR FIGHTING COCKS.

WHEREAS, in the heated and emotional debate over whether
to prohibit cockfighting in the state of New Mexico, a question
that by all appearances will be settled in a matter of weeks,
few have considered the fate that awaits the proud and mighty
fighting cocks in their imminent retirement; and

WHEREAS, the lonely cluck of the warrior with no battle
plucks at our heartstrings and stirs the very fabric of our
compassionate souls; and

WHEREAS, if the fighting cocks are anything like the rest
of us, they have devoted precious little time and energy to
planning for their golden years; and

WHEREAS, it would be an intolerable and ironic injustice
to free the fighting cocks from the arena, where they at least
had half a chance to see the next sunrise, only to have them
land, literally, in the frying pan; and

WHEREAS, it is not in the public's interest to allow
retired fighting cocks to simply roam freely in New Mexico
because they have nasty dispositions and no tolerance for other
cocks and would almost certainly join the ranks of feral cats
and stray dogs, all the while spreading their dang little
feathers just about everywhere; and

WHEREAS, everybody loves a winner and, by definition, each
of the soon-to-be-retired fighting cocks is undefeated;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the appropriate
state agencies be requested to design and implement a
retirement program befitting the majesty of the fighting cocks
that includes twice-weekly visits from the very best cage-free
hens the state has to offer, one high-definition television for
every six cocks and a subscription to ESPN, animal planet and
CMT pure country, but not to the food network or FOX news.