New Mexico State Governor Susana Martinez (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Source: Milan Simonich of Las Cruces Sun-News
The new law also allows for gifts, grants and appropriations that would help shelters care for horses.
SANTA FE — Shelters across New Mexico that care for abandoned horses could receive financial help through a bill that Gov. Susana Martinez signed Wednesday.
The measure creates a horse shelter rescue fund to be administered by the New Mexico Livestock Board.
New Mexico has 11 state-licensed shelters for equines, at least nine of which are active in rescue operations, said Lisa Jennings, executive director of Animal Protection of New Mexico.
Her organization lobbied for the bill, which was carried by Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup.
Munoz says the primary financial feature of his legislation is an optional designation for personal income tax contributions for the rescue fund.
The new law also allows for gifts, grants and appropriations that would help shelters care for horses.
Jennings said approximately 350 horses live in New Mexico shelters. Many were abandoned. Others were wild animals that became sick or could not care for themselves.
Munoz said the shelter staffs stepped in, saving the horses from painful deaths.
Under his bill, the livestock board will establish rules for distribution of money from the rescue fund. Horse populations and the needs of each shelter are to guide the board in how it allocates money.
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Categories: Equine Rescue, Horse News
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
This sounds like the first decent thing any of those two governors out of New Mexico and Oklahoma has done for our horses.
But I think that number is grossly wrong. I would think there is more than 350 living in shelters. It just seems to low of a number. Though I really cannot say because I am not there to say for sure.
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Yes, the number is a little lower because some people just do foster care on their own. And these aren’t official rescues. I know because I’ve done this, provided foster care for animals. However, people who do foster care for horses, donkeys and so on, still need to contact horse rescues and animal shelters for various things (like advice!), so don’t worry – foster homes are under the radar. They can’t just do whatever they want.
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if there are only 350 horses living in shelters in New Mexico, and not all were abandoned, how does that fit with the pro-slaughter argument that slaughter plants processing tens of thousands of horses a year are needed in order to address the so-called “unwanted horse” problem? it doesn’t.
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That’s just what thay want the public to think.. It’s because thay have lots of money to be made by killing our horses and selling them overseas, and thay are not worried about what it can to to people who buy the horse meat for humane consumption. Studdies show that horse meat is TOXIC to some breeds of dogs thats why thay don’t use it for dog food anymore. BUT THE BIG RICH AND EVIL ARE FIGHTING TO WIN BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE BLOOD MONEY TO BE MADE !!! IT’S WRONG AND THAY NEED TO LEAVE OUR HORSES ALONE !!!! THE PEOPLE WHO KEEP BREEDING THEM TO GET THE FASTEST, BEST COLOR,HAS MORE COW SENCE ECT … SEEMS TO ME THERE ISN’T ANY DIFFERANCE IN A PONEY MILL THAN A PUPPY MILL , IT”S THE PEOPLES FAULT NOT THE ANIMALS !!! THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT !!!
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Reblogged this on Serenity's Musings.
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This sounds great, but I wish it was not going to be the livestock board ultimately responsible for the rules of distribution of the funds. Just not trusting those on that board.
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Yep, MaryElizabeth…I don’t livestock board either. I’d prefer sheltering activities with law enforcement (seizure, citations, etc) to do the job.
But many people in the US don’t realize many “livestock” boards are empowered with police authority (Texas for example who don’t seem to do a satisfactory job with equines, but man, you steal a steer/cow, you are in deep human manure).But the Livestock Board/Stockmen’s Association in Texas still has alot of ‘splainin to do about Presidio, TX.
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Yes, it sounds like a wonderful thing – but I just hope it isn’t to mitigate the slaughterhouse.
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Excellent – funding for horse/equine rescues create jobs and help animals. Look at all the women who flee domestic situations and have to leave their animals behind. Now, isn’t it better to know that at least the animal can wind up at a caring shelter than a slaughterhouse?
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This is good news! At least it shows she cares about our horses. Maybe that means that she wouldnt give her ok on a slaughterhouse?
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What a difference between Governors Martinez and Fallin! I do agree that if there are only 350 unwanted horses living in shelters, then there is a discrepancy with the numbers that pro slaughter people say exists in Oklahoma.
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I have so much respect for Governor Martinez and no respect for Governor Fallin. Governor Martinez is doing a good thing for horses in need. I just hope we can only trust the funds being trusted through the Livestock board. I really wish the funds were going directly to the rescues themselves.
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High time the money is being spent to reward good rather than promote further killing.
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that’s wonderful! Now e need to get feed law to protect horses from slaughter.
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and just when i was getting discouraged about horse slaughter being proposed in NM even tho most people don’t want it… thank you for helping the rescuers.
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This is a tiny little carrot dangled. It’s a PR recovery attempt as she will not sign a ban on horse slaughter. Sure it’s something….but horse slaughter is still on the agenda in New Mexico. Last summer we were thanking Governor Martinez for publicly stating she was against horse slaughter in New Mexico. Talk is cheap, and a few bucks for horse rescues – while a warm little fuzzy soundbite on the evening news – is not enough. I’m so cynical right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if pro-slaughter people will fund this little bit of rescue money – take it as a tax write off (oh right, slaughter houses don’t pay taxes). I see right through this….doesn’t everybody else? Lets’ see if those horse rescues that stand to benefit from this little bit of guilt money – become a little quieter publicly decrying slaughter. Yep. Thats’ right. I’m that jaded these days..
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You have both eyes open, Joanne. Thankfully. Every time I see Animals’ Angels investigations of the Chavez feedlot – defended by the New Mexico Livestock Board (and guess who appoints them? The governor), I see this for what it is too.
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Anything with these words as a caveat:Under his bill, the livestock board will establish rules for distribution of money from the rescue fund. Horse populations and the needs of each shelter are to guide the board in how it allocates money. In other words, the people who sell these horses to kill buyers are also in charge of the money that is suppose to care for these horses? I agree, Jo, a little bit of water when my lips are parched and blistered from the desert sun does not help when I need an IV (to stop horse slaughter). Trusting politicians is a tricky thing and unless they stop the madmen/women from continuing their plans, this is just a red herring – something to keep our mind off the fact that theses people who push horse slaughter are in our government making the laws to do so, legally, no matter the consequences.
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Thank you Governor Susana Martinez!!!!
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This is a step in the right direction. We cannot condome them from moving forward. We will have to see what transpires from here.
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Blood money? Guilt payment? I’m not jumping on this joy wagon just yet. And the numbers given for NM shelter horses is out of whack with what most in rescue feel is reality. But it is an interesting counter point to the “thousands of starving and abandoned horses” blather that comes from the pro-slaughter crowd.
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It’s a start.
Next question Governor Martinez….when an equine cannot be placed or rehomed, will the fund pay for vet chem euthanasia?
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Every state in the US should pass a law like this. Does it need tweeking,? perhaps, but it is a progressive idea that could help thousands of horses and preventing them from going to slaughter. It would have helped those 37 horses captured by the BLM on March 18th near Cody, Wyoming and handed over to the Livestock Board who quickly sold them to a slaughterhouse without the allotted 10 day auction period. Each person reading this and agreeing that is from out of state,should pledge to work for this in your state. Are you up for the challenge?
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