Chávez promotes pet programs in Las Cruces

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez got a chance to promote changes his city has made in its attitude toward pets today in a presentation to the Las Cruces City Council, which is considering a number of issues to deal with problems here.

Albuquerque has made a number of changes in recent years, including a mandatory spay and neuter program and the construction of several dog parks, that have lowered the city’s euthianization numbers by 9 percent and earned it a ranking of the third most pet-friendly city in the nation.

In the wake of a number of high-profile animal hoarding cases, Las Cruces officials are considering how to deal with an out-of-control pet population and attitudes that lead to such problems.

Also presenting to the council was Heather Greenhood, Animal Protection Voters of New Mexico legislative director, who said the Las Cruces humane society takes in 40 animals each day and spends $715,000 each year euthanizing animals. Reducing its number of euthanized animals by 9 percent would save the city about $65,000 each year, she said.

How to do it? Chávez said population control is the core issue. He suggested what Albuquerque has done – mandatory spay and neuter programs, better registration and enforcement laws, microchipping of pets and stronger laws to discourage animal cruelty.

“You can’t be the No. 1 city if the pets in the city are being needlessly euthanized,” Chávez said. “That is a commentary on who we are as human beings and who we are as New Mexicans.”

Albuquerque’s programs are primarily funded with taxpayer dollars. The city also recently approved a $5 million bond issue to build a new animal shelter.

Las Cruces has considered building a dog park, but the proposal isn’t without controversy, and councilors asked a lot of questions about how to make such parks logistically practical.

The local animal shelter has also come under fire lately from citizen activists who have alleged numerous problems there, and a review by the Humane Society of the United States did find some issues. Greenhood, who visited the Las Cruces shelter today, said she was pleasantly surprised.

“You guys are doing a tremendous job,” she said.

Greenhood also said all Las Cruces-area legislators have promised more funding to help improve the shelter and provide other funding for pet-related issues.

Chávez said it’s important to cooperate with Doña Ana County to combat the problems. Four of five commissioners were present at the city council meeting.

The meeting was productive for Las Cruces officials, but it was also a chance for Chávez, the likely 2010 gubernatorial candidate, to get some exposure in a part of the state that has a lot of voters and doesn’t know as much about his record in Albuquerque.

The programs Chávez promoted are controversial. Las Cruces and Doña Ana County officials have a long road ahead to deal with what is, in this county, a very big problem.

Today’s meeting of the council was a work session, so no action was taken. Councilors will decide in the future how to proceed.