New Mexico: Legislative Alert

Rottweilers and Pit Bulls Targeted in New Mexico BSL [Thursday, February 12, 2009] A bill labeling "pit bulls" and Rottweilers as "dangerous dogs" has been introduced in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Under current New Mexico statute, any owner of a dog deemed to be "dangerous" must be spayed or neutered, microchipped and registered each year. Under House Bill 667, the definition of "dangerous dog" is expanded to include any dog that "is identifiable as or known as a pit bull or Rottweiler." In essence, this measure would mandate spaying/neutering of all Rottweilers and any dog that could be identified as a "pit bull." House Bill 667 (click here for the bill text) also includes new provisions for dangerous dogs, including:

• Photographing or permanent marking of the dangerous dog for identification purposes.
• Random inspections of the dog and its enclosure without warrant.
• Mandatory liability insurance policy (at least $250,000), with the requirement that the owner must notify animal control at least 30 days before the cancellation or nonrenewal of the policy.
• Immediate impoundment or humane destruction of a registered dangerous dog if the owner does not comply with the requirements (current statute only allows this for dogs previously determined to be dangerous).

Please oppose any breed-specific legislation. Please support laws that establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as "dangerous" based on stated, measurable actions and impose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners. A dog should not be deemed "dangerous" simply based on a specific breed or phenotypic class. The same is true for homeowners’ insurance. Coverage should be determined by the dog’s deeds, rather that its breed. If the dog is a well-behaved member of the household and community, there is no reason to mandate a higher-liability insurance policy. How You Can Help: All responsible dog owners, fanciers, and breeders in New Mexico should contact their State Representatives, the bill’s sponsor, and members of the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and politely, yet strongly express your opposition to House Bill 667.

Click here to find your State Representatives, then click on their name for their contact information. Click here for a sample letter to personalize. HB 667 Bill Sponsor: Representative John Heaton Capitol: (505) 986-4432 Office: (575) 887-5983 E-mail: jheaton@caverns.com

Members of the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee Gail Chasey, Chair 1206 Las Lomas Road NE Albuquerque, NM 87106 Phone: (505) 986-4844 E-mail: gailchasey@msn.com

Antonio "Moe" Maestas, Vice Chair Box 188 Albuquerque, NM 87103 Capitol: (505) 242-2279 Office: (505) 242-2279 E-mail: Antonio@moejustice.com

Thomas Anderson 10013 Plunkett Drive NW Albuquerque, NM 87114 Phone: (505) 986-4451 E-mail: kb5ysg@arrl.net

Zachary Cook 100 Sarah Lane Ruidoso, NM 88435 Capitol: (505) 986-4454 Office: (575) 258-9090 junderwoodfirm@yahoo.com

Karen Giannini 2270-D Wyoming Blvd. NE #411 Albuquerque, NM 87112 Phone: (505) 986-4234 E-mail: nmhousedistrict30@live.com

Bill O’Neill 343 Sarah Lane NW Albuquerque, NM 87114 Phone: (505) 986-4254 E-mail: oneillhd15@fastmail.us

Al Park 7605 Mountain Road NE Albuquerque, NM 87110 Capitol: (505) 986-4411 Office: (505) 830-2076 E-mail: alpark.nm@gmail.com