In the past few years, the neglect and abuse of animals in Las Vegas, New Mexico has come to light with the highly publicized abuse case of Hubble, not to mention the long list of forgotten dogs and feral cat colonies. Las Vegas is referred to as "Ground Zero" for animal welfare. After outcries from the public last year, the city government reached out to a local non-profit rescue group, The Animal Welfare Coalition of Northeastern New Mexico (AWC), to assist them in addressing ongoing local animal welfare problems, including the realities that led to the famed Hubble’s condition. Together, AWC Director Martina Holguin, along with then Mayor, Alfonzo Ortiz Jr., Police Chief Juan Montano, former City Manager Elmer Martinez, City Attorney David Romero, Judge Eddie Trujillo, plus the Directors of every city department devised a plan of both immediate and longer term actions.

Almost immediately, we saw positive changes. An Animal Service Division (ASD) was formed to handle the calls of abuse, neglect, and free range animals, among other issues. The streets were not littered with strays, calls were answered promptly, and the community began to trust that the city government had taken our requests seriously. However, recently, the contract with the AWC to run the city shelter will not be renewed, and ASD has been dissolved and turned back to the hands of the Las Vegas Police Department. While we have utmost respect for our officers and acknowledge their high work load, this has already proved to be an ineffective measure. Our officers are trained to police people, animal control should not be a stepping stone to become an officer.

This is a call to action. We are asking the citizens of Las Vegas, New Mexico to come together and stand behind the Animal Welfare Coalition of Northeast New Mexico. We demand the renewal of their contract to run the City of Las Vegas Animal Shelter.

We demand the continuation of a humane, no-kill shelter, with the exceptions of needed euthanasia for sick or viscous animals.  We would like to see continued improvements of living conditions for each animal that should come through those doors. We would like the to see continued use of a donor funded "Catery", to keep the cats away from dogs. This helps create stress free living environments for both species. 

We are also asking that the City of Las Vegas appropriate funds for an Animal Service Division that can handle calls regarding animals, capture animals roaming the streets freely in a humane manner, and have the authority to give citations to any offenders. We want the employees trained in animal welfare to run this department, and work alongside Las Vegas Police Department and the AWC. 

We are asking that both local and state animal abuse laws and ordinances be enforced. Not only with citations, but upheld in a court of law as well. Animals who have a history of being a danger to a neighborhood have no business back on the streets. Breeders must have licenses, and preventative measures must be taken to reduce shelter/ stray over population. In order for repeat offenders to discontinue the habit, there must be serious consequences. Our officers, whether it is a reinstated ASD or the  LVPD, need the full support of the Judicial System. 

We are inviting city officials to work with us, not against us. You are employed and elected by us and we demand to be heard. We will not stand for a government that only pacifies us with nice thoughts of what could be, and of pet hotels and dog parks that will never be built. We want to feel safe in our neighborhoods. We want tourists to give positive feedback to their friends, not speak of the horrors they saw while here and how they will never return. We wish to be a welcoming city, to humans and animals. We wish to end the boycott on our city by the thousands that have been following the events since that fateful September day, when a beautiful Bull Terrier lost his life due to neglect and abuse.