ACTION ALERT!!

Without Urgent Action by YOU, This Important Spay/Neuter Law Will Expire on July 1, 2026, Leading to a Surge in Animal Overpopulation and Euthanasia Rates!!

Access to affordable spay/neuter is not just a service, but a fundamental need that all New Mexicans, especially those in rural, Tribal, and low-income areas, deserve. 

New Mexico enacted the Affordable Spay/Neuter Law in 2020. The law collects fees from dog and cat food manufacturers that register their products for sale in NM to fund desperately needed spay/neuter services. Twenty-two percent of animals are euthanized in NM shelters due to a lack of space and resources. These services prevent unwanted litters, overcrowded shelters, and threats to public health and safety caused by roaming animals. As the law stands now, Pet food manufacturers pay $100 per year for each product of dog and cat food and treats registered for sale in New Mexico.

The problem is grim:

• More than 100,000 dogs and cats enter New Mexico animal shelters each year.
• 20,000 NM dogs and cats are euthanized each year.
• Animal control and sheltering costs our state more than $51 million each year, of which $38 million is paid by New Mexico taxpayers.

The Affordable Spay/Neuter Law in 2020 does NOT apply to:

• Livestock feed or any other animal feed
• Prescription diets
• Small manufacturers with an annual gross revenue of $3 million or less
• Retailers or consumers

Recipients of the Funds:

• 91% Spay/Neuter surgeries for animals of income-qualified families,
• 4% NM Department of Agriculture for fee registration enforcement,
• 5% NM Board of Veterinary Medicine for enforcement of the Animal Sheltering Ag Act

Our goal is to support continued appropriations to the animal care and facility fund pursuant to the Affordable Spay/Neuter Law. New Mexico must ensure that allocated funds continue to create positive change and ensure the voices of residents are heard and considered by local authorities and decision-makers.

The Affordable Spay/Neuter Law works! To date, it has:

• Generated $3 million+ in funds for spay/neuter providers. 
• Provided grants for $1 million worth of services in 2025/2026. (Note: Available grant funding in 2025 was significantly outpaced by community need— 64 providers applied for $2.4 million in funding.)
• Without the Affordable Spay/Neuter Law and the spay and neuter program fees, New Mexico’s dog and cat overpopulation crisis will continue to escalate.

Petition Statement
Given the success of the Affordable Spay and Neuter Law of 2020, we petition the New Mexico State Legislature to remove the delayed repeal of 76-19A-10.1 of the Spay and Neuter program fee, which is set to expire July 1, 2026 [NM Stat. § 76-19A-10.1]. 

We urge the legislature to take immediate action to prevent the expiration of this crucial law.  

REQUESTED ACTION BY YOU
Please get in touch with your NM legislator to request the removal of the clause in Chapter 69, Senate Bill 57, as amended (2020) Section 6, which automatically repeals Section 5, the Spay and Neuter Program fees, as of July 1, 2026.

1. Email the Governor’s Office  https://www.governor.state.nm.us/contact-the-governor/  to request that she include the Spay and Neuter Program fee on her agenda for the January 2026 legislative session. The fee is slated to expire July 1, 2026, as required by N.M. Code Ann. Ch. 69 § 6 NMSA 2020.
2.  Look up your legislator at https://www.nmlegis.gov/Members/Find_My_Legislator and write to them to encourage the Governor to include the Spay and Neuter Program fee in her agenda, and for them to support the repeal of the expiration in N.M. Code Ann. Ch. 69 § 6 NMSA 2020.

SAMPLE LETTER TO LEGISLATOR

Subject: Request inclusion of the spay and neuter program fee extension on Governor's January 2026 session agenda

Dear [REP/SEN XXX], 

I am writing as a constituent of yours in [DISTRICT XX] to ask that you:

1. Request that the Governor include the Spay and Neuter Program fee on her agenda for the January 2026 legislative session, as the fee is currently slated to expire July 1, 2026 (NM Stat § 76-19A-10.1). This law allows the collection of fees from dog and cat food manufacturers that register their products for sale in NM, and those fees fund affordable spay/neuter services that have successfully sterilized thousands of NM animals each year. Already, 22% of animals that enter NM shelters are euthanized, and repealing the fee (by N.M. Code Ann. Ch. 69 § 6 NMSA 2020) will raise that percentage.
2. Vote to repeal the expiration of the fee during the January 2026 legislative session so that the affordable spay and neuter program can continue to receive this valuable funding. (Specifically, please vote to remove the delayed repeal of NM Stat § 76-19A-10.1 as specified by N.M. Code Ann. Ch. 69 § 6 NMSA 2020.)

This fee and its administration are borne entirely by pet food suppliers, so its extension will not affect the General Fund.

Thank you,
[NAME]
[REGISTERED VOTING ADDRESS]

Thanks to Animal Protection Voters NM for their fact sheets on SB 57 and the ongoing information on saving this vital program.

For questions and additional information, please email: nmspayneuternetwork@gmail.com or get updates from Animal Protection Voters NM https://apvnm.org/e-alert-signup/

PLEASE NOTE: You are not required to donate to this petition; any money you do donate goes to Change dot org to provide the engine for petitions. No money goes to the New Mexico Spay Neuter Network; your signature is a significant donation.