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Info for Animal Control & Field Officers
Info for District Attorneys & Judges |
FELONY ANIMAL CRUELTY TRAINING MEDIA ADVISORY Contact: Michele Rokke (505) 989-1442 Date: March 9, 2000 Training Class "Implementing the Felony Animal Cruelty Law" Receives Accreditation From DPS and the NM Bar Association Animal Protection of New Mexico (APNM) has developed an exciting training program entitled "Implementing the Felony Animal Cruelty Law" designed to educate New Mexicans about the Felony Animal Cruelty (FAC) law. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the New Mexico Bar Association have approved the FAC training for accreditation. Law enforcement officials, attorneys and judges who attend the training will receive Continuing Education Credits, Continuing Legal Education Credits or Continuing Judicial Education Credits for their participation. In the 1999 legislative session, APNM cheered when Senator Mary Jane Garcia and Representative David Pederson helped usher a new felony animal cruelty bill into law. Governor Johnson signed the bill on April 1, 1999, and the new law (30-18-1) became effective on July 1, 1999. Since then, APNM has been working hard to create a comprehensive training program to assist law enforcement officials, attorneys, judges, social service workers and others around the state in implementing the new law. APNM Executive Director Lisa Jennings says "Educating people about the proper use of a law is essential to its effectiveness." Scheduled dates for the four and one-half hour FAC training are: • March 25 8:00 am - 12:30 pm College of Santa Fe Santa Fe, NM • April 6 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm Holiday Inn Mountain View, Albuquerque, NM • September 22 Alamagordo, NM (location and time to be announced) Presentations by experts, including: Theresa Welch, a criminal prosecutor with vast experience in animal law; Kate Rindy, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter and Humane Society; and Andrew Jaramillo, Supervisor of Santa Fe County Animal Control, will be accompanied by valuable resource materials that will assist participants in animal casework. In an effort to accommodate communities who may not have the financial resources or the work force to send staff to out-of-town training sessions, a video training package "Implementing the Felony Animal Cruelty Law" will be offered in at least 15 New Mexican communities beginning in May. The FAC Video Training will also be available for purchase or rental later this summer. A strong interest in the link between animal abuse and human violence has assisted APNM in receiving grant money to help fund the program, allowing a nominal ten dollar registration fee for attendees. The New Mexico State Veterinary Board recommends FAC training to veterinarians in their recent newsletter and APNM has already received numerous inquiry calls about the sessions. While the class has been accredited through DPS and the NM Bar Association, FAC training sessions are open to the public and anyone with an interest in the welfare of animals and the safety of our communities is welcome to attend. Pre-registration is advised. ### Felony Animal Cruelty Training Outline (Specific) Conference Memo - Outline of points included in lawHOW TO INVESTIGATE A CASE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY OR NEGLECT Training Class "Implementing the Felony Animal Cruelty Law" Receives Accreditation From DPS and the NM Bar Association; MEDIA ADVISORY, Date: March 9, 2000 FACT Resources: Animal Handling Tips & Animal Call Response Checklist Contact information for animal resources: New Mexico counties requiring adequate food/water/shelter: Euthanasia Data for New Mexico Animal Live-Trapping Recommendations Information on Procedure for Necropsy New Mexico Wildlife Rehabilitators Sample Animal Relinquishment Form Impact of New Mexico Supreme Court Ruling Regarding Animal Cruelty Law
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