CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
NINETEENTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. M-11-5 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Isaac Benton and Trudy Jones
MEMORIAL
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Supporting A Ban Of Animal Trapping Through The Use Of Steel-Jaw Leghold Traps, Strangulation Snares, Kill-Type Animal Traps, And Any Modified Version Of Any Such Traps On New Mexico Public Lands (Benton, Jones)
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SUPPORTING A BAN OF ANIMAL TRAPPING THROUGH THE USE OF STEEL-JAW LEGHOLD TRAPS, STRANGULATION SNARES, KILL-TYPE ANIMAL TRAPS, AND ANY MODIFIED VERSION OF ANY SUCH TRAPS ON NEW MEXICO PUBLIC LANDS.
WHEREAS, commercial and recreational trapping of "furbearing" animals using hidden steel-jaw leghold traps, strangulation snares, and kill-type animal traps is permitted on almost all of New Mexico's public lands; and
WHEREAS, the use of steel-jaw leghold traps, strangulation snares, and kill-type animal traps on public lands results in the unnecessary pain, suffering, maiming and killing of untold numbers of "nontarget" animals, including domestic dogs, cats, rabbits, deer, songbirds, eagles, owls, hawks, river otters and threatened and endangered species; and
WHEREAS, millions of people, 89 countries, several U.S. states, and numerous municipalities and organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, the American Veterinarian Association, the American Animal Hospital Association, the World Veterinary Association, and the National Animal Control Association, have declared steel-jaw leghold traps to be inhumane; and
WHEREAS, trappers in New Mexico are not required to and do not warn the public of the specific or general location of the steel-jaw leghold traps, strangulation snares, and kill-type animal traps they hide on public lands; and
WHEREAS, humans have suffered injuries and companion and other nontarget animals have been injured, maimed and killed by hidden and unmarked steel-jaw leghold traps, strangulation snares, and kill-type animal traps on public lands in New Mexico; and
WHEREAS, tourism to the City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County and the State of New Mexico is of major economic benefit and concern to the City of Albuquerque and its merchants and residents; and
WHEREAS, public safety is a matter of major concern to the City of Albuquerque and its residents; and
WHEREAS, ending the use of steel-jaw leghold traps, strangulation snares, and kill-type animal traps on New Mexico's public lands will benefit the City of Albuquerque by eliminating a practice that takes away from the Tourist-Friendly environment of our City and region.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
The City of Albuquerque supports a ban of animal trapping through the use of steel-jaw leghold traps, strangulation snares, kill-type animal traps, and any modified version of any such traps on New Mexico public lands.
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