Albuquerque's Environmental Story

Educating For a Sustainable Community

Environmental Topic: Animal Control

by Jill Funk, updated by Joyce Rodarte

Background and Problems

This division of Albuquerque's Environmental Health Department, Animal Control Division (ACD), operates two facilities, one on the east side of Albuquerque, one on the west side. The address of the east side facility is 8920 Lomas Boulevard NE; the west side address is 11800 Sunset Garden SW.

The main goal of ACD is a mutual purpose: to protect city residents from annoyance or injury by animals, and to protect animals from cruelty, abuse, or neglect by people. Specifically, ACD is charged by the city council with housing animals in a controlled area, financing the functions of licensing and animal recovery, and establishing a program for sterilization of animals. ACD is also responsible for both the domestic and the wild animal populations in the city. The division accomplishes these goals through public information and enforcement of the city animal control ordinance.

The animal control ordinance was enacted in the late 1950s. Amendments are enacted on an "as needed," occasional basis. The ordinances covers every aspect of owners' duties for the individual city resident, breeders, refuges, shelters, pet shops, and grooming parlors. There are also sections regarding wild or exotic animals, guard dogs, and dog trainers. The Albuquerque ordinance is in accord with New Mexico state statutes, and copies of the city ordinance are available to any interested resident or group.

The major problem in Albuquerque, as in most cities, is pet over-population. There simply are not enough homes for the estimated 2,500 to 3,000 animals born every hour in the U.S. Most animal control and humane groups strongly advocate sterilization of companion animals. Fewer animals would mean fewer of the problems discussed below.

Probably the most relevant ordinance provision that affects the environment, deals with estray animals. Estray is defined as "any animal found running at large beyond the boundaries of the premises of the owner." This includes animals deliberately set loose by owners to roam neighborhoods, accidental escape from house or yard, or deliberate abandonment of animals. The resulting problems are bites to humans (including bites that result in rabies), animals being hit by cars, poisoning, disease risks to humans, starvation, dehydration, lack of adequate shelter, impregnation of feral animals, nuisances (torn garbage bags, defecation), the natural tendency of animals to form packs, feral animals, and attacks on other pets and livestock.

Primarily because of abandonment of animals in some of the open space areas surrounding Albuquerque, the city does have a problem with feral animals (i.e., animals having escaped from domestication and become wild). Neither exact nor approximate numbers are known because of the elusive and often nocturnal nature of these animals, and until they become a reported danger or nuisance, feral animals continue to stray at will.

There is also a problem with domestic animals "packing" and chasing (even hunting) wild life in the mountain areas.

Compounding the various problems that Albuquerque faces in animal control is the inclusive and surrounding Bernalillo County, where there was little, if any, animal control until 1983. Until a serious animal attack on a young boy occurred in the county, there was little attention paid to either enacting or enforcing any ordinance. Many hope that there will be a continued, unified and concerted effort between city and county to solve these animal/people problems.

Furthermore, ACD intends to maintain or improve its level of services to city residents and their animals. ACD expects that both education and publicity for the centers will continue to have a positive effect on the public. It is a constant and recurring type of education that must take place. Animal control and animal welfare organizations have long said, "There are no animal problems, only people problems." It is hoped that with proper legislation, education, and enforcement, all these problems can be minimized to ensure the continued high quality of life in Albuquerque.

Options and Opinions

Discussion Questions

1. What progress has been made in coordinating city and county efforts to solve animal/people problems?
2. How can a proper balance be maintained between the rights of pet owners and the rights of the community?
3. What further steps might be taken to prevent an increase in the wild dog population?
4. How can interested citizens help the Animal Control Center achieve its objectives of protecting city residents from annoyance/injury by animals and protecting animals from abuse by people?

Possible Solutions/Opinions

1. People enjoy pets and need dogs for protection. In a cost/benefit analysis sense, the advantages of dogs in the city outweigh the disadvantages. Complaints are primarily from "cranks."
2. Existing leash laws should be enforced against all dog owners, including those whose dogs wander loose in parks or in the foothills. There should also be leash laws for cats.
3. Dogs found wandering loose should be impounded and destroyed.
4. Owners of dogs considered a nuisance by neighbors should be forced to get rid of the dogs.
5. A law should be passed stating that all dogs will be neutered except those for whom a breeding permit is purchased.

Activities

1. Contact the Animal Control Center for an approximation of the number of feral (stray) dogs in the city. (The 1978 estimate was 60,000-70,000.) Assuming that most of these animals have not been neutered, that half of them are female, that each female goes into season twice a year, and that the average number of pups surviving to adulthood is four per litter, calculate the size of the feral dog population at the end of one year. At the end of five years?
2. Do research on the types and extent of damage done by feral dogs in the foothills and in the mountains. Contact the Forest Service or Department of Game and Fish for information. What steps are public agencies taking to control these dogs? How successful are they? What other measures can your class suggest?
3. Some owners of unspayed female dogs dispose of puppies by driving them to a remote spot and turning them out of the car. Write a short story pretending you are such a pup and describe your experiences.
4. Conduct a study of the neighborhood in which the school is located. Have students determine through a survey neutered dogs (female and male). Try to ascertain why they have not been neutered, and what incentives (positive or negative) could persuade the owners to take this step. Find out from the Animal Control Agency whether the small fee for permanent pet registration for neutered animals which was started in 1978 in the city has been a successful incentive. What other incentives can your class suggest?
5. Design posters to be displayed in the neighborhood shopping areas to promote neutering.
6. Conduct a debate on the subject of the community's right to pass and enforce laws concerning leashing and neutering of dogs.
7. Amend the current city or county animal control ordinance.

(Up to Section V, Back to Air Quality, On to Animals and Plants)

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