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Truth or Consequences council to republish proposed animal ordinance after public feedback
Summary
City staff proposed amendments to Chapter 3 (Ordinance 771) to soften rules on running-at-large livestock and to permit 'rehoming' rather than 'selling' animals; the commission moved to republish the draft for 30 days so staff can incorporate changes and await guidance from the New Mexico Livestock Bureau.
City Manager Whitehead asked the Truth or Consequences City Commission on Dec. 17 to republish proposed changes to the municipal animal ordinance (Ordinance 771) after staff made edits addressing livestock rules and rehoming language.
Whitehead said staff softened provisions on running-at-large livestock and changed a draft section from "selling" animals to allowing citizens to "rehome" animals. He recommended republishing the draft for 30 days — longer than the minimum 15-day notice — to allow time to incorporate suggested edits and to await clarification from the New Mexico Livestock Bureau about how state law interacts with local livestock rules.
Public comment was mixed but constructive. Alice Hutchkins praised the draft and thanked staff and commissioners for the work. Patrick Oliver, a resident, told the commission that his wife faced a criminal arraignment over a dog citation and urged consistent enforcement: "What I'd like to see with this animal ordinance, sir, is I'd like to see one set of rules, not two."
Action taken: A commissioner moved and the commission seconded a motion to republish Ordinance 771 for 30 days and accept additional public comment; staff will return with amendments and any clarifying guidance from the New Mexico Livestock Bureau before final adoption.
What to expect: If the commission follows staff’s recommendation, the ordinance will be re-noticed and the community will have another opportunity to comment before the commission votes on final adoption.
