A. Every municipality and each county may provide by ordinance for the mandatory licensure of dogs over the age of three months. License fees shall be fixed by the responsible municipality or county. Proof of vaccination against rabies shall be provided by the owner or keeper before a license is issued. A combined rabies vaccination certificate and license may be provided by ordinance.
B. Every municipality and each county shall provide for the impoundment of rabies-suspect animals and shall designate a part-time or full-time animal control officer who shall be deputized to enforce animal control laws, orders, ordinances and regulations.
C. No fee shall be charged for the licensure of qualified service animals who are trained to lead partially or totally blind persons, aid hearing impaired persons or assist mobility impaired persons.
History: Laws 1979, ch. 194, § 7; 1989, ch. 242, § 4.
The 1989 amendment, effective June 16, 1989, substituted "qualified service animals" for "guidedogs" in the catchline and the present provisions of Subsection C for "No fee for the licensure of dogs trained to assist the blind or deaf shall be charged".
Section not part of maintenance of roadways. — Compliance with this section and Section 77-1-12 NMSA 1978 is not part of maintenance of a roadway, highway or street within the meaning of the legislative waiver of governmental immunity found in Section 41-4-11A NMSA 1978, relating to negligent maintenance of highways, roadways, and streets. Smith v. Village of Corrales, 1985-NMCA-121, 103 N.M. 734, 713 P.2d 4, cert. denied, 103 N.M. 740, 713 P.2d 556 (1986).
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 4 Am. Jur. 2d Animals § 26 et seq.
3A C.J.S. Animals § 11; 62 C.J.S. Municipal Corporations § 218.
Structure New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 77 - Animals and Livestock
Article 1 - Dogs and Domesticated Animals
Section 77-1-1 - [Dogs, cats, domesticated fowls and birds are personal property.]
Section 77-1-2 - Dog killing or injuring livestock; damages; dog to be killed.
Section 77-1-3 - Vaccination of dogs and cats required.
Section 77-1-5 - Vaccination of dogs and cats brought into state.
Section 77-1-9 - Dogs; destruction.
Section 77-1-10 - Vicious animals; rabid or unvaccinated dogs and cats; failure to destroy.
Section 77-1-12 - Local control by ordinance; dogs and cats running at large.
Section 77-1-17 - Abandoned dogs and cats; notice to owner; disposal without liability.
Section 77-1-18 - Short title.
Section 77-1-19 - Definitions.
Section 77-1-20 - Sterilization agreement and sterilization deposit required.