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.