Nine individuals and organizations from New Mexico were honored for their outstanding contributions to the lives of animals on Saturday, November 1st. Animal Protection New Mexico (APNM) bestowed its 2003 Milagro Awards at a dinner and ceremony at the Santa Fe Hilton Hotel that evening. The event was emceed by Diego Mulligan, host of the KSFR “Journey Home” radio show.
APNM’s Milagro Awards recognize individual and collaborative humanitarian acts on behalf of animals. In 2003 there were two exceptional Youth Award winners, as both exemplify the power young people have to make their world better for animals.
The 2003 Milagro Award recipients were:
Advocacy Award (promoting the compassionate treatment of animals): Sandia Mountain BearWatch, for their extraordinary all-volunteer advocacy, education and legislative efforts on behalf of black bears.
Animal Award (exceptional animal courage and/or intelligence): The Mexican Gray Wolf, Southwestern New Mexico, for their incredible perseverance and will to live, despite government roadblocks that hinder their survival.
Board of Directors’ Award (lifelong commitment to animal rights): Lola Moonfrog, Santa Fe, for her visionary support of APNM’s wildlife and domestic animal advocacy programs.
Direct Animal Services Award (efforts that directly improve the lives of animals): Prairie Dog Pals, Albuquerque, for extraordinary efforts to preserve prairie dog habitat, and their campaign that stopped prairie dog poisoning in Albuquerque and on airport land.
Executive Director’s Award (outstanding support of APNM’s mission and program): C.H.E.T. Volunteer Fire Department & The Mora Valley Chamber of Commerce, Cleveland, for effective community organizing and volunteer activation to implement a successful spay/neuter/vaccination program.
Humane Education Award (innovative civic education efforts that foster humane ethics): Sheryl Wolf, Albuquerque, for her creation and implementation of an animal rights curriculum at the UNM School of Law.
Media Award (spotlighting animal issues with courage, creativity, integrity): Renee Romo, Las Cruces, for his thorough and extensive reporting on the chimpanzees at the former Coulston Foundation facility.
Youth Award Elementary & Middle School Age (youth activism, ethics, bravery): The Oz School, for their creative and active support of the bill to ban cockfighting and their artwork shows benefiting local animal causes.
Youth Award & High School Age (youth activism, ethics, bravery): The Environmental and Animal Rights Society of Santa Fe High School, for their anti-dissection educational efforts as well as their extensive public outreach and activism.
