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In the late '70s, the state of Florida was concerned about the dwindling numbers of one of God's ugliest creatures, the sea cow, otherwise known as the manatee.

Propellers from boats racing through the wetlands and marshes took such a toll on these "so-ugly- they're-cute" people-friendly manatees that ideas to raise money to protect them took root.

The most successful venture turned out to be a license plate designed to "Save the Manatee." Suddenly, sea cows were on thousands of vehicles. The money raised from the sale of these special license plates enabled marine research and rescue groups to provide sanctuaries for the manatee so they could repopulate Florida waters. (Which they have done with vigor.)

Today, we see special license plates for veterans, football teams, celebrations and memorials.

Last June, New Mexico's Motor Vehicle Division announced its highly anticipated "Don't Litter: Spay-Neuter" license plate.

That bright yellow plate has a corner outline of our great state with a paw print in the middle; the center of the paw is shaped like a heart, then the vehicle plate number with "spay-neuter" on the side.

All vanity plates must be ordered in advance through the MVD, (www.state.nm.us/tax/pubs/specplat.htm). The fee is $37 for the plate, with $25 of those dollars earmarked for the county in which they were purchased for pet sterilization purposes.

Pet loving citizens of New Mexico have the wonderful folks at Animal Protection of New Mexico, Inc., headquartered in Santa Fe, to thank for their perseverance in getting this feat accomplished, spearheaded by the group's Executive Director Elizabeth Jennings.

It took years for this undertaking to garner statewide support, get to the Legislature, get passed, get an artist's rendition, get the OK on the design, and get the issuance process in place with the MVD.

The goal? To educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering our animals so that fewer adoptable pets are euthanized each year.

As if Jennings didn't have enough on her plate, the group also tackles issues such as: disaster preparedness, banning traps and snares on public land, options for animals that suffer from domestic violence, updating the New Mexico Animal Law Reference Guide, educating communities about the inherent cruelty involved in circus performing animal acts, ridding our state of the shame of cockfighting, allowing students to have options regarding dissection of live animals, ending the practice of chaining dogs, ensure deer and elk have safe passage across heavily traveled New Mexico roads and highways, and providing a safe haven in Florida for this state's chimpanzee population.

The nonprofit group relies on the citizens of New Mexico to effect change for our creatures and critters. Visit the group online at www.apnm.org or call 265-2322 to learn more about its efforts, make a donation or volunteer your time.

We can sit and talk of how things need to change in our communities. Or we can take action. If you don't know where to start, the Animal Protection of New Mexico is a good place to start.