ALAMOSA — During Wednesday’s meeting, the Alamosa Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution to oppose Proposition 16 in Colorado also known as the Protect Animals from Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation (PAUSE) Act.

Proposition 16 went in front of the Title Board and was approved for circulation giving representatives Alexander Sage and Brent Johannes until August 8, 2022, to collect the necessary signatures according to Ballotpedia the duo had collected 124,632 signatures.

Following is the resolution from the Board

A RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION OF BALLOT INITIATIVE 16 IN ORDER

TO PROTECT OUR LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY AND PREVENT NEEDLESS

ANIMAL SUFFERING.

WHEREAS, Alamosa County is declared as a “Right to Farm and Ranch” county and fully supports the agriculture community; and

WHEREAS, cattle, livestock, and the production of crops supporting the livestock industry has historically been, and continues to be, one of the key economic drivers in Alamosa,

County; and

WHEREAS, on March 17, 2021, a citizens initiative entitled “Protect Animals from

Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation (“PAUSE”) was approved by the Title Board of the

Colorado Secretary of State for petition to the November 2022 General Election as Initiative 16; and

WHEREAS, the initiative would criminalize many common and necessary veterinary and animal husbandry practices: and

WHEREAS, the initiative would additionally require tremendous delays, in some cases years, prior to the humane slaughter of livestock for food; and

WHEREAS, the Governor of Colorado agrees that the PAUSE initiative would “hurt

Colorado, and destroy jobs”; and

WHEREAS, while this board abhors the infliction of needless suffering of animals, it recognizes that our livestock producers take great effort to treat their animals humanely and that the passage of Initiative 16 would decimate the ranching industry in the San Luis Valley.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ALAMOSA COUNTY BOARD

OF COMMISSIONERS it strongly opposes Initiative 16 known as the PAUSE Initiative, and encourages citizens to of Alamosa County to decline to sign the petition that supports placing the initiative on the 2022 ballot.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners encourages the Governor of Colorado and the Department of Agriculture to continue to oppose Initiative 16.

To read the proposal be sure to visit https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/filings/2021-2022/16OriginalFinal.pdf