It's hard to imagine why anyone would intentionally starve or injure an animal. We are, after all, their guardians as Ocate veterinarian Don Hamilton likes to call us.

But it does happen, more often than we'd like to believe. And it's the same sad story with domestic violence and violence against one another. The link between animal cruelty and other forms of violence is indisputable — one study shows it's one of the earliest and most reliable predictors of later violent behavior.

That's one of the reasons so many animal-welfare advocates in New Mexico are pushing to strengthen the state's animal cruelty law.

Senate Bill 348, sponsored by Sen. Richard Martinez, D-Los Alamos, and its mirror House Bill 319, sponsored by Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, helps clean up some language and adds a few more "conducts" as felonies to the legislation. Conduct like bestiality, reckless mistreatment, failing to provide necessary sustenance and abandoning an animal. It also adds captive reptiles in the bill's scope.

The legislation, which will next be heard in the Judiciary Committee in the Senate and the Business and Industry and Judiciary committees in the House, is supported by Animal Protection Voters, the lobbying arm of Animal Protection New Mexico. Laura Bonar, the nonprofit's program director, said many are optimistic about the bill's success.

To follow the bill's progress, and learn more about other legislative efforts on behalf of animals, visit the group's website at www.apvnm.org.

The original animal-cruelty bill, passed in 1999, has come under some criticism for its ambiguity and lack of specifics, like intentional starving and bestiality.

"It makes you sick to talk about some of these things, but these are things that are happening in our state right now," she said. "But up until 1999, even the most heinous acts in the state were petty misdemeanors — even setting a dog on fire."

Most New Mexicans are compassionate about animals, Bonar said, and would not intentionally harm their best buddies. But when it does happen — when dogs or horses are left starving and die after terrible suffering — then the beefed-up law will help to fully prosecute those people.

"When we see something like that happen, we as a society need to take it seriously," she said. "It's an issue of common decency and compassion. People have to understand that when terrible things happen to animals, there are consequences."

And what's legislation without the voice of the people — the constituents — behind it? That's the reasoning behind the group's biannual Animal Lobby Day on Tuesday. It's an opportunity for animal-welfare advocates from throughout the state to join together and offer a voice in support of animals.

"It's a great opportunity to stand up for animal welfare," Bonar said, "one that only happens every other year. It's an effective, positive opportunity, one that's nonpartisan."

More than 80 have signed up for the day, which includes a summary of animal-welfare legislation, a review of the lobbying process, a personalized packet of information, a chance for some one-on-one with legislators and a news conference with special guests in the afternoon.

For registration and details of the day's agenda, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Roundhouse, e-mail lobbyday@apvnm.org.

The popular event is one way people can learn about the legislative procedure and immediately engage in the democratic process. It's also exciting to meet animal-welfare advocates from throughout the state.

"There are so many people in our state that are compassionate in their daily lives," Bonar said, "either through fostering or rescuing. To bring that compassion to the Capitol is great. To have that physical presence on the Capitol for one day, all those people pushing to make animals' lives better by creating laws to protect them, it's an exciting time for people to bring the political animal out and get involved."

It's easy for some to be unsure of politics or even become cynical of the process, Bonar said. But politics is largely about engaging in personal relationships with legislators.

"People often think things won't change," Bonar said, "but that's not true. We have to show our elected officials that these issues are important."

The 2009 ban on cockfighting, for example, was won only after a 17-year battle, she noted. The process can seem slow, but that's the way the legislative process was designed. Steady pressure helps.

"We have to keep pushing," she said. "If we go away, legislation won't pass. People work for years and years on legislation."

Personal stories help push the point. Bonar's own dog, for example, was surrendered to an Albuquerque animal shelter because the original owners said the dog "didn't like being kept on a chain — which is not surprising."

And then there are the haunting images of a neglected horse left starving or a dog abandoned while tied to a chain. "As many awful acts of cruelty we see, there are so many more wonderful people in our state who go above and beyond for animals ever day," she said. "Hopefully we can get just a small fraction of those people here for Lobby Day. They have a political voice and they need to communicate that with their legislators."

Ben Swan, special projects manager for the Santa Fe animal shelter, writes about animal-welfare issues. Contact him at santafescoop@gmail.com.