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2006 - New Initiatives
The initiatives listed below would be in addition to carry-overs from the 2005 session.
The concept of responsible government, responsible ownership, and responsible breeding stays the same. These new ideas below fall under responsible government.
1. facility inspection
a. Every pound and shelter in Virginia must be inspected at least once annually.
b. The inspections must be unannounced.
c. Any infraction must be followed up by a return visit inspection within 30 days. Unremedied infractions automatically cause civil fines to be levied at $1000/day per in fraction.
d. If a euthanasia happens to be planned for the day of the inspection, the inspector is to witness.
2. public pounds
a. every pound open for adoptions on weekends, ideally both Saturdays and Sundays, and at least 4 hours per day during the week
b. public pounds must work with rescue groups including transport groups
3. animal records
Privatize the collection and dissemination of animal records.
4. animal control officers
a. no ACO works more than a 40-hour week
b. each jurisdiction is to have at least 2 ACOs, and use jail trustees or volunteers or both in addition as needed
c. ACO training completed before first day in the field; training time at full compensation
d. all ACOs certified to perform EBI; training to be completed within 6 months of start
e. ACOs on equal footing with law enforcement including retirement
5. cats
a. TNR
Those involved in TNR are not liable for abandonment prosecution.
According to the Virginia Commonwealth Attorney, answering a question from the former State Vet, Dr. Donald Butts (11/04), the law currently allows prosecution of those doing TNR on the basis of abandonment.
b. cats must be protected by each jurisdiction
Cats to be housed at public pound, provided low cost or free s/n prior to adoption, and TNR colonies to be protected with resources available for colony maintenance.
6. seized companion animals
a. Dogs or cats seized (from hoarding, abuse, fighting and/or drug cases, for example) and awaiting the outcome of these proceedings will be boarded at kennels at the owner’s expense so as not to take up space in a public pound which could be used by stray or owner-give-up animals, i.e., dogs with a chance at being re-homed.
b. Provide reward for disclosure of animal cruelty; funding for reward would come from fines levied (if any) or give whistle blower property tax credit.
7. dog/cat licenses
Privatize dog and cat license sale and enforcement.
8. increase substantially the penalty for not licensing dogs
9. require each dog covered by a kennel license to have rabies inoculation annually
10. re-establish and expand the humane investigator program
11. protect from being sued those reporting, in good faith, suspected acts of animal abuse
12. model regional program
Establish a model program that could include several counties/cities to
a. develop a regional facility including a vet doing high volume low cost/free s/n, and possibly as a general vet
b. include a holding facility for dogs/cats from public facilities with limited space and limited ability to hold animals any longer than mandated by law; set it up as a place where animals are safe from being euthanized, and while they wait for transport to rescue in or out of Virginia
c. include a sanctuary for old dogs and cats
d. set up as a model shelter and develop as though it were a pet shop; find permanent or temporary satellite space in a mall where adoptions are done; set it up to be in competition (or replace) pet shops
e. establish this model regional program as a public/private partnership; set it up as 501c3 and push as tax shelter so as to be attractive to investors; develop a preliminary business plan
13. funding
Contributions to the VVAW 501c3 (Virginians for Animal Welfare) can be made as a tax check off on Virginia income tax returns.
b. sales tax
Raise the sales tax on dogs and cats purchased from backyard breeders and pet shops to 12.5%.
14. codification of Virginia’s animal laws
Review, rationalize, and simplify the code.