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About US
Please Note Donations to Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare are not tax-deductible
Since mid-2003 we have been engaged in a drive to increase those of us unified by concern and passion about pet overpopulation in Virginia and the resulting killing of "excess" pets. We formed Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare, our legislative group, and Virginians for Animal Welfare, our tax-deductible group.
Before people join us, they often ask who we are, what we want to do, and why they might want to become involved.
I am Lillian Clancy, and my husband is Donald Marro. We live in Fauquier County.
I am a former teacher and for the last 23 years had an executive search business. Don has been in the electronics and software businesses. We are both now retired.
Always involved with animals, we spent time at the San Francisco SPCA and public pound and adopted from there. We moved from San Francisco to Virginia in 1995 with a group of cats and dogs and since then have expanded our pet family.
As our pet family grew, we became aware of the incredible problem in Virginia of more dogs, cats and other companion animals than can find homes.
We learned many pets were not spayed/neutered.
We became aware of the unconscionable condition of many Virginia shelters. To even call them "shelters" demonstrates a flagrant insensitivity that is part of the problem.
We started hearing about huge numbers of dogs and cats killed because of overpopulation, with the killing often done brutally, sometimes even using gas chambers.
We learned that even though thousands and thousands of pets are killed every year, those creating the overpopulation – irresponsible breeders and irresponsible owners – contribute nothing to solving the problem. We found that dogs and cats are often bred by untaxed businesses – backyard breeders – and by commercial breeders - puppy mills - or by someone who just allowed the gate to be left open. And the pets are sold. And if unsold, dumped. Or used for dog fighting. And dumped. Or used for hunting. And dumped. Or used to protect drugs. And dumped.
The irresponsible breeders make money and pay no taxes, and keep no records. And you and I pay taxes, license our pets, and shoulder the emotional and financial burden of dogs and cats dumped to die, or put in a temporary "shelter" before being killed. And cats aren’t even protected by Virginia law.
We decided that enough is enough.
We started our effort in November, 2003, and hoped to have legislation addressing this problem introduced by Senator Russell Potts in the 2004 session of the Virginia legislature. However, Senator Potts proposed a study (SJR 37) to establish the magnitude of the problem first and point the way to solutions. But this study was opposed by hunt and gun lobbyists, breeders, vets, and even the State Veterinarian. The Virginia Senate then voted it down, although we were on record to provide the funding for the study.
So we decided to do the study anyway.
We collected data on the sources of excess population, on what it costs Virginia to establish and operate its excess pet population system, on the use of gas chambers, and on the breeding business.
From the study, Virginia Voters developed its goals:
- stop the cycle of breed, dump and kill
- provide inexpensive or free spay/neuter surgeries for all dogs and cats in Virginia
- support and help upgrade the animal control function in Virginia
- eliminate gas chambers in Virginia for euthanasia
We’ve made significant progress since the 2004 session:
- we are now the Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare with a website: www.VirginiaVotersForAnimalWelfare.com
- Virginians for Animal Welfare is our "c3" tax deductible group
- we became active in the 2005 and 2006 sessions of the General Assembly
- we will be active once again in the 2007 session
In the 2005 session, we were able to have patroned and introduced 7 separate bills intended to produce responsible government, responsible ownership, and responsible breeding. At the heart of this effort were bills for the funding needed to produce these changes.
Only 1 bill passed.
In the 2006 session, we had another full suite of bills, patroned by a cross-section of legislators whose courage, compassion and vision for Virginia transcends geography and party. We are most grateful to have such representatives in Virginia’s General Assembly, but again we met with significant opposition and only limited success.
To achieve our goals, we need current laws enforced and new legislation passed.
To have legislation passed, we need to blunt the supporters of the status quo.
We have sought, also with only limited success, the cooperation of the various constituencies involved in animal welfare, including:
VVMA (Virginia Veterinary Medical Association),
VFHS (Virginia Federation of Humane Societies),
VDOA (Virginia Dog Owners Association),
VHDOA (Virginia Hunting Dog Owners Association),
VFDC&B (Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders),
VML (Virginia Municipal League),
VACo (Virginia Association of Counties), and
VACA (Virginia Animal Control Association).
What we will do:We will continue this effort to collaborate.
We seek cooperation of employees of public pounds, especially those still using gas, and private shelters, especially those with the awful job of killing and killing some more.
We will make public the conditions in our pounds and shelters and move for rigorous inspection and enforcement, and civil fines when there is failure to comply with the law.
We will work with local governments so they too can help solve this problem and save taxpayer funds.
What we ask of you:
your active and vigorous support of VVAW efforts and legislative initiatives
1. Go to our website (www.VirginiaVotersForAnimalWelfare.com). Ask to be on the VVAW distribution list.
2. Follow the progress of VVAW as we start planning 2007 initiatives by checking the VVAW website or by responding to alerts we will be distributing.
3. Become a member of Virginians for Animal Welfare and make a tax deductible contribution to that effort.
Send letters and faxes, make phone calls, and meet with your public officials.
Will you do that?
Most effective is personal contact with your officials. Meet with them. Talk with them.
Let your county Board of Supervisors and state senators and delegates know who you are and what you want. (Remember that working on or contributing to their campaigns helps you and the animals get a hearing.)
Work with your public officials on the VVAW bills; do more than call or write. Contact them when the General Assembly is not in session so you have more opportunity to get their attention and commitment to support.
And come to Richmond when the General Assembly is in session.
Enlist as many others as you can. We will be successful by being numerous, vocal, persuasive to our senators and delegates, and more effective than the self-serving and well-entrenched breeder, gun, and hunter communities which fight to preserve their special status.
Please plan to work with us and make this happen. Companion animals are being killed in staggering numbers and the opposition doesn’t care if this continues.
Either we work together to stop this, or you are letting them be killed.
Please help.
Lillian Clancy and Donald Marro
Fauquier County, VA
www.VirginiaVotersForAnimalWelfare.com
540-253-5309