1/13/07           

The resolution (and culmination) of nearly one year of work by us and our board and some of our members will occur in the next few days in Richmond.

The reported deaths of 121,000 pets and who knows how many unreported pets (shot, run over, wasted by disease, killed in fights, etc., etc.) occurred in this same time.

The expenditure of some $60 million on animal welfare (i.e., for dogs made dangerous, excess pets, AKA euphemistically "overpopulation") also occurred in this same time.

Should we continue to "breed a lot, adopt a few and kill the rest"?  Should vets have a monopoly on animal care yet not report abuse or non-compliance, or not collect funds for spay/neuter?  The status quo will continue if the culmination of our work is defeat of our bills.  Want this to happen?  No?  Then what will you do about it?  And when?  There are no post-Christmas sales to make waiting worthwhile.

Have you sent an e-mail to your legislators?  How many?  What bills?  Tell us.

Did you go to Richmond or meet with your legislators to get bills patroned, supported or to educate them?  Why not?  Too busy?  Patti Stinson, Mollie McCurdy, Peyton Coyner, Anne Little, Carl Little, Kim Kincheloe, Debra Griggs, Lynne Fogarty Rhode, Courtney Morano, Pat Weakland, Betty Weakland, Helen Wilkens, Cindy Capone-Zimar, Don Zimar, Connie Capone, Barbara Feild, Margaret Marsh, Susanne Kogut, Lisa O'Neill, Tammy Javier, Lana Westfall, Holly Sternberg, Diana Artemis, Pam McAlwee, Barbara Hutcherson, Grace Holden, Wayne Stovall, Brandy Henderson, Coletta Henderson, Rosalie Lesser, David Gaines, Sandy Echeverry, Suzanne Wolstenholme, Lisa Qualls, Joy Lester, Nancy Peterson, Ellen Leckar, Jessica Stovall, Joe Pillera, Jean Luther, Cindy Ingram, Jennifer McMullen (and others I've inadvertently omitted because my memory isn't working as well as it should) weren't too busy, and so we have 12 bills before the legislature that can change the shape of animal welfare in Virginia.

Or do you want others to do it?  Which others would that be?  Our opposition?  Walt Hutchens, Bob Kane, Bob Murray of the Virginia Federation of Dog Clubs and Breeders, or Steve Escobar of the Virginia Veterinary Medicine Association?  Or Del. Bobby Orrock.  Who?

How about you do it.

How about you tell us specifically by return e-mail what exactly you'll do.  This is not like a New Year's resolution made to be broken. 

Promises and slogans relieve the conscience, not the suffering.

Don Marro