Alert 1/30/09 Feral Cat Bill Up on 2/2/09
Del. Robert Hull’s feral cat bill, HJR661, will be heard by the House Ag Subcommittee on Monday, 2/2/09, at 5 p.m. in the General Assembly Building, 7 th Floor West. Note that this is the same time and place as the hearing for HB2669, the humane investigator bill, so your attendance in Richmond can be in support of both bills!
This bill takes the form as a study. “HJR” means House Joint Resolution.
We have no preconceived outcome here. Feral and stray domestic cats are a huge problem and one eliciting strong opinions on all sides. It will be complex to solve. However, the longer we put off addressing this issue, the worse the situation becomes. This bill brings “stakeholders” together to get going officially on the problem.
We seek your support, of course, and ask that you come to Richmond on 2/2/09 at 5 p.m.
If you cannot attend, please contact the House Ag Subcommittee members particularly, asking them to support bill HJR661. Next ask the full House Ag Committee to support, and last, let your own delegate know you want this bill passed so the study can be initiated, and ask your delegate to voice support for the bill to the House Ag Committee.
Immediately below is the description of the bill from the General Assembly website. Below that is the contact list which is the same as was sent to you yesterday. Those with asterisks are on the House Ag Subcommittee.
Cats need our help. With all talking and working together, perhaps we can get started on the solution.
Thank you.
Lillian Clancy and Don Marro
Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare
H.J.R. 661
Patron: Hull
Study; feral cats; report. Requests the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to convene a workgroup that would address issues related to feral cats including: (i) whether there is a cat overpopulation problem in the Commonwealth; (ii) whether any overpopulation problem is the principal cause of feral cat colonies; (iii) whether any overpopulation of cats requires licensure of breeders, curtailment of breeding stock, or reduced-cost sterilization services; (iv) whether a cat may be considered abandoned if relinquished to a releasing agency or released from custody by an owner for reasons other than health of the owner, death, sudden economic emergency, or the expense of treating a medical condition of the cat; (v) whether a colonist caretaker who cares for a feral cat colony is a rescue or releasing agency; and (vi) whether pounds should be required to provide cats with the same retrieval and custodial services now provided to dogs.
House Ag Committee (1/2009):
NOTE: asterisks indicate members of the House Ag Subcommittee
Harvey Morgan, Chairman DelHMorgan@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1098
District ofc: 804-693-4750
Kirk Cox DelKCox@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1066
District ofc: 804-526-5135
Beverly Sherwood DelBSherwood@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1029
District ofc: 804-667-8947
Lee Ware DelLWare@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1065
District ofc: 804-598-6696
Tommy Wright DelTWright@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1061
District ofc: 434-696-3061
*Bobby Orrock DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1054
District ofc: 540-891-1322
Christopher Saxman DelCSaxman@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1020
District ofc: 540-886-8284
Clarke Hogan DelCHogan@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1060
District ofc: 434-575-0000
*Edward Scott DelEScott@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1030
District ofc: 540-825-6400
*Danny Marshall DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1014
District ofc: 434-797-5861
*Matthew Lohr DelMLohr@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1026
District ofc: 540-437-1450
*Charles Poindexter DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1009
District ofc: 540-576-2600
Brenda Pogge DelBPogge@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1096
District ofc: 757-223-9690
Kenneth Plum DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1036
District ofc: 703-758-9733
*James Shuler DelJShuler@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1012
District ofc: 540-953-1103
Albert Eisenberg DelAEisenberg@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1047
District ofc: 703-228-7909
Stephen Shannon DelSShannon@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1035
District ofc: 703-281-5200
*Lynwood Lewis DelLLewis@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1000
District ofc: 757-787-1094
David Bulova DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1037
District ofc: 703-310-6752
Margaret Vanderhye DelMVanderhye@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1034
District ofc: 703-448-8018
*Robert Mathieson DelRMathieson@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1021
District ofc: 757-470-3000
Joseph Bouchard DelJBouchard@house.virginia.gov
Richmond ofc: 804-698-1083
District ofc: 757-333-2527