Alert  8/10/07            Gearing Up

 

Summer is about over.

 

Let's talk about what's happening after Labor Day and the big push toward the 2008 session of the General Assembly.

 

1.   First, Don Marro, President and co-founder of Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare and the sister group, Virginians for Animal Welfare, is recovering from major surgery he had in early August.  Recovery is slow but steady.  Things look good, and it appears we will be able to keep the pace of previous years.

 

2.   That means setting a schedule for meetings starting as soon as possible after Labor Day.

 

Once again we plan to have Sunday meetings running from 11 am to 1 pm, with people leaving the meeting with a clear sense of what to do to help make a difference.

 

For the most part, our meeting schedule will be driven by those in a given area who will organize such a meeting.  Samantha Whitesides organized such a meeting for Culpeper - in Bob Kane's backyard - back in July.

 

Now we need you to do the same for your area, and we will help you take the necessary steps for a successful meeting.

 

You needn't fear the costs to organize a meeting; all out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed, but it will take time, drive, and perhaps a couple of you working together to make it happen.

 

We will travel to your meeting if you can deliver a group of at least 15 people.

 

We believe the places below, at a minimum, warrant having meetings this Fall.

 

Now we need someone to organize each location:

 

Caroline County

Charlottesville

Culpeper County

Danville

Fauquier/Warrenton

Fredericksburg

Leesburg

Mecklenburg County

Northern Neck

Northern VA/Reston

Prince William County

Richmond

Roanoke

Surry County

Tidewater

Virginia Beach

Waynesboro

Winchester

Wytheville

 

3.   Political campaigning for the November general election begins in earnest after Labor Day. 

What are you doing to elect animal-welfare-friendly supervisors and legislators, and to defeat those who are not?

 

4.   We have had responses to the Requiem for a Fighting Dog and will get them posted.  If there is a volunteer to help with this posting, please let us know ASAP.

 

5.   Speaking of volunteers, we need a handful of dedicated and hard-working people.  Ideally, some will be close by (we are in Fauquier County) who are able to come here and work on site, and there are also projects that can be done remotely.

 

If you can help, let us know.

 

Projects for which help is needed:

a.   identifying Virginia veterinarians

b.   gathering local jurisdiction budget information

c.   identifying Virginia ACOs

d.   gathering information about public pounds including

the history of the actual pound building

the population of the area served now and 20 years ago

number of runs

ideal number of dogs it can hold

whether cats are accepted

volunteer program

hours open to the public

number of people working at the pound (employees & volunteers)

euthanization figures

e.   a Court Watch program tracking animal abuse court cases in Virginia

f.   survey of all jurisdictions to determine

leash laws

dealer permits for selling/trading/giving away pets

animal abuse cases including dogfighting (and resolution) for last 3 years

g.   tethering ordinances       

h.   fundraising

 

Are you ready to get started?  Let us know what you will do.

 

Lillian Clancy/Don Marro

540-253-5309