Alert 9/10/08 Humane Investigator Program Needs Your Support

 

As you know, we have been trying very hard to reinstate the Humane Investigator volunteer program, but have been consistently opposed in this legislative effort, and are being opposed administratively by the State Vet’s office as well.

 

The State Vet presently is in the process of a “fast track” approval program intended to divest itself of any further responsibility for promulgating regulations about the training and appointment of Humane Investigators, although the State Vet will tell you that because the program has been curtailed, their authority has likewise been curtailed. Curtailed is not the same as eliminated. There are Humane Investigators, and there are prospects for other Humane Investigators to be appointed, so the State Vet’s excuse would by this standard appear to be disingenuous.

 

If you agree that the Humane Investigator program is worthwhile, then having the training and appointment authority disappear would make it that much harder to either continue the program or reinstate it. Therefore, we ask that you contact by letter or email those noted below indicating your opposition to the “fast track” process and your opposition to the withdrawal of the State Vet from this activity.

 

Please do this promptly since comments must be received within the next two weeks.

 

Send to these three gentlemen and to the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall. The message can be the same for all of them (and the street address can be the same if you prefer U.S. mail: 102 Governor Street; Richmond, VA 23219):

 

Robert Bloxom

Secretary of Agriculture & Forestry

Robert.Bloxom@governor.virginia.gov

 

Todd Haymore

Commissioner, Virginia Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (VDACS)

Todd.Haymore@vdacs.virginia.gov

 

Richard Wilkes, DVM

State Veterinarian & Director, Division of Animal & Food Industry Services

Richard.Wilkes@vdacs.virginia.gov

 

Virginia Regulatory Town Hall

Start by clicking here: http://www.townhall.state.va.us/L/NowInProgress.cfm 

This will get you to a list of Boards.

Scroll down to Board : Dept. of Ag. & Consumer Services

First entry is about Humane Investigators; click on stage

On the new screen, scroll down to “Comment Period” and click on “In Progress” which is printed in red.

On this new screen called “In Progress,” scroll down to “Enter a Comment.”

Enter yours there; it can be the same as you’ve used for the 3 gentlemen above.

 

Thank you very much. We need this program. How can anyone oppose trained volunteers during this time of budget cuts?

 

Lillian Clancy and Don Marro