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8/11/05
Eileen McAfee's response to missing animal records
Many of you have responded to the questions and concerns regarding incomplete animal records for 2004.
Below is the response to this issue from Eileen McAfee, a long-time, devoted and very thoughtful worker on behalf of Virginia’s animals. What follows are Eileen’s thoughts on why keeping these statistics is important:
“I believe it is imperative that the Office of the State Veterinarian maintain statistics on Virginia's pounds/shelters for the following reasons:
1. Millions of taxpayer dollars are spent annually on operating animal pounds in Virginia as well as on certain shelters that contract with public localities to function as a public pound. We have a right to know how our money is being spent, i.e. the numbers of animals being cared for.
2. Statistics provide a measurement tool for taxpayers and localities to determine how effectively tax dollars are being spent. Does a locality, for example, take in 600 animals per year or 6,000?
3. Statistics can tell us what our locality's attitude is toward animals. How many of them get adopted vs. killed? How many of them simply die in their cage at the pound? (This is certainly a reflection of whether or not veterinary care is provided to impounded animals as required under VA's Comprehensive Animal Welfare Laws.)
4. Maintaining statistics also tells us what the Office of the State Veterinarian's attitude is toward companion animals. Does this agency care about "pets" or only about animals whose illnesses may impact public health and business, e.g. cattle, poultry and equines.
5. The posting of statistics provides a means for localities to compare their performance with those of other localities and may induce the desire to improve their performance.
It should be a given that statistics are accurately recorded by any government agency charged with oversight for localities/departments under their jurisdiction. It should also be a given that pound/shelter management accurately and honestly report their statistics to the Office of the State Veterinarian.
I agree with the Clancy/Marro (Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare) view that inadequate oversight in an area of responsibility requiring minimal effort is an indicator of inadequate management of more complex responsibilities.”
Eileen McAfee
Richmond, VA
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Some have suggested that not all groups report, and perhaps that is because the legislation regarding who is to file is not widely known.
The key is the number of animals accepted for placement in permanent homes.
The reference in the Virginia Code is 3.1-796.96:5 that you can read in full here:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+3.1-796.96C5
This is a link to the form that is required to be kept for each animal:
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/pdf/custody.pdf
The State Vet now has an online reporting system for filing the annual reports. However, before you can use the online reporting system you will need to get a login name and password from the State Vet's office. The link below is for the State Vet's website. You can also call them at 804-786-2483 and they can help you get set up.
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/index.html
We hope this information is helpful.
Lillian Clancy
Virginia Voters For Animal Welfare