Alert 4/24/07 Good News from
So many people worked so hard to make things happen in
There are many to thank including the wonderful people of
the Lee Animal League who worked and drove and then worked and drove some
more.
This wouldn't have happened without Cynthia Mantalos who
worked tirelessly from her home in
And the cooperation from the Lee
County Administrator, Dane Poe, who took calls himself to help get the
dogs out, was extraordinarily helpful.
It is best not to try to thank more people individually
because someone will surely be left out. You all know who you are, and you
did a wonderful job under stressful circumstances. Thank you.
Now what?
The pound was closed on 4/4/07 for lack of an Animal
Control Officer. The pound as of 4/24/07 has 5 dogs there for a variety of
reasons and apparently came after the weekend departure of the other dogs.
The pound will stay closed - or at minimum operation - so floors can be
resealed, and until new ACOs are on board. According to Lee County Administrator Dane
Poe on 4/24/07, two ACOs have been hired and are due to start work 5/1/07.
A training schedule for them has not been established, including when/where they
will receive basic ACO training, when/who will train them to do EBI (euthanasia
by injection), and if/when they will be trained to use Lee County's gas
chamber.
All this must be followed.
And what will happen going forward?
Have you seen the Animal Records for
View the records, and we think you will then understand why
"Now what?" is asked.
owner
total dogs
year
give-ups
reclaimed
adopted
euthanized handled
2000
318
28
29
895
1019
2001
39
38
74
728
863
2002
68
33
22
863
948
2003
94
10
8
1050
1086
*2004
176
7
21
657
728
2005
123
7
392
569
1020
2006
287
74
58
596
1051
*2004 is not on line; 2004 figures are by FOIA request to
There are more pets in
Do the math. How often does the gas chamber need to
be used to euthanize in these quantities? And to date,
The point is that it is impossible for Lee County - and every place
else in Virginia, for that matter - to adopt its way out of this big pet
overbreeding, abandonment and excess population problem.
There are too many dogs being bred, and they are killed
because there are not enough homes. A pet is killed every 4 minutes in
So back to the question: now what?
Without spay/neuter, a handle on breeding and owner
accountability, this situation will not change - whether in
We have seen what a group of hard-working, dedicated people
did in the last few days. Can we keep this momentum going? go beyond
rescue? make change locally and statewide? That's up to
you.
What change? Where?
What about sterilizing all strays as a condition of
reclaiming a dog from the pound?
Is there a prohibition against running at large? why
not? because it's "country"? is it "country" to kill this
many?
Could your county require a dealer permit for each person
who "deals" (sells, barters, gives away) in companion animals?
Could your county require a business license for each
person who has a business selling pets (whether the business is profitable or
not)?
Will anyone help by running for office in
Can you do this?
Lillian Clancy/Don Marro
PS: Go on line and see your own jurisdiction from
2004 to 2006. It might surprise you. See for yourself how many are
killed in your county for lack of a home.
The VDACS site is easy to use.
See: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/animals/index.shtml
Scroll down until you see a gold colored band with "Animal
Welfare" on it.
Click on the 3rd option:
Annual Reports from Pounds and
Shelters
Select "Single Organization", then go to the Report Year
you want (2004, 2005, 2006), and click on "continue".