8/2/08
The animal welfare regional meeting of Virginians for Animal Welfare and Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare (VAW and VVAW) with VFHS (Virginia Federation of Humane Societies) met at 11:00 am on Saturday, 8/2/08, at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax, VA.
In attendance: * denotes member of VAW/VVAW Board of Directors
Bob Adler
Bonnie Adler
Carl Andrews
Lisa Andrews
Rachel Andrews
Randy Bailey
Anne Balfour
Jim Balfour
Heather Beaman
Wendy Beaman
Linda Bickham
Helen Bond
Tom Bond
Mary Breeden
Marian Burke
Bruce Burnette
Elaine Burnette
Dean Carliles
Yvonne Carliles
Cathy Carter
Tim Carter
*Lillian Clancy
Charles Clay
Kalen Clay
Angel Conner
Cathy Cottrell
Sheri Downey
Dave Fore
Jenny Fore
Judy Fore
Vicki Garrett
Rhonda Gentry
John Govoni
Mary Govoni
Del. Clarke Hogan
Sarah Humber
Linda Jones
Peggy Malone
Tara Malone-Menendez
*Donald Marro
Linda Mercer
Faye Michaud
Mary Lou Morrison
Carol Nelson
Sheryl Pelella
Sally Regan
Anne Rexrode
Betty Roberts
Karen Robertson
Sen. Frank Ruff
Mary Lee Salb
Brian Schwab
Rabiah Seminole
Dana Shumaker
Cookie Skakum
Patricia Stainback
Linda Unroe
Cheryl G. Watts
*Patrick Weakland
Pam Williams
Sandy Wyatt
Special guests included Senator Frank Ruff and Rep. Clarke Hogan.
Page Three – minutes of Halifax meeting 8/2/08
The meeting was called to order.
Co-hosts told something of their organizations:
Elaine Burnette/Halifax Humane Society said they rescued 767 dogs and cats last year; they have no shelter but depend upon foster homes for all of them.
Mary Govoni/Spay/Neuter All Pets Society said they help spay/neuter approximately 500 family pets a year. While focusing on spay/neuter, her group also provides critical care for animals if owners can’t afford the vet bills. In addition, they have significant numbers of dogs and cats in foster homes.
Sally Regan, new President of the Lake Country SPCA that has a Board of 13 members, said her organization handles between 1000 and 1500 animals each year and has a no-kill shelter in Clarksville as well as numerous foster homes in the area. They routinely transfer puppies to the North Shore Animal League.
Rabiah Seminole/Blue Horse Mukwa Equine Retirement and Rescue Center said hers is a lifetime care facility and home to 40 horses and 18 dogs. They’ve helped over 150 horses to date and when at capacity, they help place horses until they have room. They also need volunteers.
Sandy Wyatt/Southside SPCA said they handled 1600 animals last year and since the year 2000, have sent 40 puppies up north every Monday.
Each person in the audience then introduced themselves and briefly told of their involvement with animal welfare.
Don Marro mentioned a potential federal law outlawing horse slaughter for human consumption. Although not within the purview of VVAW, it is an important issue, and people should let their congressional representatives that they do not want American horses shipped overseas to be slaughtered for humans to eat.
A review of the 2008 Virginia animal legislation followed.
Page Four - minutes of Halifax meeting 8/2/08
The first video was by Kathy Strouse, Legislative Liaison for VACA (Virginia Animal Control Association). Bills she noted included
HB5 – elimination of gas chambers
HB207 – limiting scope of inspection
HB537 – allows Treasurers to destroy rabies certificate once information has been entered
HB538 - defines commercial breeders; provides operational guidelines and for inspections
HB655 – dangerous dog bill – leeway to judges
HB656 – landmark animal fighting bill
HB999 - allows payment of bond for seized animals by those accused of animal cruelty while case works its way through the legal system
HB1331 – recodifies all animal laws
HB663 – allows discretion in setting fees for animals picked up by animal control
Charles Clay asked about local animal abuse as shown by dumping animals at neighborhood dumpsters.
Don Marro asked what to do to break the cycle of abuse, and asked how many in the group were registered voters.
The review of 2008 legislation continued. Michelle Welch presented (by video) information about the animal fighting bill, HB656. The bill makes most animal fighting a class 6 felony.
Don mentioned the VAW Court Watch program which tracks animal cruelty cases through Virginia. The public should follow the information and should as much as possible attend these hearings noted in Court Watch alerts. If the community attends, it makes a definite impact on the court.
NOTE: VAW is to provide the website so people can see what’s going on in their area. The site: www.courts.state.va.us An alert about using this site will be distributed soon.
Continuing with 2008 legislation, Don discussed the elimination of gas chambers.In2005, therehad been 23 jurisdictions in Virginia using gas chambers made from plywood to cinder block. They were dangerous and expensive to operate (if run legally), as well as inhumane. There are now no more gas chambers in Virginia.
Don addressed SB26, the RICO bill which allows for prosecutorial discretion to seek more significant monetary and criminal penalties for animal fighting and associated activities, and allows prison terms of up to 20 years; the RICO bill goes well beyond penalties (class 6 felony) associated with HB656.
Page Five - minutes of Halifax meeting 8/2/08
Next HB538 – the “puppymill bill” - was discussed in a video presentation by Sharon Adams of the Virginia Beach SPCA who described the new restrictions:
. can only breed dogs that are at least 18 months old
. cannot breed after 8 years old (if they live that long)
. must be provided adequate care, vet care, and must be certified as able to be bred by a veterinarian
. if euthanasia is required, it must be done by a veterinarian
. required to keep records on every animal.
. inspections are now permitted without complaint or probable cause, but are not mandatory
Don briefly discussed HB 999, the bond bill; perpetrators must pay for the care of seized animals while the case is in the legal system.
The last video was done by Debra Griggs who presented the “water bill”, HB 673. The bill requires that animals have access to potable water at all times.
Senator Frank Ruff indicated that the water bill might be difficult to enforce and may not create an answer to the problem. To help, he needs facts, not opinions.
The meeting then moved to a discussion of legislative initiatives for 2009.
It was suggested that Virginia have a law requiring hunting dogs to be spayed/neutered, and that should be part of their kennel expense.
Hunting dogs should also be microchipped so when they are abandoned after hunting season, the owner can be penalized or fined for abandoning that dog.
Don asked what causes the problems we are trying to resolve?
Some answers from the group:
. animal over-population
. no leash laws or no enforcement of leash laws
. animals considered to be property
. inadequate ACO time to work possible animal abuse cases
. need microchips for all hunting dogs
Animal welfare groups need to get to the Board of Supervisors and let them know about the problems and what private charities have done about the problems, providing facts.
Page Six – minutes of Halifax meeting 8/2/08
The group was then asked to sign up for to serve on state-wide committee focusing on issues of special interest. Topics included many issues; some are:
s/n for all animals with very specific exceptions; releasing agencies (which are now pounds/shelters/rescues) now can only “release” sterile animals; pet shops and breeders would become “releasing agencies” in addition to the pounds, shelters, and rescues
humane investigators – trained volunteers to augment animal control employees; would report to the same function as do the ACOs
humane education: programs are needed for adults as well as children
tethering: animals cannot be tied for indefinite periods
TNR: trap/neuter/return cats to the feral colony
hunting dog identification: removing a dog’s collar is against the law; need a permanent ID such as a microchip
tax credit to vets who work with 501c(3) organizations
tax credit to those who adopt pets from 501c3 groups
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 1:30 pm but discussions continued in an informal setting for some time thereafter.