by Pat Weakland (VVAW Northern Neck Chapter)
Get a copy of your local town/city or county ordinances. These would be available thru your town/city manager, county administrator, or on the internet.
Also, procure a copy of the Code of Virginia that pertains to animals, (3.1-796.66 thru3.1-796.136), available on the internet or in book form.
On the web, you can find the animal laws here:
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC03010000027000040000000
a. How many dogs and cats are killed in Virginia each year? How many in your town/city or county and how? This figure is available from the Office of the State Veterinarian, and you can get a report for your locality at the link below:
http://www.virginia.gov/vdacs_ar/cgi-bin/Vdacs_search.cgi
If you are interested in earlier years, go to the link below:
http://VirginiaVotersForAnimalWelfare.com/VAStatistics.htm
b. How many licenses are sold?
VVAW has information on the number of licenses sold in 2004 for most counties/cities. Just go to the link below and look up your jurisdiction:
http://www.virginiavotersforanimalwelfare.com/ComplianceData.htm
You can also get this information from your local Treasurer's office.
c. How much money is budgeted for animal control? Ask your town/city manager or county administrator.
VVAW also did a survey of counties and cities for fiscal year 04-05 budgets, which can be found here:
http://VirginiaVotersForAnimalWelfare.com/VABudgets04-05.htm
d. How many animals are there in your community?
That estimated number can be computed by getting the Virginia Quick Facts from the US Census Bureau on the internet. This will give you the number of households for your town/city or county. Then get the Veterinary Market Statistics formulas, also on the internet, to estimate pet numbers. You can get the estimated numbers for dogs, cats, birds, and horses at the link below:
http://www.avma.org/membshp/marketstats/formulas.asp
He/She is the real information and administrative power in your locale. He/She sets up the agenda and controls the flow of council or board meetings.
Attend every council or board meeting you can, as well as planning commission meetings, and any other government meetings even if there are no animal issues on the agenda. Show your face, and in time you will be noticed.
If you get labeled “that animal person” be proud of your accomplishment. Even this reputation, or being called radical, is positive because it’s for a good cause. In time you will be surprised at the number of supporters, even though they may not want to be an active participant.
Get as much help (friends, neighbors, relatives) as you can, especially for council and board meetings. This will be difficult as there probably won’t be many that want to get involved, but still try.
Ask them what their problems are, and how you can help resolve those problems.
Visit your animal shelter. Virginia Code 3.1-796.96 requires each county or city to maintain a pound or contract with a private group or other local governing body.
Determine precisely what problem you want to solve and what changes are needed.
You may want to write an ordinance amendment or a new ordinance and submit it for adoption by your local governing body. You could write a letter to your district councilman or district supervisor requesting an appearance before your council or board of supervisors, and then give them your suggestions.
Every county has a commonwealth attorney. They will most likely attend your council or board meeting unless your governing body has hired its own lawyer.
Introduce yourself. They might be helpful sometime in the future.
Local newspapers are a good source to get your message out. They sometimes print letters to the editor. So send them one. It won’t cost you more than a postage stamp.
Also, they will probably have a reporter at your council or board meeting. Again, introduce yourself and explain your concerns and goals. They will report on any initiative you present to your council or board.
Don’t allow your frustration and anger show. The progress might be at a snail's pace; ten steps forward and nine steps backward is a net gain of one step.
If you haven’t already, join Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare. Although we are working on a statewide legislative level, VVAW is an invaluable tool to you on the local level. We are available to answer your questions or give you suggestions in your quest to improve the life of our companion animals.
I WISH YOU MUCH LUCK.
Patrick Weakland
VVAWNN@VirginiaVotersForAnimalWelfare.com