ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 1996 TAG: 9602070018
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LYNDA McGARRY
IN RESPONSE to former SPCA volunteer Wayne Tomlinson's quote, ``You can't call yourself an animal lover, and have a room full of dead animals,'' in Beth Macy's Jan. 25 article, ``Good-hearted volunteers have special place for animals'':
I appreciate the efforts of the League of Animal Protection for the sake of the animals. I respect its philosophy as a ``no-kill'' shelter. ``No-kill'' shelters across the nation are typically small ones as opposed to local humane shelters - in our area, the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The League of Animal Protection can accommodate eight to 10 cats and 10 to 12 dogs. Foster families house some animals. These families are to be appreciated for their kindness. Unfortunately, these spaces are limited and do not match the need for housing homeless animals.
On the other hand, the SPCA doesn't turn away any animal. This shelter takes all animals - regardless of age, sex, size, temperament, background, etc. Homes are scarce, even though the SPCA provides initial vaccines, deworming, special health care when necessary, grooming and a certificate toward the cost of spaying or neutering. Thanks to the cooperation of the Roanoke Valley Veterinarians' Association, many adopted animals are already spayed or neutered before leaving the shelter for a new home.
Unfortunately, the supply of homeless animals exceeds the demand for them. The painful decision has to be made to provide a humane death for certain animals - the unadoptable ones that otherwise would almost surely be abandoned and left to an inhumane death of slow starvation, dehydration or disease.
At the SPCA, we've continued to persevere in our efforts to improve adoption rates, to increase education at no charge to the public, to be active in legislative matters before the General Assembly to safeguard animal welfare, to set a goal of 100 percent of all animals being spayed or neutered before being adopted to prevent additional overpopulation, and to provide a new shelter to have more room for the animals and therefore slow the euthanasia rate. The cries of the League of Animal Protection that there should be no killing are simply utopian. There will be deaths as long as there are unwanted animals.
There has been a charge directed at the SPCA's compassionate staff that is as unfair as it was vitriolic by (I suppose) well-meaning founders of the League of Animal Protection. Four technicians at the SPCA are certified in humane euthanasia. Our recent inspection by the Board of Pharmacy indicates that we are the only shelter in the state to use only certified technicians. These technicians are the most courageous of animal lovers. Yes, sometimes there is a room full of dead animals, but there's also a room full of tears shed for those animals.
The SPCA is stretched to the limit in trying to provide for the animals in Roanoke city, Vinton, and the counties of Roanoke, Craig and Botetourt. Please don't fault the staff for the actions of irresponsible pet owners. This staff loves these unfortunate animals when all others have abandoned them. Criticize the SPCA's mission if you must, but leave its compassionate and loyal staff alone.
Lynda McGarry is vice president of the Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, serves on its Board of Directors and is chair of its Shelter Committee.
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