THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 14, 1996 TAG: 9606130190
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 73 lines
In response to Nicholas Delphia's letter in the June 7 Beacon, everyone knows how difficult it is to lose a pet, and choosing to adopt another is often emotional. But it is important to know these facts about the Virginia Beach SPCA.
First of all, the fact that the Virginia Beach SPCA is the only shelter open on Sundays is very telling. The staff of the Virginia Beach SPCA is so committed to adopting animals that they see fit to stay open seven days a week, including some evenings.
Secondly, it is important to remember that the Virginia Beach SPCA is in the business of finding good homes for the animals in their care. What seemed like too many questions is necessary to appraise a situation and find a good fit of pet and owner for what will hopefully be a long-term commitment.
The Virginia Beach SPCA sets high standards for itself. They accept every animal brought to them and euthanize them if necessary; other agencies may transfer animals because they are ``full'' or refuse to take back animals adopted from them. Animals at the Virginia Beach SPCA are kept as long as they are healthy and as long as there is room for them. A stray animal with a collar must be kept, by state law, for 10 days. Finally, the Virginia Beach SPCA is well known for the care it takes of its facility and receives compliments regularly regarding the cleanliness of the facility, which houses 200 animals a day.
Margaret S. Ray
Virginia Beach SPCA
Board of Directors
June 10
As I read Nicholas Delphia's letter, I got angry then mad at your statement about the condition of the SPCA cages and euthanasia policy.
First of all, you need to know the facts before you make a statement like that. There is not a 10-day limit on how long an animal stays. A lot depends on the condition of the animal when it is brought in.
The red tape (adoption application) you spoke about is very necessary due to the fact that there are a lot of irresponsible pet owners. People want a big dog to tie outside and protect their property, cats are let out loose to roam the streets and reproduce. Cats and dogs need loving, caring homes. These people need to be weeded out and the applications help with that process.
As for animals laying in their own feces and urine, those cages are cleaned daily and animals are also bathed. Messes do happen and they are cleaned up again.
Beth Garlock
June 7
In response to Nicholas Delphia, he apparently is unaware of the main goal of the SPCA and other rescue groups in general. We as rescue groups have an obligation to place our animals in loving, caring homes. This means screening applicants.
All good pet owners will agree that all people are not responsible enough to have a pet. If they were, Hampton Roads' shelters and animal control bureaus would not have to kill over 35,000 animals a year. We would not see pets running loose throughout the neighborhood, animals left outside without shelter, food or water; animals abandoned because they have had accidents in the house, children have lost interest in the newest toy, the family was moving or was just too busy to take care of their pet. If this was a perfect world, all pets would be spayed or neutered.
From my experience in animal rescue, I find people expect too much from animals. Many people adopt on impulse and, when they realize that they have taken on the training, care and medical obligations, they no longer want the animal.
No animal shelter enjoys putting animals down (Virginia Beach SPCA alone euthanized 2,865 animals in 1995), but putting them in abusive or uncaring homes is not the answer.
Gay Latimer
National Greyhound
Adoption Program
June 7 by CNB