THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996               TAG: 9606270601
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY NAOMI AOKI, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                           LENGTH:   57 lines

NORFOLK JOINS SPCA IN OPENING FACILITY FOR THE LOST, HOMELESS SABRE ROAD SITE TO HOST STRAYS AND LOST PETS AS WELL AS THE ODD SNAKE OR LIZARD.

The city's stray, lost and abandoned cats and dogs soon will have two havens - the existing SPCA shelter, and a new, city-run animal shelter.

Since 1982, the Norfolk Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been the sole animal shelter for the city and has received city funding for the service.

``About a year ago, we told the city the number of animals it was bringing in was just too many,'' SPCA director Karen Pinneo said. ``We couldn't handle all the animals.''

So beginning Monday, the city will open its own animal shelter, lightening the SPCA's load.

The SPCA shelter, at 916 Ballentine Blvd., will continue to take in pets that owners give up. The city-operated shelter, the Norfolk Animal Management Center, which is about a five-minute drive away at 5585 Sabre Road, will house all stray and lost animals as well as any pets owners bring in.

Dogs, puppies, kittens, cats and even snakes and lizards are welcome, said Lt. Phil McKeon, officer in charge of the Norfolk animal-control unit.

``The seven animal control officers have been working double duty to get the center set up,'' McKeon said. ``But we're walking on air about it. We're happy to finally be in our own building and running our own show.''

Money from the city manager's contingency funds will cover most of the shelter's start-up costs. Also, $250,000 in city funds, previously given to the SPCA, is allocated for this year's operational costs.

For the SPCA, losing the $250,000 - nearly a quarter of its yearly budget - means increased reliance on public support. Pinneo said she expects to maintain all current SPCA programs and improve the quality of service at the shelter despite the loss in city funding.

``Not having to handle as many animals will free up resources and help cut expenses,'' Pinneo said.

In 1995, the SPCA took in more than 13,000 animals. Nearly 40 percent of those animals were returned to their owners or adopted; the rest were euthanized. Pinneo hopes that by taking in fewer animals the humane society can reduce the percentage of animals it euthanizes.

State regulations require both shelters to keep animals without tags, collars or any other form of identification at least five days and animals with identification at least 10 days before putting them up for adoption or euthanizing them.

The new shelter is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and by appointment on Saturday and Sunday. The shelter needs newspapers to line cages. They can be left at the door after hours. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

SHELTER DETAILS

The city shelter is at 5585 Sabre Road. Its phone number is

664-PETS. The SPCA shelter is at 916 Ballentine Blvd. Its phone

number is 662-3319.

KEYWORDS: ANIMAL SHELTERS by CNB