Listening to calls for change from citizens, Chesterfield County leaders have agreed to move toward a "no-kill" animal shelter.
County supervisors on Wednesday unanimously approved a resolution pledging to "develop a strategic plan and partnership process to reduce the number of homeless companion animals in the animal shelter, with the ultimate goal of becoming a facility where . . . the lives of all healthy companion animals will be saved."
The resolution also states that the county will work to expand its spay-and-neuter services for all adoptable animals prior to release.
The resolution comes on the heels of two meetings where citizens pleaded with the county to make changes at the shelter where 1,351 dogs and cats of the 4,788 received last year were put down -- still a lower percentage than most area localities.
Both the Richmond SPCA and Richmond Animal League have proposed partnerships with the county to help toward the goals.
"In our discussions with the representatives of the SPCA and other groups, they have made it very clear to me that it is totally unrealistic to expect to reach a total implementation of a no-kill policy until about 18 months down the road," noted County Administrator James J.L. Stegmaier.
While no final partnerships have been reached, Stegmaier said the county was working toward one with the SPCA, which would take in some of the animals in danger of euthanization for safekeeping and adoption.
The SPCA partnered with Richmond in 2001 and with Hanover last year, making them both "no-kill" facilities where no healthy, adoptable animals are put down.
The Richmond Animal League has offered a low-cost partnership for sterilizing pre-adoption animals and providing medical services.
Both organizations would first need to increase their building capacity to handle the additional animals, Stegmaier said.
"This is certainly an example of the fact that we're listening to our citizens," said A.S. "Art" Warren, chairman of the Board of Supervisors.
Matoaca Supervisor Marleen K. Durfee agreed.
"Obviously, I think there was an expectation that the county move in some direction, and this is the first step forward for us to be able to do that," she said.
Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or whester@timesdispatch.com.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement