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Copeland Casati wrote her neighbors about the abandoned pet issues:
Dear Ginter Park and neighboring associations’ residents:
As you may know, recently our community has been plagued by loose dogs, endangering themselves, humans, and pets left outdoors in our neighborhood. Addressing this issue, please take a moment to ensure your animals are securely contained in their backyards and that all pets have identification on them, even if they are “indoors only.”
It is the law, and it is for your pet’s safety. I have spoken with several individuals, including myself, who try to return stray pets to their owners, only to be thwarted by a lack of identification. To that end, the only recourse previously was to surrender the stray to the SPCA or other humane organizations. However, the Richmond SPCA and City Animal Shelter are in the midst of a transition in regards to processing animals of which I feel everyone should be aware:
(Information culled from a letter from Robin Starr, Executive Director of the Richmond SPCA dated January 2, 2002.)
Beginning January 7, 2002, the Richmond SPCA and City Animal Shelter, in partnership with the Richmond Animal League and FURS, began the transition to have animals processed at the City Animal Shelter. From this moment on, surrenders to the Richmond SPCA will be by appointment only.
On Tuesdays and Fridays, staff members from the Richmond SPCA will bring processed animals, after temperament testing, to the Richmond SPCA to be available for adoption. Other humane groups will have access to the City Shelter on Mondays and Thursdays for their adoptions.
The letter further states:
“We also take seriously the responsibility of every pet owner to treat his pet’s life as a precious thing, not something to be cast aside lightly. To that end, we are beginning a program with our partners called Project Safety Net. This program will provide owners with an array of resources to address problems with their pets in a responsible manner. These resources will include professionally managed behavioral retraining assistance and behavior hotline, information on pet friendly housing, information on spaying and neutering for both owned pets and feral animals and assistance in re-homing their pets themselves. Project Safety Net will be an essential part of our efforts to shape more appropriate behavior on the part of pet owners and other community members with respect to caring for our animal companions.”
The City Animal Shelter, Richmond SPCA, and other humane groups in the area are joining together to better cohesively address the problems brought on by unsprayed and neutered animals and other issues that ultimately, are the owners responsibility.
As these groups further concentrate on bettering the lives of the animals in the community, please take a moment to assess whether there is anything you, as a responsible pet owner who cares deeply for their animal(s), can do to best ensure the safety and protection of yourself (as you are liable for your pet) and your community.
Information pertaining to pet adoption, behavioral issues, Frequently Asked Questions and more can be found at:
www.343pets.com Addresses common questions and issues regarding animal care
www.richmondspca.org Web site for the Richmond SPCA
www.richmondspca.org/index/projectsafetynet.htm Project Safety Net information
www.operationcatnip.net/ Operation Catnip
www.petfinder.org/shelters/VA126.html Richmond Animal Shelter’s adoption page
Sincerely yours,
Copeland Casati