
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 12, 1990                   TAG: 9004130874
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-24   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PET ADOPTIONS STOPPED A WEEK BEFORE HOLIDAYS

The Roanoke Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a new policy of being closed for adoptions for one week before each gift-giving holiday.

The intent of the policy, according to SPCA officials, is to ensure that animals adopted from the shelter are not being given as gifts. The animals may not be cared for properly once the novelty of having a baby animal wears off.

The SPCA also encourages parents not to give their children live animals, such as baby chicks and rabbits, as Easter presents. The animals may carry salmonella, which causes illness in humans. There also is a danger of young children injuring or killing the frail animals unintentionally. Such animals also require special diets and environments, responsibilities that most children cannot handle. Thought also must be given to what will become of the animals when they grow up.

by CNB