Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993 TAG: 9309180190
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Fewer than 10 percent are adopted.
The rest are put to death because there is no one willing to take them.
Dawn Hale, a pet lover who lives in Vinton, said it's evil to kill so many cats and dogs.
The pet overpopulation in the Roanoke Valley is part of a national crisis, with millions of cats and dogs each year dying by euthanasia, she said.
Hale and several other pet lovers have started a campaign to persuade state and local governments in Virginia to adopt laws that would require cats and dogs to be neutered and spayed.
Their efforts have won the backing of Roanoke City Council.
"It's a shame that some [cats and dogs] are treated the way they are," said Councilman James Harvey. "It breaks my heart."
Hale said the group has talked with Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County. He has offered to seek state legislation to help curb pet overpopulation if the group can gain the backing of local governments, she said.
Pet overpopulation is a social disease, not a clinical problem, Hale said. "We have the technology and surgical procedures to prevent it," she said.
Judy Pyska said mandatory spaying and neutering laws are needed to "to stop the killing of these pets." Unless something is done, she said, the problem will get worse.
"These loving animals are being put to death and the only way to prevent that is to restrict their breeding," Pyska said.
Hale said nearly $250 million is spent each year nationwide to care for cats and dogs in shelters and then put them to death.
Council has asked the city's Legislative Committee to review the request and make a recommendation for the next General Assembly session that begins in January.
"I can assure you that this council will help do whatever it can to help solve the problem," Harvey said.
Because of complaints in recent years, council has restricted the number of cats that can kept in residential areas.
by CNB