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

DATE: FRIDAY, February 4, 1994                   TAG: 9402040182
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SPCA CONDEMNS HUNTING PRESERVE

The organization's board of directors, responding to members' calls for the organization to take a stand on the exotic game preserve near Covington, unanimously voted to issue what it termed a "statement of condemnation."

"A statement tells that we are concerned," Sandy Obenshain, board secretary, said. "We've been so concerned with other matters that we've not had the time to discuss this at board meetings.

"But [Boar Walla] is not a humane way of hunting."

The vote could lead the SPCA to work for changes in state laws pertaining to game preserves. Several members proposed that the organization go beyond merely taking a public position, possibly by researching state law and approaching state legislators with proposed changes.

A faction of the SPCA membership has voiced dissatisfaction with what it views as the organization's conservative posture and reluctance to take a public stand on animal-rights issues.

"I'm gratified by the fact that you've come out in condemnation," member Waine Tomlinson said. "It's all that we've been asking for."

The matter was referred to a public relations committee, which was asked to report back to the board with a plan for publicizing the organization's position on Boar Walla.