THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410200057
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLOTTE SHEPARD
LENGTH: Long : 183 lines
FROM VIRGINIA BEACH to Suffolk, there are many places one can search for a ``new family member'' or request assistance and care for an animal orphan.
Perhaps you want assistance with the raccoon in your chimney or a ride to the vet.
The Animal Assistance League, headquartered in Chesapeake, is open for adoption seven days a week from noon to 5 p.m.
``We are very selective about the people who adopt our animals,'' Dave Philpott, front-office worker, said. ``I size each one up that comes through the door.''
A dog larger than 30 pounds must have a yard with a 6-foot privacy fence or a dog run. ``The animals must be spayed or neutered and we go to court to enforce that law,'' Philpott said.
``Our adoption fee is $20 for kittens and $10 for cats, while fees for puppies are $30 and $20 for a dog older than 7 months.'' Philpott added, ``We are all vet-technicians, so that we can give them their shots and worming medication.''
The league, a non-profit organization, has two fund-raisers, along with donations. It owns Las Gaviotas Pet Hotel and holds Bingo games on Monday and Friday at Independence Hall.
The league would welcome donations of newspapers, towels (for kennel workers), food and litter.
``Chesapeake does not have a leash law, but the dog must be within voice command,'' Sgt. Van Williams, supervisor of the Chesapeake Animal Control Bureau, said.
The bureau holds the pets brought in for a minimum of seven days. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. ``We assist with any type of domestic animal,'' Williams said.
The bureau's adoption fee is $30 if not spayed or neutered, and $20 of the fee is returned when proof of the spaying or neutering is brought in.
``We have an awful lot of good animals here for adoption and we are very proud of our shelter,'' Williams said, ``and we do backyard checks and answer complaints.''
Williams wants to caution dog owners to check their pet's collar. ``We have too many brought in with the collar imbedded in the neck,'' Williams said. ``Sometimes they put a collar on a puppy and never check the size as the animal grows.''
Esther Anderson, Portsmouth animal control supervisor, has an education program available for schools and civic leagues. ``It is important we learn how to co-exist with animals,'' she said.
Anderson also will assist the elderly in transporting their animals to the vet. ``Today, many older people have outlived their children, and their pet is the only thing they have to love,'' she said, explaining why her staff operates this program.
Anderson is also willing to arrange for traps to be set for raccoons and possums. ``We have taken their space without building programs in the city,'' she said.
``Our Portsmouth Humane Society has been in business since 1897,'' Lewis Tefft, executive director, said.
Spaying and neutering is a must for all animal adoptions. When it has not been done, this agency charges $55 for dogs and $45 for cats, with a $35 refund after the operation.
The office hours are 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
``We frequently get animals that have been neutered, and then we charge $30 for dogs and $20 for cats,'' Tefft said. ``I wish more people would adopt a pet with the idea of keeping him until his life was over and not return them or get rid of them.''
``We could use more volunteers, anyone from age 14 up,'' Tefft said. ``We need assistance in walking and brushing the animals.'' They also could use newspapers and food.
The Virginia Beach SPCA features a new surgical suite where the spaying and neutering is done.
``Embedded collars are a very sad thing to see and we see a lot of them,'' Dan Keller, kennel manager, said, ``and we have many people who have purchased or adopted a large dog and later decide it is too large.''
The SPCA requires those who wish to adopt to have two pieces of information with their name and address, plus landlord approval for renters.
The agency does humane education. It could use additional volunteers and extra cat litter.
The Norfolk SPCA has been covered in another story in this issue.
The city of Suffolk has an animal shelter that is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
``We have a $5 adoption fee for dogs and cats, and they must be spayed or neutered,'' Cheryl Pisani, Suffolk's chief animal control warden, said.
Pisani has handled everything from buffalo to ostriches.
``The Suffolk SPCA serves only as a referral service according to the information we have received,'' Pisani added.
The Purina Pets for People (PPFP) program is open to adults 60 and older. PPFP will underwrite the initial costs for the pet up to $100. Purina will pay the adoption fee and spay/neuter costs at SPCA prices.
Initial veterinarian visit and vaccinations are paid for the first 14 days after adoption. Certain veterinarians participate in the program, as do both the Norfolk and Virginia Beach SPCAs. They can assist you and give you full information and forms.
Annie Campbell of Virginia Beach adopted through the Norfolk SPCA. ``I recently had to put my dog to sleep, so I stopped in the SPCA to select another dog,'' Campbell said. ``I did not know about the program until they told me, and I am very pleased with it.''
Campbell adopted an 11-month-old sheltie mixed with cocker spaniel. ``I named her Goldie, and it gives me the feeling that someone lives with me, I'm not alone in the house.''
George and Shirley Drury adopted a 6-year-old medium-sized female, which they have named Brownie, through the Norfolk SPCA PPFP program.
``We had adopted through the SPCA in the past and returned to them again, and they told us we were eligible for the program,'' Drury said. ``It was a big help to us and we are very pleased.''
Dora and Dewey Rodgerson have also adopted through the Norfolk SPCA and are very pleased with the program. Like the Drurys and Campbell, they did not know of the program until told by the SPCA.
Fae Deaton went to the SPCA to look for her daughter's lost dog. ``While walking through the aisles searching, I spotted a year-old Dalmatian and fell in love with him,'' Deaton, a therapist with Hampton Roads Psychotherapy and Childhood Trauma Center, said.
Deaton also spotted information on the Purina Pet Program and applied. ``When I picked him up, he rode to the vet's in my back seat with his head on my shoulder,'' she said, ``and we really bonded.''
Deaton now takes him into some of her therapy sessions and ``it really helps many of my clients.''
All pet adoptions from the Norfolk SPCA include a free health exam. Cats are given a feline leukemia test and the first distemper vaccine. Dogs receive a distemper/Parvo vaccine and intra-trac (this is for ``kennel cough'').
The shelter is open for receiving from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with viewing for adoptions from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fees range from $9.50 to $50, based on type of animal, age and whether it has been spayed or neutured. A portion of the fee is returned when the shelter receives proof of the operation.
``We could use newspapers, old blankets, sheets and food,'' said Dr. Kay Gross, executive director. ILLUSTRATION: ERIC THINGSTAD/Staff
Fae Deaton went to the SPCA to look for her daughter's lost dog and
instead ``spotted a year-old Dalmatian and fell in love with him.''
She named her new pet Dazzle.
WHERE TO GO
CHESAPEAKE
Animal Assistance League
1149 New Mill Drive
548-0045
Chesapeake Animal Control Bureau
3807 Cook Blvd.
487-2212
NORFOLK
Norfolk SPCA
916 Ballentine Blvd.
622-3319
PORTSMOUTH
Animal Control
393-8430
Portsmouth Humane Society
2704 Frederick Blvd.
397-6004
SUFFOLK
Suffolk Animal Shelter
Suffolk Airport
925-6416
VIRGINIA BEACH
Virginia Beach SPCA
3040 Holland Road
427-0070
Animal Control Kennel
2665 Leroy Drive
427-4158
by CNB