THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 8, 1994 TAG: 9412070151
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines
WHEN CHERYL PISANI arrives for work each day, she never knows how many visitors will be waiting for her.
As chief animal control warden for the Suffolk Animal Shelter, Pisani's new tenants are of the fur-and-feather variety, of course. And as an animal lover, her mission is to find adoptive families for the lost and abandoned animals and birds that arrive on a daily basis.
``When I walk in the door in the morning, I may find a seagull, a pot-bellied pig, an owl or a falcon,'' Pisani says. ``If a wild animal is hurt, we take it to a vet, who will check it free of charge. Then we turn it over to a rehabilitationist. There are several in Suffolk.''
Last July, Mark Weaver, former Suffolk Sun editor of The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, talked to Pisani about featuring a Pet of the Week in the Thursday edition of The Sun.
Pisani agreed - and for the past 4 1/2 months, kittens and cats, pups and dogs that are available for adoption have appeared weekly in The Sun. And on Thursday and Friday mornings, the phone at the shelter rings continuously, Pisani says.
``When I have to tell people that a particular animal has already been adopted, I ask them to come out to the shelter and see what else we have,'' she says. ``All of the animals featured in the paper have been adopted, and it's even led to others being adopted. At least, people know we exist. One long-haired Dachshund, which was featured, had a brother, and he was adopted, too.''
Adopting an animal at the shelter costs $5. However, the new owner must agree to have the dog or cat neutered or spayed no later than 30 days after adoption.
If a stray dog or cat is picked up on the street, it must remain at the shelter for seven days before it is available for adoption, Pisani says, to give the owner time to reclaim the pet.
Pisani has little patience with pet owners who abuse or neglect their animals or allow them to run loose.
``A lady called one day and said that her dog was lost. She told me that her pet answered to the name Fifi, and would I see if one of the dogs barked when I called out that name.
``I opened the door and yelled, `Yo, Fifi!' - and all the dogs started barking. I went back to the phone and asked her if she heard her dog barking. If people would at least tag their dogs, we'd know how to contact the owner if the dog runs away.''
Pisani, who has been an animal control warden for 17 years, shares responsibilities at the shelter with four other wardens.
``We all clean kennels, handle daily citizen complaints and animal adoptions and redemptions,'' she says. ``We also go to court on summons issues for cruelty, no licenses and no rabies vaccinations, and livestock running at large.''
Pisani says she works hard to find homes for the animals and occasionally, has taken them home to her husband, Victor, and two sons, 14-year-old Vincent and Brian, 7.
``That's how we got our dog, cat and two guinea pigs. Our German shepherd had been abused, and for a long time I thought I had a rug instead of a dog. It took a year to get him to move. Now, he's doing fine.''
Pisani's job is varied and sometimes difficult. Several years ago, she worked with other wardens to round up a herd of buffalo that were running loose on Holland Road.
``I didn't go home for two days, and I was filthy. I also had a new baby at the time.''
Pisani says she is looking forward to moving in two weeks to the new, temperature-controlled animal shelter on Forest Glen Drive. The modern facility will feature 48 dog pens and separate rooms for sick and injured animals.
``We'll also have separate rooms for puppies and kittens and for new mommies. We'll have a tub to bathe the animals if needed,'' she says.
``People need to realize that pups and kittens grow up. When you get an animal, you don't keep it for a month or two. It's a lifelong association.'' MEMO: PET OF THE WEEK Page 20
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Cheryl Pisani is chief animal control warden for the Suffolk Animal
Shelter. Her mission is to find adoptive families for the lost and
abandoned animals and birds that arrive daily.
by CNB