THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412290007
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
Regarding Roger Bass' letter ``Crossing the line'' (Dec. 18): It's unfortunate that Mr. Bass' wife was not able to adopt the puppy she found at the Norfolk SPCA. However, it was not an arbitrary decision but rather one based upon Virginia law.
The Code of Virginia allows us to return or adopt our animals as follows: ``(i) claimed by the rightful owner thereof, (ii) adopted by a resident of the county or city for which the pound is operated who will pay the required license fee, if any, on such animal, if the animal's rightful owner has surrendered all property rights in such animal and has read and signed a statement as required by subsection B, or (iii) adopted by a resident of an adjacent political subdivision of the Commonwealth, if the animal's rightful owner has surrendered all property rights in such animal. . . .''
Moyock, N.C., is not a political subdivision of Virginia and not adjacent to the city where we operate. We may adopt to only the cities of Norfolk, Hampton, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Newport News and Chesapeake.
In addition, the commonwealth dictates the ``mandatory sterilization of dogs and cats adopted from releasing agencies.'' If an animal were taken to North Carolina, the means of enforcement outside Virginia would be limited.
I am sorry that anyone has to be turned away from adopting our animals, but according to the law, that sometimes must be the case.
KAREN PINNEO
Executive Director
Norfolk SPCA
Norfolk, Dec. 19, 1994 by CNB