Beach animal control facility could become adoption-friendly

There seems to be some confusion here, the Virginia Beach SPCA is NOT the Animal Control shelter-they are seperate shelters that serve different purposes. The Virginia Beach SPCA is a private, non-profit animal shelter that takes in animals as space allows, they can and have at times suspended admissions until they could either adopt, transfer or by some other means, make cage/kennel space available. They also set their own adoption policies that can include bringing all your animals and family members with you, but I honestly do not know all their policies to be able to cite them here.

The Virginia Beach Animal Control Shelter is the municipal shelter owned by the City of Virginia Beach and administered by Virginia Beach Animal Control Officers, they receive all animals that Beach residents wish to surrender, investigate cruelty cases and issue citations for cause. All lost animals picked up by VBAC are taken to the VBAC shelter, NOT Virginia Beach SPCA. It is also a LOT easier to adopt from Virginia Beach Animal Control than Virginia Beach SPCA because of the vastly different adoption policies.

I have gone to the VA Bch SPCA to adopt a dog. They weren't very friendly and made it difficult with all their rules and regulations. Bring the family to meet the animal, bring the other animals to meet the animal, vet records, etc. I lived in NC and it was impossible to bring the family and other animals without taking off of work and taking the kids out of school. Also, we only had a few days to do this because they won't hold the animals for very long, either. I hate to think that the dog we wanted ended up being put to sleep. I ended up going to Tri-County Animal Shelter in NC. All I had to do was see the dog, sign a piece of paper and then we could go home with a new leash and some sample puppy food. The adoption fee was only $35. We love our puppy who is now 10 months old. To the dog in VA Beach, I'm sorry. I would have given you a home if it was easier to adopt you.

...for the good news and for providing much needed facts for other readers!

A vote of 10-0 in favor!

This is a wonderful idea. Virginia Beach also needs to spay and neuter all animals as they are adopted. It is being done at Norfolk Animal Care Center and also Portsmouth Humane.

I look forward to great changes!

Actually James, the Friends of Virginia Beach Animal Control have been pressing for this for quite some time because the numbers are quite clear-the "Capture, cage and kill" model ends up costing you, the taxpayer more money and without adoption, there is no possible chance to recover the cost. The Friends of VBAC have also been recieving training in behavior assesment to help determine which animals are suitable for adoption, they have been promoting adoption through their website, taking dogs and cats to adoption events on their own time, trying to find medical help for animals that might have otherwise been euthanized as well as trying to get animals out of the shelter into rescue/foster situations. The number of dogs and cats that never leave that shelter alive is staggering, roughly 40% of dogs and somewhere around 80% of cats never make it out alive according to VDACS-if the animals that are suitable for adoption make it out, everyone wins and money is saved.

Please try to take a long-term view of things.

Unless you have worked in rescue, it is hard to understand why shelters don't just hand pets over to anyone who wants them. But sending a pet out to a bad home isn't better than no home. I have never heard of having to bring all your pets in to "meet" the new one, but most shelters do make sure the pets you already own are up to date on vaccines and "fixed", and they should. If you can't be bothered to take care of the ones you have, why get more. But people do everyday. As far as PETA, they are a lot of talk, and sure, don't drink milk or eat meat or wear fur, but as far as helping companion animals, they don't do much. And actually, Animal Control does a good job trying to save pets. They work with rescue groups and the SPCA already. There are just too many strays, period.

I am glad to hear that they will become more adoption-friendly, but I agree with other comments posted about how difficult it is to adopt a pet. I have adopted both of my dogs from the SPCA and I had to jump through a huge amount of hoops just to adopt. There were more procedures than some friends of mine went through to adopt a child. I had to bring in the survey for my house to adopt one of them! I also had to verify that I would not have kids in the next 7 years, what??? Shelters won't even allow you to adopt a pet if you have kids-no matter what type of breed. I understand that these organizations need to be strict but some of the rules just push people to go to breeders for their four-legged family members. And that is the very sad part. Hopefully, the VB Animal Control will actually be adoption friendly. If they provide shots and spay/neuter services, many more animals will be adopted. Animal control would probably love to have volunteers to help out with training and socializing to make them more adoptable also.

Whoever started this resolution should do the leg work.Spore has a lot more important city business to take care of . If the sponsors are so intent with this program , they should already have vets lined up to voluteer their services.Don't start a program , then lay it at the councils feet for completion then complain that it didn't get done.

I think not. Since it is easier to adopt a child than most of the animals. I'm pretty sure there is less paperwork too. I made the mistake of going to one of the local shelters years ago for a dog, the word "friendly" is not anything I would equate with that experience. I ended up with no dog that day. I went to the trading post and that weekend I found a dog for $35 who shared my home for over 12 years before cancer took him. I would gladly have taken 3-4 dogs (I have the room and time) and maybe even a cat by now, but refuse to go through the hassle of adopting from these shelters. I firmly believe these shelters limit themselves to wholesale slaughter of these pets simply due to typical government bureaucracy.

I think it's a great idea! And I like the orginial poster's idea as well, that PETA should help incure the costs of inoculations. It's a win-win situation all around! I sincerely hope this plan goes into action. It would help out with the overcrowding of shelters, and at the same time, provide a loving home to pets and companionship to those that are looking for a pet. Again, a win-win situation for everyone. Best idea ever!

One major change should be the ridiculous requirement that a prospective adopter bring all current pets and famiily members to meet the new dog or whatever species pet. I have six dogs and five cats, and will not drag them all the way to Virginia Beach from Accomack. And, not all shots must be administered by vets - I did my own shots for years, and only switched to using the vet when I became very involved with rescue. It is easier for my vet to find the shot records in his files than it would be for me to remember in what safe place I put them.

Mr. Spore should kow that these shots really do not cost that much. Vets already vlunterr and offer shots in many areas en masse for a very low price. In addition, as much as some of you may protest due to personal politics, PeTA shold be approached for some funding. Keep in mind that the facility stays full currently even with the short stay ofthe animals. Costs will increase to rebuild the pens much quicker than the shots. Honestly, this article offers virtually no information. Was there an excess of unused ad space today?