The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
City officials have given up hope that competing herds of animal lovers will flock together and build a new wildlife rehabilitation center in southern Virginia Beach.
Instead, Virginia Beach planners will begin reviewing separate proposals - one from Wildlife Response Inc. and another from the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Evelyn's Wildlife Refuge - in mid-December, said Jack Whitney, the city's planning director.
"Both sides have a lot to bring to the table, and they have common interests," Whitney said. "It would have been really, really nice if they could have come together."
The city had postponed its review process in late summer and asked the two sides to come up with one proposal to lease 50 city-owned acres near Indian River and North Landing roads.
But the relationship between the wildlife rehabbers has been nested in distrust and concerns that each side was trying to peck away at the other's work. They even discussed a mediator. Then, late last month, Wildlife Response representatives asked the city to review their proposal independently.
"The other two groups didn't share the same vision," said Cindy Lakin, a spokeswoman for Wildlife Response, a volunteer network of home-based animal rehabbers.
Sharon Adams, the SPCA's executive director, said her organization tried to work with Wildlife Response but agreed that they have different perspectives on the rehab center.
"This isn't about two groups fighting over who gets to wear the crown," Adams said.
City officials, the SPCA's coalition and Wildlife Response all agree they want to create a facility similar to the Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro. That center in western Virginia took in the three eaglets in the spring after their mother was struck by an airliner heading to Norfolk International Airport.
The SPCA said that its fundraising prowess and volunteer support would ensure the center gets built.
Wildlife Response said its expertise, specifically in wildlife treatment, would help create a refuge for injured wild animals.
Both groups said they plan to include home rehabbers in their plan.
"There's enough wildlife to go around, even with a center," Lakin said.
City officials hope the center will help address the rehabilitation needs of larger wildlife in the area. Currently, the city allows residents to care for injured wild animals in their homes with a permit.
Those home rehabbers could still serve as clinics for rescued wildlife, but the center would become more of a hospital-type facility where complex needs of wildlife can be met, Whitney said.
The city has asked both groups to come in for interviews Dec. 15 and then will make a recommendation on the preferred proposal to the city manager and the City Council, Whitney said.
"I hope this is going to be a balanced, objective analysis," Adams said.
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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W.R.E.N. - it's all about the animals
My feathers are ruffled after reading this. And so, I must put quill to paper and write.
WRI is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. They have woven a web of deceit and force-fed it to City officials, to their own membership, and to the public.
The VBSPCA, Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge, and their network of rehabilitators (W.R.E.N.) rehabilitate 74% of all injured/orphaned wildlife in the area. All of the long-time wildlife rehabilitators associated with these flocks were once a part of WRI. What caused them to fly the coop?
And then there is the King of the Jungle: the City of VA Beach. The City failed to provide the VBSPCA notice of its own interest in building a Wildlife Center. If they are so committed to all members of the wildlife community work
continuation
together, why did they exclude the majority members of the herd from the beginning?
The dove of peace throughout the whole ordeal has been the VBSPCA. Indeed, the VBSPCA has extended the olive branch on several occasions, including the recent public meeting.
W.R.E.N. should be granted the Wildlife Center. The VBSPCA has all the pieces already in place; mobile vet clinic, humane education, many outreach programs, a huge, active volunteer base, and a proven track record in fund raising and getting things done. Evelyn’s Wildlife Refuge and the independent rehabilitators have first rate knowledge and expertise in treating and rehabilitating all species of wildlife native to Virginia. It’s the perfect match. And it’s all about the animals.
Wildlife Center
The article states, "The SPCA said that its fundraising prowess and volunteer support would ensure the center gets built.
Wildlife Response said its expertise, specifically in wildlife treatment, would help create a refuge for injured wild animals."
We must keep in mind when reading this that the Virginia Beach SPCA has a fully staffed veterinary clinic available for triage and complete medical support of the thousands of injured and orphaned wild animals brought to them each year by the citizens of Hampton Roads. In addition to the expertise of the veterinarians and other clinic personnel, there are licensed wildlife rehabilitators on staff with literally decades of experience.
Outreach to Wildlife Response was ongoing
The Virginia Beach SPCA reached out to Wildlife Response several times to facilitate a meeting and there is a history of those efforts. There were several email exchanges and, as the article indicated a mediator was contacted to facilitate a productive meeting of WREN (VBSPCA & Evelyn's Wildlife Refuge) and Wildlife Response. In the end, Wildlife Response decided not to move forward with the meeting. The VBSPCA held a public meeting to share all the information on these efforts as well discuss our proposal on the Wildlife Center to the City. You can see the discussion at the public meeting held November 21st on the VBSPCA website at www.vbspca.com or at the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oScwXFdOp2A&feature=email