Va. Beach to dedicate animal shelter today

Posted to: Local Government News Virginia Beach
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By Kathy Adams
The Virginian-Pilot
© December 5, 2011

VIRGINIA BEACH

The city will dedicate its new animal shelter this afternoon and invite the public to tour the $12.5 million facility.

The new Animal Care and Adoption Center will replace the deteriorating Leroy Road shelter, built in 1974. The old building was difficult to disinfect, leading to a parvovirus outbreak in 2009 that resulted in the euthanization of more than 30 dogs.

Now, the city's homeless pets will live in a state-of-the-art building while they await adoption, according to a news release from the shelter. The 38,000-square-foot facility sits on 5.14 acres and can house nearly 200 dogs, 130 cats and 20 other small pets, according to the release.

The ribbon-cutting for the shelter is at 4:30 p.m. today, followed by tours. Its address is 341 S. Birdneck Road.

During the event, the shelter will accept donations to its Pet Food Bank, which provides pet food to residents who otherwise would have to consider giving up their pets because of financial difficulties.

For shelter hours and information, call (757) 385-4444 or visit www.vbgov.com/animalcontrol.

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Good for the Animals!

Submitted by mariacallas on Mon, 12/05/2011 at 4:27 pm.

I am so glad to see this happen for our animals in need. Most hmeless peeople are homeless because they are mentally ill and refuse to take their meds or they have drug addictions that they don't want to give up. People can speak for themselves and there are many programs to help them. Animals cannot speak for themselves and many are discarded by uncaring people. Please spay or neuter your animals and give them love.

Not Ironic

Submitted by BeachMama442 on Mon, 12/05/2011 at 2:07 pm.

How is it ironic?? There are homeless people all over the city; perhaps this was just the cheapest available land for the city to buy. Did you go to the city meeting to discuss the plans for the proposed homeless shelter consolidation? If you cared that much, you would go and voice your opinion. These animals were living in a disgusting shelter and now they are in a much better position to be adopted; the old shelter had to be closed. There will always be more that we can do to help homeless people, but that's no reason not to help these animals as well. Shame on you. If you care that much go and find a homeless person and take them in yourself.

don't understand

Submitted by just sayin on Mon, 12/05/2011 at 5:09 pm.

Homeless people are homeless because of a life event or most likely because they have a mental illness. Animals are homeless because people are to lazy to commit to the animal they "had to have".
I would no sooner let a homeless person in my residence for fear.

Guess I really don't understand the comment and the point of the comment. Sorry.

Great for the Pets....now how about our Homeless Humans?

Submitted by andym23456 on Mon, 12/05/2011 at 9:42 am.

Anyone interested in helping out the humans that are down on their luck?

It'd take but half of this facilities budget to get them out of the cold this winter and for years to come.

Here's another idea....add on a hostel like boarding area to this facility and let the homeless care for the animals? I'm sure some would like to earn their keep. And it may filter out the freeloaders.

Pet shelter

Submitted by teri.w on Mon, 12/05/2011 at 12:09 pm.

There are plenty of human homeless shelters, not to mention all of the other programs that help them to get out of their situation. Why do people always get so irate and downright mean when others try to help animals? Was is it with you people? These pets are unwanted drop offs or left in the streets to fend for themselves. Real nice of you, especially in the holiday season.