The Virginia Alliance for Animals Shelters supports and applauds this regulatory change.  We have been privileged to paraticipate in dicussions regarding these changes which will align the requirements of public and private shelters while allowing enrichment activities to public shelters which were once prohibited.  This update to regulations will also clarify for shelters and for the public when and how certain services, i.e. medical care will be provided by requiring individual shelter protocols.  We look forward to the improvements in operations and care that shelters will now be permitted to make.  Likewise, we appreciate the reduction in ambiguity between the care requirements of public and private shelters.  Thank you for the opportunity to comment.  Sharon Q. Adams, Virginia Alliance for Animal Shelters (VAAS)