In 2015, SB1381 was passed by a vast majority in the VA General Assembly showing that our legislators, citizens, and donors expect private animal shelters to be a safe haven for homeless pets and that the private shelter's goal should be to place the animals into permanent homes. The vast majority of private animal shelters already have this purpose but guidelines are necessary to ensure this. 

1-     A private shelter that has an adoption rate that is greater than 50% is accomplishing this.

2-     If a private animal shelter’s adoption rate is less than 50% but its euthanasia rate is also less than 50%, the private shelter may be relying on rescue transfers for lifesaving. Rescue transfers should also be stipulated for other Virginia releasing agencies who meet the adoption purpose OR to out of state shelters/rescues that have a demonstrated high adoption rate. The sending private animal shelter must document that the purpose of transfer is to find adoptive homes and the sending private shelter must have measures in place to follow up on transferred animals to ensure adoption.

3-     VDACS should terminate the private shelter status of any organization which, based upon its previous year’s report to VDACS, euthanizes more than 50% of the animals it takes in.  

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