It s hoped that revised regulations will recognize services provided by some shelters other than adoption.  Such services include acceptance of all animals regardless of whether they may be adoption candidates.  They also include programs such as compassionate euthanasia for pet owners who need to surrender a pet because they cannot afford the $300-400 to have the pet euthanized at a veterinary hospital.  It is important to recognize that shelters who do not reject any animal will have different challenges than those shelters who choose which animals they will accept.

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)

We support this action and applaud all who are involved in ensuring the care of animals in public and private shelters.  We also lend our support to the work of shelters -- adopting animals into responsible homes, promoting spaying/neutering, educating the public about humane treatment of animals, providing humane euthanasia for the animals who owners cannot afford those services of a veterinarian, providing shelter for aniimals who are unwanted, lost, abandoned, and relinquished by the guardians, and protection of human public health, safety, and property rights.  We are grateful for all of the work of VDACS.