Aiij-iisl S. |')K.S Mcclin[i 



I Ik- Cominillct- la'aitl lioin l)i l<;iri\ Dawkins. Sla(o Animal Wcllaio Vclcrinarian 

 (il Virginia, wlio ck-st iil>(.'cl (Ik- ( "(impK-luiisi\i,- Aiiiiiiai Laws ol Virginia, vvhiili iiad hccn 

 clis(iilttik-il. I)i. Dawkiiis iiolccl Ihal iIk- slalulc covcivtl areas snch as: inks ami 

 rognlalions lot i1k- can.- aiKl liansil ol animals; gctK-ral animal wcllarc laws; pet 

 sli(»p/tlc-ak-i care; rnllianasia; consnnK-i proletlion; resptmsibililics anil anihorily ol local 

 goNciiimcnl Kgartling rahies conliol, licensing ol animals, anil animal pounds; animal 

 coulrol oKici-rs; irnclly l<> animals: ami penallics lor various animal rcialcd violalions. 

 lie noleil Ihal his olliiv scrvvil as Ihc lotal poiril lor inlrirmalion. dirt'ilion. ami 

 ailvisetm-nl regaiiling IIk- animal laws in Viiginia. Ik- prcscnicil a lis! ol rilk-fu specific 

 (.luiii-s ol Ihc Slak- Animal Willaiv Vek-iinarian. ami nolcd Ihal major advances in 

 Virginia have heen: cslalilishnKnl ol ilogs ami lals as peisonal piopeily: requiring cilies 

 and counlies lo have aiKl mainlain animal pounds which meet minimum slandards; 

 lecjuiiing local goveinmenis lo havi- animal (.-onlrol ollicers who aie properly Irained; 

 maiKlaloiy vaccinalioii aiKl licensing ol all dogs; and the eslahlishmeiil atKl liaining ol 

 volunleer couil appointed hnmaiK- invesligalois. 



Ml. Wall kane. PresidenI ol (he Viiginia i"edeialion ol Humane Societies, 

 recommended that North Carolina consider lecodilying the slalntes pertaining to animal 

 cruelly and wellare inio a coin|>relK-iisive slaliile. Me also suggested that il all shelters 

 and pounds were hronghl under (he provisions ol the Animal Wellare Act. funds for 

 enloicing the Act could be obtained Ihroiigh: income from license and permit fees; 

 impoiiiKlmenI lees; charges lor adoption ol animals; boarding and redemption charges 

 for ovi'iiers recovering pets; lines Iroin Act enloicement; and fees from animal 

 (|iiarantining. lie lecommeiided that good lecordlseeping be conducted at the local level. 



Ms. Nancy Rich, kiesident ol North Carolina Network lor Animals, emphasized the 

 need lor placing public pounds under the Act. She noted that only \5 ol approximately 

 8.'> shelters or pounds are covered by the Act. and that state rules on (he holding period 

 ol animals are liec|uently violated. She advocated that records of acquisition and 

 disposition Irom all facilities should be maintained by the slate, and that a toll-free 

 (elephoiie number be made available lor owners (o gain information abou( missing pe(s. 

 'riie lesiills ol a survey c|iiestioiinaiie weie provided lo the Committee, which indicates 

 how many animals thirty eight dilleieiit lacilities had im|iounded in 1987. and how (hey 

 disposed of the animals. (Appendix l{). 



Di . Donna Kiown. I'residenl ol the- NoiMi Caioliiia Humane lederation. addressed 

 the Committee. She piescnled data to the Commiltee which indicates that there are 

 conditions in animal lacilities which are below the standaids sel bv the state rules. Ms. 

 Nkiiianna linit |iiescnled slides showing pioblems in the lollowing areas; inaccessibility 

 ol |>iiblic animal lacilities; lack ol (rained personnel; lack of securily. which enables 

 animals (o be slolcii oi escape: lack ol proper recordkeeping; and lack of proper 

 idenlilication ol animals housed in lacilitic-s. A siimmaiv of inspections and comments 

 by respondents to a survey were presented (Ap|K-mlix I). 



Ms. .laiK- Owen. President ol the- Wilson Conntv Humane Society, described (he 

 history ol the Animal Welfare Act. ( loveinmeiit operated facilities weie excluded from 

 (he Ac( in l<)77. and llie iei|iiireinent lor all counlies to have an animal shelter was 

 lepealed in l')Xk She noted that the problem with the cnrrenl Act is in (he area of 

 Innding. Allhongh (he Ac( provides for a separate Section in the Department of 

 Agriculture, she stated that the Director is only available pail lime, as he is principally 

 involved in the livestock inspection program; (here is no secretary /clerk, because the 

 position was tiaiisleiicd to aiiotlKi division; and theie has never been funding from (he 



