SPCA Officials React To Reports Of A High Death Rate For Animals

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Updated: 8:19 AM Mar 11, 2010 SPCA Officials React To Reports Of A High Death Rate For Animals With serious reports coming out about a higher than normal death rate for its animals, local SPCA officials are now reacting to one groups accusations and Harrisonburg City Council's possible decisions. Posted: 12:09 PM Mar 10, 2010 Reporter: Sarah Sager Email Address: Sarah.Sager@whsv.com

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With serious reports coming out about a higher than normal death rate for its animals, local SPCA officials are now reacting to one groups accusations and Harrisonburg City Council's possible decisions.

SPCA officials say they are pleased that council is going to further look into working with the group Citizens For Animal Welfare, and they are open to ideas on how to better care for the animals.

The SPCA takes in all strays for the city, county and community at large, often taking in as many as 40 cats a day.

They believe that there is nothing more unfair than the community expecting resources to be limitless.

Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA Executive Director Anne Anderson says, "Well, I think pooling resources is definitely beneficial and I don't know that splitting allocations would ultimately benefit either one of us because it's still limited funds."

The Harrisonburg City Council has decided to look into hiring a mediator to help the two groups to come to a conclusion that will best benefit the animals.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Alice Location: Harrisonburg on Jul 21, 2010 at 08:19 AM

Why all the fuss? The problem starts with where the animals come from, less where they end up. If fewer people let their animals run loose, go un neutered or spayed, get animals they can't care for, run out of control kennels and puppy mills, etc. then there would not be animals at the shelter. Resources should go to the front end first.

Posted by: Kris Location: Orange on May 23, 2010 at 05:26 PM

The RHSPCA's death rate is grotesque. 65% of their animals are put down. It is estimated that only 10% of animals brought into shelters from all sources are too sick or too dangerous to adopt out. 10% folks. How is it the CASPCA can have an overall death rate of 12% for 2008, Richmond SPCA hovers around 10-12%. Nobody is arguing that the volunteers and staff at SPCA are doing a lousy job or don't care for animals. It's your Executive Director and board who don't care enough to do something about it. Stop whining about your SPCA being treated unfairly, they're not. They have one of the HIGHEST DEATH RATES for all non-profits in Virginia, and no excuse. Harrisonburg's SPCA's funding is on a par with other cities of the same size, and yet they have over twice the number of dogs and cats killed than most. Only 17 other non-profit shelters in the entire Commonwealth have death rates that even come close to Harrisonburg's. Fire your director and get one that cares.

Posted by: Common Location: Harrisonburg on Mar 15, 2010 at 09:00 PM

Dear Jennifer, Have you ever cared for 60 dogs at once? Your accusation seems far from even justified, let alone fair.

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