Analysis signifies that there are roughly 2 million free-ranging cats within the state of Virginia, roughly 1.2 million of them are unowned. Many of those collect in colonies which characterize critical well being dangers to the group, nuisance to neighborhoods, and have a devastating impact on wildlife–not to say the intense dangers to the well being and well-being of the cats themselves.Â
After years of effort to reach at wise methods and regulatory tips to assist handle the issue, there’s now a invoice within the Common Meeting to empower localities to successfully handle and handle out of doors cat populations of their space. The invoice, HB 221:
- Authorizes localities, in the event that they so select, to undertake free-roaming cat administration plans by ordinance
- Directs the Virginia Division of Agriculture and Shopper Companies (VDACS) to create a mannequin Free-Roaming Cat Administration Plan to scale back and management the inhabitants of free-roaming cats and the abandonment of cats to scale back unfavorable impacts on public well being, wildlife, and the welfare of the cats
- Directs VDACS to ascertain minimal requirements for a Free-roaming Cat Administration Plan
- Requires VDACS to seek the advice of with related stakeholders in fulfilling these duties
Sadly, an lively foyer of outside cat supporters is working to mischaracterize and defeat this invoice. We’re asking supporters of wildlife to make their voices heard on this concern.
Sources and Background
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What You Can Do
The invoice is at the moment in committee within the Home of Delegates. In case your Delegate is on the Home Agriculture Subcommittee, PLEASE WRITE AND CALL to allow them to know that HB 221 is necessary to you and to the well being of wildlife throughout the Commonwealth.
Agriculture Subcommittee members:
Please ONLY COMMUNICATE WITH A DELEGATE IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF THEIR DISTRICT.Â
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Use Who’s My Legislator to search out your district and representatives.
In case your Virginia Delegate is on the principle Home Agriculture, Chesapeake, and Pure Sources Committee, please write to allow them to know that you just assist HB 221.
Primary committee members:Â
Pattern electronic mail textual content you may ship:
Pricey Delegate ________
As one in every of your constituents, residing at ___________, ________, I’m writing to ask in your assist of Home Invoice 221 on Free-Roaming Cat Administration Plan Laws.
You will need to me that this laws will assist the event of wise mannequin rules for:
1) decreasing the devastating affect of outside cats on native wildlife
2) decreasing the specter of feline-borne illnesses, and
3) supporting the well being and well-being of cats themselves.
This invoice is supported by:
American Hen Conservancy
Affiliation of Avian Veterinarians
Audubon Society of Northern Virginia
Bat Conservation & Rescue of VA
Blue Ridge Wildlife Heart
Bristol Humane Society
Cape Henry Audubon Society
Capital Naturalist, Alonso Abugattas
Heart for Conservation Biology
Danville Space Humane Society
Ernesto Dominguez, DVM,
DACVPM, CWR
Margaret B. Mitchell Spay Neuter Clinic
Nature Ahead
Northern Virginia Hen Membership
Individuals for the Moral Therapy of Animals (PETA)
Piedmont Virginia Hen Membership
Southwest Virginia Wildlife Heart
Wildlife Heart of Virginia
Virginia Alliance for Animal Shelters (VAAS)
Virginia Animal Management Affiliation (VACA)
Virginia Chapter of the Wildlife Society
Virginia Conservation Community
Virginia Ornithological Society
Virginia Veterinary Medical Affiliation (VVMA)
Virginia Zoo
Thanks in your assist of this matter.
Sincerely,  __________________________