November 20, 2009
Contact: Paulette Dean
(434) 799-5306

The Danville Area Humane Society is seeking information about two animal-related cases, and a reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person/persons responsible.

On Saturday, November 14, 2009, a setter mix-type dog broke away from a chain he had been kept on for about a year at Halifax Road. The dog was unsocialized and scared, and began running through the neighborhood. About 4:00 that afternoon, the dog was shot by an unknown person. Later that evening, the police were called about the dog. The owner opted to release the dog to the humane society. Unfortunately, the dog had to be euthanized because of his gunshot injuries.

On Friday, November 20, 2009, an elderly, male rat terrier type dog was found abandoned at a dumpster on Route 729 (Kentuck Road in Pittsylvania County). He was emaciated, and had many health issues.

If anyone has information about these two cases, they are encouraged to call the Danville Area Humane Society at 799-5306. All calls will be kept confidential.

September 16, 2009
Contact: Paulette Dean
(434) 799-5306

The Danville Area Humane Society is seeking information in another cruelty case. The body of a small animal was discovered on the side of Highway 58 between the Sleep Inn and Floral Hills Memory Gardens. The animal had been skinned, possibly while still alive, and a bungee cord was tied around the neck. The body is being taken to the State Veterinary Lab for a necropsy.

A reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this act. Callers may remain confidential. Anyone with information is asked to call the Humane Society at 799-5306.

June 30, 2009
Contact: Paulette Dean (799-5306)

The Danville Area Humane Society is very pleased to announce the expansion of a program that we believe will have positive impact on the animals in this community. We are announcing a need for people to provide foster homes for shelter animals.

In 2001, we announced a ten-year plan to reduce the numbers of animals being euthanized in this area. It was a comprehensive plan that included expanding the shelter, aggressively promoting spay/neutering of animals most likely to add to the overpopulation problem, and promoting responsible adoptions, which would eventually include a foster home program, as well as expanding our outreach to breed specific groups. Despite our good intentions and all of our efforts, the number of animals being received at the shelter has increased. Some of this is due to the economic problems facing this area, as well as the entire United States. We realize so much work still needs to be completed.

In 2007, we expanded the dog area of the shelter and are beginning to raise money to expand the cat area. Since announcing the ten-year plan, we have helped spay/neuter approximately 8,500 animals.

A few years ago, we quietly began a foster home program in select cases, and we are prepared to expand the program. There is an application process, including an in-home visit. A formal contractual relationship will exist so both the Humane Society and the foster home will have a clear understanding of the agreement and obligations.

A foster program will allow us to place special needs animals in homes that can provide care in a home environment, while helping to free space in the shelter for the thousands of animals we receive each year.

Foster caregivers can expect to have an experience that may be difficult at times, but we believe it will be a rich, rewarding experience as they help us prepare animals to be placed in lifelong, loving, responsible homes.

Press Confrence
June, 2009

Many false statements have been circulated about the Humane Society's position on the shooting of Killer, the dachshund. We are posting the entire statement read at the news conference. People seem to believe that we supported the original finding, that the shooting was justified. We hope that this statement clears up that misconception.

Also, people have asked why we did not "take care of the problem" when we originally met Killer. At that time, the dog was on his own property, so the owners could not have been charged with him roaming freely. We did not receive a complaint from any neighbors about Killer being allowed to roam on Berman Drive. The incident was considered a minor one, and in no way met the guidelines required to have Killer declared a dangerous dog.


News Conference Statement
June 15, 2009
Paulette Dean

Several years ago, the animal shelter manager and I went to a house on Berman Drive to rescue some kittens that had been abandoned in a basement. As I got out of the car, a small dachshund came running towards me, growling and baring his teeth. I quickly tried to get back in the car, but since both my hips and knees have been replaced, I cannot move quickly. I had to keep my left leg supported on the door while the shelter manager ran around to the passenger side of the car to help shut the door from the inside. The dachshund kept jumping up, trying to bite my ankle and leg. There was no doubt in my mind that I would have been bitten, if the dog had been able to reach me. The owners were in the driveway, watching what happened. I called to them, asking what the dog’s name was, hoping that if I called him by name, he would calm down. They said his name was Killer, and we requested that they put the dog inside, so we could continue our work getting the kittens.
This was the same dachshund that was shot and killed last week. We readily acknowledge that he was not on a leash and should have been, and we certainly cannot know what was going through Officer McLean’s mind at the time. However, the Board of Directors of the Danville Area Humane Society and I do not feel that the shooting was justified. We believe other methods could have been used to diffuse the situation.
We look forward to working with the Police Department on additional training so that an incident of this kind will not happen again. The officers of the Police Department help us every day in our work to keep animals safe and treated humanely and we plan on continuing that relationship in the future. We are confident we can work together in a way that officers will react in an appropriate manner to perceived threats and we will continue to do our job to help the animals.