Dog Wash!
Bring us your dirty dog! Get your dog clean and help the shelter! We have Dog Washes at Community Market set for Saturday, August 21st and Saturday, September 18th
News Release
$1,000 Reward!
The Danville Area Humane Society is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in a case of abandoning a dog in Oak Hill Cemetery. The body of a female pit bull was discovered by Public Works employees, and animal control and the humane society were called to investigate. The dog, a dark brown pit bull at least one year old, was tethered to a pole with a brown extension cord linked through a wide black collar with metal studs. The necropsy of the pit bull found in the Oak Hill Cemetery revealed awful details of the dog’s death. Her body was…
New Spay/Neuter Options
News Release July 21, 2010 Contact: Paulette Dean (434) 799-5306 The Danville Area Humane Society is pleased to announce new spay/neuter options for area residents. From now until the end of 2010, we are reinstating our $25 rebate program for residents of Danville and Pittsylvania County who use local veterinary clinics. Residents must call the shelter at 799-0843 to put their name on a list before the surgery is performed. After the surgery is performed, proof of the surgery and residency is to be provided to the humane society, and a $25 check will be issued. The surgeries must be performed by December 31, 2010. Because of a large increase in the number of animals…
Anti-Chaining Law
On July 1, 2010, a new law will go into effect in the City of Danville. No companion animal can be chained for more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period. If the temperature is 32 degrees or below, no companion animal can be chained. No companion animal under the age of 4 months can be chained at all. No sick or injured companion animal can be chained. Companion animals cannot be chained to a single fixed point during the 4 hours. This means that they must be on a runner or the chain must be fixed to a swivel hook. To help people who have their dogs constantly chained now, the Danville Area…
Critter Corner
B.G.
In January of 2007, I saw an advertisement about a large-scale bird breeding facility that was going to hold an absolute auction due to the poor health of the owner. The advertisements in trade magazines declared the birds were “proven money-makers,” enraging many groups dedicated to the welfare of companion birds. Because of our proximity to the facility, the Danville Area Humane Society became involved. Bird rescue groups and sanctuaries wanted to take as many of the birds as possible out of the breeding cycle. We were also concerned with the medical condition of many of the birds. We made several pre-auction trips to the facility, and ultimately were asked by the owners if we…
Rowdy
Note: Since this column is about an individual dog, you may think he has died. Let me assure you he is alive and well, but I want to share lessons we can learn from him. Almost six years ago, some people brought a very young Chihuahua puppy to the shelter. He had a serious wound on one side of his mouth that extended around the back of his neck to the other side of his mouth. The owners who brought him to us claimed he had a birth defect. However, it was apparent to us that someone (perhaps a child) had injured him by putting a rubber band or some other item tightly in his…
Spay / Neuter
In 1984, the Danville Area Humane Society began operating the animal shelter when a contract with the City was signed. Twenty-six years and over 100,000 shelter animals later, we declare the same truth that we always have – spaying and neutering is the only way to stop the pet overpopulation crisis. Since 1993, we have helped spay or neuter about 18,000 animals through a variety of programs. Our programs are changing again, and we hope that they will prevent many unwanted births. From now until the end of the year, we are offering $25 rebates for any spay or neuter surgery to help residents of Danville and Pittsylvania County. They may call 799-0843 to be…
2010 Legislative Session
The 2010 legislative session in Virginia was a rather unusual one for animal issues. It resulted in some strengthening of animal protection, and also led to the formation of a new group that will protect animals in the Commonwealth and provide a voice for open-access shelters. The penalty for a violation of the minimum standards of care for companion animals (animal neglect) is now a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000. Up until July 1, 2010, it had been a Class 4 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $250. The penalty for abandoning an animal becomes a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable…
Heat
Life can be predictable. When the temperatures rise, we know that we are going to receive a lot of calls about pets that have been left in parked cars, as well as dogs that are chained outside with no shade and no water. Situations like this can quickly lead to heat stress or heat strokes. In fact, warm temperatures are more dangerous for most animals than colder temperatures. On a warm day, the temperature in a parked car can reach 120 degrees in a matter of minutes, even with the windows partially open and even if the air conditioner has been on before the car was stopped. Dogs do not sweat; they cool their bodies…
Abandonment 2010
This past week, a large white rabbit was placed in our drop-off cage with a note that said that he had been found at a dumpster in the county. We assume that he was abandoned there, although he could have just wandered to the dumpster. Some people who purchase rabbits, ducks, guinea pigs, and other such animals grow tired of them and they wrongly believe that the animals will be able to survive on their own. So, they are abandoned in neighborhoods, parks and fields. We will never know how the rabbit came to be at the dumpster, but we do know that when he was found, he had some problems. He was covered with…
