April 28, 2014
Animal advocacy group No Kill Hampton Roads has developed animal welfare voter information guides rating Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News candidates according to their views on programs and policies proven to save sheltered homeless and lost pets.
“People need to know which candidates will support proven, cost effective programs and policies that will lead our communities to much needed improved save rates,” said Jean Linman, member of No Kill Hampton Roads.
According to the shelter statistics reported by the city-run shelters to the State Veterinarian for 2013, the Save Rates for dogs and cats were:
- Chesapeake Animal Control-48%
- Peninsula SPCA-53%
- Norfolk Animal Care Center-57%
People are needed in public office who will push for the lifesaving programs of the No Kill Equation and insist that municipal shelters save all healthy and treatable animals. Hampton Roads is a community of animal lovers and for the past decade our municipal shelters have shown little improvement in saving homeless and lost pets’ lives. Over 200 communities across our country save at least 90% of their impounded animals. It is time for Hampton Roads to join these communities and save our healthy and treatable lost and homeless pets.
Candidates responded to a series of 12 questions about their support for programs and policies that the group says will save lives.
60% of the candidates running for mayor and city council responded. Responses were received from 10 out of 15 Norfolk candidates, 5 out of 8 from Chesapeake, 6 out of 11 from Hampton and 5 out of 10 from Newport News.
“We are pleased that most of the candidates take the public’s concern about the more than 14,000 dogs and cats killed in 2013 in our Hampton Roads’ shelters seriously,” Linman said.
The No Kill Hampton Roads Animal Welfare Voter Information guide for Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News can be found on the group’s website at www.nokillhr.org
