The Prince William Animal Advisory Committee Update
The Prince William County Animal Advisory Committee is 1 1/2 year old and we continue to achieve a number of accomplishments which directly benefit the community. In our first year these included: Improving the Spay/Neuter Compliance rate at the PWC Animal Shelter, implementation of a Pet Redemption Program, Operation Safe Haven, assisted in development of a comprehensive Feral Cat TNR program, initiated a Shelter Volunteer Program and improved public relations through our “Pet Tips” ads created for the Friday edition of the Potomac News.
In our second year, the AAC goals are to identify partnerships within the community and to finding funding resources to continue its programs and activities. We will also work directly with the PWC Animal Shelter on developing a strategic plan to include: improvements to Animal Care Services, develop a comprehensive volunteer program, build a no-kill adoption center, promote the TNR program, increase adoptions and redemptions, increase owner retention, initiate an animal behavior help hotline, and make the shelter a more welcoming place to visit.
So far, we have assisted the PW Cty. Shelter to implement a Behavior Hotline which in accessible now through the Shelter’s website; we have identified and assembled the list of partnerships within the community’s rescue and animal welfare organizations; implemented a new food service contract for the Shelter pets; and assisted in the organization of a foster program for adoptable Shelter animals. Lastly, and most importantly we are thrilled to announce that a new Veterinarian is on board to assist the Shelter with a Wellness and Spay & Neuter Program on site. We will continue to work on a Dog Park located on the Shelter property as well as multiple other improvements to the Shelter and Animal Care Services over the coming months. This is an exciting time for Prince William County citizens and their pets and I’m honored to be a small part of it.
The purpose of the Animal Advisory Committee (AAC) is to promote animal welfare and encourage responsible pet ownership through various programs, classes and special events that will assist Prince William County in providing the best possible animal welfare services in the community and improve the operation of the Pr. Wm. County Animal Shelter. The AAC scope is limited to matters relating to domestic household pets only.
I am so grateful to my County Supervisor, Maureen Caddigan, for the opportunity to serve on the Animal Advisory Committee and look forward to all the wonderful accomplishments we have yet to achieve and continuing to help companion animals in PWC.
A Huge Thank You to PWSPCA for providing the funding to the Pr. Wm. Cty. Animal Shelter to purchase Shelter specific database software which will improve spay/neuter compliance, be accessible to Animal control Officers in their mobile units, increase visibility of shelter pets through expanded on-line promotion, and assist the county staff in tracking cruelty and hoarding cases.
THE NEUTER COMMUTER UPDATE
The “Neuter Commuter” is doing waggingly well and can now accomodate more pets each month. This month we had 63 cats & dogs
Next Available Dates: Oct. 14/15, Nov. 18/19 & Dec. 16/17 (registration opens 3 weeks prior to appt. date)
LUCAS is continuing to provide financial assistance to low income pet owners by partnering with the Prince William SPCA in their Neuter Commuter Program. To date, LUCAS has assisted 52 pet owners and The Neuter Commuter has serviced 942 pets. We would like to help more, so if you know a pet owner who is in need of our assistance, please refer them to our website.
We are pleased to announce that the Prince William SPCA has a new spay/neuter clinic as a partner for this program. Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic provides the transportation and perform the procedures for this program. Pets are transported to the clinic via a new specially equipped van that travels to Pr Wm Cty monthly to pick up approximately 60 cats and dogs. It will then travel to the clinic where the pets will have their procedures and stay over night to recover. The next day, the van comes back to Pr Wm Cty. There is no income requirement so anyone can participate, but space is limited. The van runs monthly, however, the frequency of the service may be expanded if the need increases beyond 60 pets a month. The Shenandoah Valley Spay/Neuter Clinic is a Humane Alliance High Volume/ High Quality clinic which offers low prices, shorter commutes, and overnight recovery for our pets.
Please visit the PWSPCA website to see the requirements and register.
For those pet owners who cannot afford these procedures, LUCAS is here to help. It is our mission to Save Lives Through Spay and Neuter and as such, we will subsidize anyone in need. A nominal co-payment may be required. If you know anyone in need of assistance, please refer them to our website for more information. And as always, as a token of our gratitude and appreciation, there is no co-payment required of any members of the Armed Services .
Other Spay/Neuter News!
Can’t get on the Neuter Commuter this month? The Kincheloe Clinic in Fredericksburg has just been expanded to take more pets! See their web site for more information. Please note they only take cash and operate M-F. You must have a reservation in advance.
Need Low Cost Vaccinations
The Dale City and Manassas Petcos are hosting Low Cost Vaccination Clinics every Sat and Sun. Please check their website for specific dates and times.
