Virginia Residents: Support SB 359

Call to help TNR bill pass state Senate

February 23, 2012

SB 359 : Trap, Neuter and Return Programs. Permits a pound, animal shelter or humane society to operate a program of trapping, vaccinating and sterilizing feral cats before returning them to the sites where they were trapped. The bill excludes a person who participates in such a program from the definition of "owner" regarding custody of the subject cats. Current law makes an owner's abandonment of an animal a misdemeanor.  


Senate Bill 359, sponsored by Virginia Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, is an important piece of legislation which furthers Trap-Neuter-Return programs in the state. If passed, the legislation will eliminate the possibility of those participating in TNR programs from being charged with abandonment under state law, a threat which overhangs them now.

UPDATE! Originally scheduled to be in committee on 1/19, the bill will now be heard by the House Ag Sub-Committee on Monday, 2/27. Virginia residents ONLY - please contact the delegate in your jurisdiction today! Tell them effective Trap-Neuter-Return programs are needed in Virginia, and urge them to support SB 359.

Contact:

Delegate Marshall (Chair) (Danville, Henry, Pittsylvania)
DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Knight (Virginia Beach and Chesapeake)
DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Orrock (Caroline and Spotsylvania Counties)
DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Poindexter (Franklin County and Henry County)
DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Morefield (Buchanan, Tazwell, Russell)
DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov

Delegate James (Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk and Portsmouth)
DelMJames@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Sickles (Fairfax County)
DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov

To verify you are a Virginia resident, please remember to include your name, town and state in your communication.


Thank you for your support!