(Danville) — The local humane society is ready to update their strategic plan. And they’re inviting others to help them out.
Danville Area Humane Society Executive Director Paulette Dean says stakeholders will be invited to participate in what is usually an in-house process. “Let’s take the focus off of the Danville Area Humane Society and turn it into a community discussion that gets community solutions,” Dean said.
Invites will go out to local veterinarians, city representatives, volunteers, humane society members, and representatives of the local Best Friends’ campaign which has been sharply critical of the Humane Society in recent months. Best Friends says they want to lower the euthanasia rate at the local shelter, which is the highest in Virginia.
“What we all want to do is help animals. We want to have fewer of them on the streets and fewer of them in abusive homes,” Dean added. “We want to have fewer unwanted ones being born.”
Dean says no matter what the committee decides, the local animal shelter WILL remain open admission. “How could we ever turn away the animals that truly have no place else to go? Yes, that means that we sometimes have to make very difficult decisions,” Dean said.
The Committee will hold their first meeting in November and will meet at least once more after that.
Dean says they also want to better inform area residents of their spay/neuter programs, foster program, transfer program, and pet food bank.
“Pet overpopulation, abandonment, and neglect are community problems and need community solutions that help the animals, as well as protecting public health and safety,” Dean said.