Prince William County is pushing forward with plans to promote animal welfare and reduce the number of euthanized pets. A new, 13-person animal advisory committee will be tasked with seeking grant funding for animal welfare initiatives, as well as increasing community outreach and providing support to animal control and care services.
Ultimately, the goal of the committee is to reduce the number of animals euthanized at the county animal shelter. The shelter last year handled 6,476 animals, excluding wildlife, 2,709 of which were euthanized, according to a presentation given by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The board first suggested the idea of an advisory board in June 2007, but negotiations stalled. Advocates lobbied for the committee to report directly to the Board of Supervisors, while the county police department wanted to oversee the panel. The police department runs the county animal shelter.
Major Stephan Hudsonof the police department told the board that the police department was still opposed to the idea. A major sticking pointwas allocating additional staff time to anticipated recommendations from the committee, especially during a time of economic decline. Last year, the police had to cut an animal control position at the shelter because of budget constraints, he said.
Despite the police’s opposition, the board approved the panel, with two amendments added by Board Chairman Corey Stewart, R-at large.
The first was that committee members would have no say over animals outside the shelter, which would include activities such as beekeeping, fishing, circuses, petting zoos and animal testing.
The second amendment stipulated that the committee not request more than $1,000 per year.
“What I’m trying to get at here is we consider our human beings first,” he said, adding that there was probably not a board member who would favor services for animals over county services to schools or senior citizens.
